How taxes work in Utah
Sales tax. Utah charges a 5.95% statewide sales tax, and counties, cities and special districts add their own on top — which is why the average combined rate of about 7.19% is the number that matters at the till. Groceries are taxed at a reduced statewide rate of 1.75% (state portion), plus some local taxes.
Property tax. At an average effective rate of about 0.57%, a $350,000 home in Utah carries roughly $1,995 a year in property tax before exemptions. Utah is a low-property-tax state, which quietly lowers the true cost of owning there. Local assessors set actual bills, so verify with the county for any specific property.
Income tax. Flat income tax around 4.55%. If you are self-employed in Utah, you still owe federal self-employment tax plus quarterly state estimates where applicable.
Sales tax · average combined
Property tax · average effective
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How Utah compares with similar states
The states closest to Utah on average combined sales tax. Property tax is the average effective rate; income tax shows the structure, not a single rate.
| State | Combined sales tax | Property tax | Income tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah (this page) | 7.19% | 0.57% | Flat |
| Georgia | 7.38% | 0.92% | Flat |
| Ohio | 7.24% | 1.56% | Progressive |
| Mississippi | 7.07% | 0.79% | Progressive |
| Florida | 7.02% | 0.89% | None |
| All-state average (51 entries) | 6.61% | 1.04% | — |
What this means for your money in Utah
Property tax is light in Utah: an average effective rate of 0.57% ranks 43 of 51, well below the all-state average of 1.04%. A $400,000 home carries about $2,280 a year. Low property tax lowers the fixed cost of owning, which partly offsets whatever the state's income and sales taxes take.
Read together: Utah combines an average combined sales tax of 7.19% (rank 21 of 51), an average effective property tax of 0.57% (rank 43 of 51) and a flat state income tax. A household comparing states should compare all three against its own pattern — a high earner who rents weighs the income tax most; a homeowner on a fixed income weighs the property tax most.
Major cities in Utah
Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo, West Jordan, Orem. Combined sales-tax rates differ between these cities — sometimes by more than a full percentage point inside the same state — because county and city layers stack on the state base. The Utah sales tax guide breaks down the calculation and links the calculator where you can enter your exact local rate.
Calculators for Utah residents
- Utah Sales Tax Guide & Examples — what you actually pay, with worked amounts.
- Sales Tax & VAT Calculator — add or extract tax at any rate, including your exact Utah local rate.
- Mortgage Calculator — include Utah property tax in the monthly payment.
- Property Tax Calculator — estimate a specific property's bill.
- Self-Employment Tax Calculator — federal SE tax for Utah freelancers.