District of Columbia Tax Guide

Bottom Line

Middle-Class Families: Tax-Friendly (Go to the Kiplinger Tax Map for Middle-Class Families)
Retirees: Most Tax-Friendly (Go to the Kiplinger Tax Map for Retirees)

From a tax standpoint, Washington, D.C., is generally a good place to live (if you can stand all the political talk, that is). The Nation's Capital has a progressive income tax structure that gets steep quickly, but the top rate of 8.95% is reserved for taxable income over $1 million.

The sales tax of 6% is modest, and property taxes in the District of Columbia are well below average (the median property tax rate is the eighth-lowest in the country).

D.C. does impose an estate tax, though.

District of Columbia Income Taxes

District of Columbia Income Tax Range

Low: 4% (on taxable income up to $10,000)

High: 10.75% (on taxable income over $1 million)

District of Columbia Taxation of Social Security Benefits

Social Security benefits are not taxed by the state.

District of Columbia Tax Breaks for Other Retirement Income

Tier 1 Railroad Retirement benefits are exempt.

District of Columbia Sales Tax

6% city sales tax.

• Groceries: Exempt
• Clothing: Taxable
• Motor Vehicles: Exempt from ordinary sales tax, but taxable under special 6% to 8% excise tax
• Prescription Drugs: Exempt

District of Columbia Real Property Taxes

In the District of Columbia, the median property tax rate is $575 per $100,000 of assessed home value.

District of Columbia Property Tax Breaks for Retirees

In the District of Columbia, the median property tax rate is $564 per $100,000 of assessed home value.

Homeowners 65 and older may be able to reduce their property tax by 50%. For 2022 property tax reductions, the total 2020 federal adjusted gross income of everyone living on the property, excluding tenants, must be less than $139,900.

Homeowners 65 and older whose adjusted gross income is less than $50,000 may qualify for property tax deferral.

In addition, if you're 65 or older, any property tax increase might also be capped at 5% (2% beginning October 1, 2022).

Seniors age 70 and older also have a higher income threshold for claiming the homeowner and renter property tax credit on their D.C. income tax return (the 2021 credit is worth up to $1,225). For the 2021 tax year, residents 70 and older are eligible for the credit if their federal adjusted gross income is $76,700 or less. For younger residents, the threshold is $56,200 or less.

District of Columbia Motor Fuel Taxes

Gasoline: 33.8¢ per gallon (34.2¢ per gallon effective October 1, 2022).
Diesel: 33.8¢ per gallon (34.2¢ per gallon effective October 1, 2022).

District of Columbia Sin Taxes

Cigarettes: $5.01 per pack ($5.02 per pack effective October 1, 2022)
Other tobacco products: 80% of wholesale price
Vapor products: 80% of wholesale price

Beer: $0.09 per gallon
Wine: $0.30 per gallon ($0.40 if above 14% alcohol by volume; $0.45 for sparkling wine)
Liquor: $1.50 per gallon
Off-premises alcohol sales are taxed at 10.25% (10% for to-go sales or delivery with food).

District of Columbia Estate and Inheritance Taxes

For 2022, Washington, D.C., estates valued over $4,254,800 million are subject to a city estate tax. Rates in 2022 range from 11.2% to 16%.