Understanding Sales Tax Revenue in Your State and Region

Sales tax revenue is a crucial source of funding for state and local governments. In the United States, sales tax is a significant contributor to state revenue, with a total of $542 billion collected in 2020.

The amount of sales tax revenue collected varies significantly from state to state, with some states collecting as much as $30 billion or more annually. For example, California collected $63.9 billion in sales tax revenue in 2020, making it the largest source of state revenue.

Some states have a higher sales tax rate than others, which can impact the amount of revenue collected. In 2020, the state with the highest sales tax rate was Tennessee, with a rate of 7%. This can result in a higher sales tax revenue for the state, but it can also make goods and services more expensive for consumers.

Understanding sales tax revenue in your state and region is essential for making informed decisions about budgeting and financial planning.

Nebraska provides detailed sales tax data, including annual and monthly collections by county and city. This data is compiled from self-reported information by applicants requesting a sales tax permit.

To access this data, visit the Nebraska Non-motor Vehicle Sales Tax Collections by County and Selected Cities webpage. Here, you can find annual and monthly collections from 1999 to 2024.

For California, the Taxable Sales in California report provides quarterly data on retail sales activity, including statewide taxable sales by type of business and taxable sales in all California cities and counties.

You can also find city and county local sales tax distributions for various years on the City/County Annual Local Sales Tax Reports webpage. This data includes distributions for calendar years 2025 through 2015.

The Countywide Use Tax Reports webpage offers countywide use tax data to cities and counties for various years, from 2025 to 2014.

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You can find detailed information on taxable sales in California through the Open Data Portal, which provides quarterly reports on retail sales activity and taxable sales by type of business.

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration releases a 10-year historical summary of revenues by source of revenue, which can be found in Table 1.

Taxable sales in California cities and counties are also tracked and reported, giving you a comprehensive view of retail sales activity across the state.

To get an idea of the state's sales and use tax collections, you can check out Table 18, which shows historical data on collections from the General Fund tax rate by fiscal year.

You can also find information on the monthly half-percent sales tax for public safety, also known as Prop. 172, in the Payments section.

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New York State has a complex sales tax system, but one thing is clear: the state imposes a general sales tax on most goods and some services.

Local governments in New York State can also impose their own local sales tax, which can be a significant source of revenue. In 2019, local sales tax revenue totaled $16.9 billion.

This system can be confusing, especially for businesses and individuals who need to navigate the different tax rates. The state's Office of the State Comptroller has a publication that provides more information on local government sales taxes in New York State.

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Countywide Reports provide valuable insights into the financial health of counties. The Countywide Use Tax Reports show how much money is distributed to cities and counties each year.

You can find these reports for years 2014 to 2025 in the Countywide Use Tax Reports section, with each year's report listed separately. For example, CY 2025 Countywide Use Tax to Cities and Counties is available, along with reports for previous years.

The reports are organized by year, making it easy to compare data from one year to the next. This can be particularly useful for policymakers and business leaders who need to make informed decisions about local finances.

Here is a list of available Countywide Use Tax Reports:

Local sales tax collections in New York State totaled $22.1 billion in 2022, a 12.7% increase from 2021. This growth was driven by inflation and strong sales statewide, especially in New York City.

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The state's sales tax collections have shown a steady increase over the years, with a 5.3% growth in 2018, followed by a 3.9% growth in 2017. This trend suggests that the state's economy is recovering from the pandemic-related declines.

In 2023, local sales tax collections in New York State totaled $23 billion, a 4.2% increase from 2022. This growth was slower than in previous years, but still a positive sign for the state's economy.

Interestingly, the state's sales tax collections have been influenced by factors such as unemployment rates, wage growth, and consumer confidence. For example, in 2018, the state's low unemployment rate and steady wage growth contributed to a 6.0% increase in sales tax collections in the first half of the year.

New York City's sales tax collections have been a significant contributor to the state's overall growth, with a 20.6% increase in 2022 and a 28.5% increase in the first quarter of 2022. This growth was driven by strong sales in the city, particularly in the first quarter of 2022.

The state's sales tax collections have also been affected by inflation, with a 1.8% growth in the value of sales tax revenue in the third quarter of 2022, adjusted for inflation. This highlights the impact of inflation on the state's economy.

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Local sales tax collections in New York State totaled $23.4 billion in 2024, a 1.6% increase from 2023. This growth was slower than in previous years, but still a positive sign for the state's economy.

The state's sales tax collections have shown a steady decline in growth rates over the years, with a 3.7% growth in the first half of 2025, compared to a 4.2% growth in 2023. This trend suggests that the state's economy is experiencing a slowdown.

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If you're looking for detailed information on sales tax revenue, the monthly and quarterly reports are a treasure trove of data. The City/County Monthly Local Sales Tax Reports provide a comprehensive breakdown of sales tax distributions for each month of the year, dating back to January 2023.

You can find reports for specific months, such as City/County Local Sales Tax Distributions - September 2025 or City/County Local Sales Tax Distributions - January 2024. The reports also cover previous years, with data available for 2022 and beyond.

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If you prefer to see the data in a broader context, the City/County Annual Local Sales Tax Reports offer a yearly summary of sales tax distributions. You can find reports for calendar years 2025, 2024, and earlier, with data stretching back to 2014.

For a more detailed look at state sales tax revenue, the Monthly State Sales Tax by County reports provide a breakdown of state sales tax collections by county for each month. You can find reports for specific months, such as State Sales Tax Collections by County - June 2025 or State Sales Tax Collections by County - January 2025.

Here's a summary of the reports available:

Sales tax revenue is a crucial aspect of a state's economy, and understanding the data and statistics behind it can be incredibly valuable for businesses, policymakers, and individuals alike. The Nebraska state government provides a wealth of information on sales tax revenue through its reports.

Monthly state use tax collections by NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes are available dating back to January 2025, with data for previous years also available. You can find these statistics in the "Monthly State Use Tax by NAICS" section.

The state of Nebraska also breaks down sales tax revenue by county, with data available for non-motor vehicle sales tax collections and motor vehicle sales tax collections. The "Nebraska Non-motor Vehicle Sales Tax Collections by County and Selected Cities" and "Nebraska Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Collections by County" sections provide this information.

If you're interested in analyzing sales tax revenue by business classification, the "Nebraska Sales Tax Statistics by County and by Business Classification" tables are a valuable resource. These tables show net taxable sales and sales tax data for two years at a time, providing a useful snapshot of sales activity in different counties and business sectors.

For a broader view of sales tax revenue, the "Annual Sales Tax Summary" table provides a comprehensive summary of state net taxable sales and sales tax for other than motor vehicles, motor vehicles, and a combined state sales total. This data spans from 1967 to 2024.

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Here's a breakdown of the types of sales tax data available: