Minnesotans Pay the 12th Most Federal Tax in the United States… See Where It Comes From

Written by Patrick MacFarland
Published: January 22, 2024
Share on:

Advertisement


There’s the age-old saying that there are two things that are constant in life: death and taxes. Everyone has to pay taxes, but also every entity including corporations, small businesses, and even states. But states also receive money — usually from taxes people pay or from federal funding. When it comes to the federal government, they mainly rely on the people and states’ taxes for funding, as well as other investments. 

In terms of states, California pays the most. Unfortunately for the state, it receives less money from the federal government. Vermont, on the other hand, gets more than what they give. When it comes to Minnesota, they pay the 12th most federal tax in the United States. Let’s take a look at where the money comes from. If you want further information, you can look at the IRS website, as well.

Federal Taxes

St. Paul, Minnesota night skyline along the Mississippi River

The total amount the IRS collected from the State of Minnesota was $122,140,057,000.

©Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock.com

When it comes time for tax season, there are taxes for everything. There are taxes for when you receive an inheritance. There are taxes when you buy a house. Also, there are taxes for when you have a business and for pretty much everything. Minnesota pays the 12th most in federal taxes. However, the question we ask ourselves is, where do the federal taxes that Minnesota pays come from? The IRS has an informational table that outlines the different types of taxes that they collect from each state. For example, the federal government collects on individuals’ tax returns, as well as corporations’ taxes. And because the US ensures there are taxes for everything — no one escapes them, unless they have a really good accountant.

As the twenty-second most populous state, the Land of 10,000 Lakes pays billions to the federal government, which is more than it receives. The reality is that they are the least dependent state in the nation. Their taxes paid come out to a total of $122,140,057,000. Given that Minnesota has a population of 5.7 million, that’s roughly $6.88 for every federal dollar it receives in funding. Minnesota has a lot of farms and industries, which means it generates a lot of money. In turn, it ends up paying more than what it gets.

Federal Funding

Lake Kabetogama, Voyaguers National Park

Out of all the taxes paid by Minnesota, the highest taxes paid are individual income taxes withheld and FICA taxes, which amount to $88 billion that went to the federal government.

©StevenSchremp/iStock via Getty Images

When it comes to federal funding, every single state gets it. However, the amount of federal funding that each state gets varies depending on several reasons. Some states are small and may not have enough economic backing to be self-sufficient, so they have to rely on the federal government for money. For example, California and Minnesota can sustain themselves with much help from the federal government. That’s why they get less than other states like Vermont. Minnesota’s state budget has outlined $58 billion in expenditures. It was passed by the State Legislature and approved by Governor Tim Walz. There is also expected to be a budget surplus (only spending what is in the general fund and not the total amount).

The outlined state budget would get most of its revenue from various federal funding grants, as well as state taxes collected from individuals. That’s right, each state relies on individuals and corporations. With that money they make sure there are sufficient funds to pay for a myriad of things like street and highway construction, school and daycare programs, repairs for buildings and other things, and other needed programs.

Conclusion

Aerial view of the Twin Cities suburb of Woodbury in Minnesota

Out of all the taxes paid by Minnesota in 2022, the lowest tax collected was the gift tax, in which the federal government collected roughly about $23 million.

©Wirestock/iStock via Getty Images

And there you have it, Minnesota pays the 12th most federal tax in the United States. It comes from a variety of taxes like business income taxes, individual income taxes, estate taxes, gift taxes, and many more. The taxes the federal government receives ensure the federal government is funded for so many programs and things that people need, like welfare programs, Social Security, healthcare subsidies, and defense. Millions of people also work for the federal government and that’s how they get paid. The bottom line is that Minnesota is better off when these things are funded, that’s for sure.

Summary of Taxes Paid in Minnesota

TaxesAmount
Total Internal Revenue Collections$122,140,057
Business income taxes$14,742,702,000
Individual income tax withheld and FICA tax$88,951,134,000
Individual income tax payments and SECA tax$16,617,311,000
Unemployment insurance tax$183,411,000
Railroad retirement tax$93,080,000
Estate and trust income tax$495,190,000
Estate tax$220,060,000
Gift tax$23,637,000
Excise taxes$813,532,000

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Maxger/iStock via Getty Images


Share on:
About the Author

Patrick Macfarland is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering travel, geography, and history. Patrick has been writing for more than 10 years. In the past, he has been a teacher and a political candidate. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from SDSU and a Master's Degree in European Union Studies from CIFE. From San Diego, California, Patrick loves to travel and try new recipes to cook.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.