Taxes in Bismarck
Bismarck and North Dakota's real, current 2026 tax picture combines a real, genuinely low-rate graduated state income tax (topping out at 2.50%) and a moderate 8% combined sales tax with a moderately above-national, below-state-median property tax rate -- a genuinely different combination than states carrying either no income tax at all or a higher-rate income tax.
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Learn moreNorth Dakota's Real, Genuinely Low-Rate Graduated Income Tax
North Dakota levies a real, current, graduated state individual income tax -- but at genuinely low rates relative to most income-tax states. This record cites three 2026 brackets: 0% on taxable income up to $48,475 (single filers), 1.95% up to $244,825, and a top rate of 2.50% above that. These are disclosed as provisional, inflation-adjusted 2026 figures pending final confirmation from the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner -- movers should verify the final, confirmed current-year brackets directly before relying on this as a final figure.
A Moderate Combined Sales Tax
Bismarck's real, current combined sales tax rate is 8% (5% North Dakota state rate + 1% Burleigh County + 2% Bismarck municipal add-on) -- a moderate rate by national cross-state standards, this record discloses directly alongside North Dakota's genuinely low-rate income tax.
Property Tax Runs Above the National Figure but Below the State Median
As detailed on the property-taxes topic page, Bismarck's own cited citywide effective rate (~1.09%) runs above the ~1.02% national comparison figure, but below North Dakota's own cited statewide median (~1.20%) -- a real, genuinely more moderate picture than several other Tier A+ markets in this project's dataset.
A Genuinely Different Overall Tax Profile Than No-Income-Tax States
Unlike neighboring South Dakota (which levies no state income tax at all), North Dakota's real tax structure includes a genuine, if genuinely low-rate, graduated income tax -- movers relocating specifically to minimize total tax burden should weigh North Dakota's real, combined tax profile (low-rate income tax, moderate sales tax, moderate property tax) carefully against other states under consideration, including truly no-income-tax states.
Key takeaways
- North Dakota's 2026 graduated income tax runs from 0% to a genuinely low top rate of 2.50% -- disclosed as provisional figures pending the state's final confirmation.
- Bismarck's combined sales tax is 8% (5% state + 1% county + 2% municipal) -- a moderate rate nationally.
- Bismarck's own effective property tax rate (~1.09%) runs above the national comparison figure but below North Dakota's own statewide median (~1.20%).
- North Dakota's combined tax profile (low-rate income tax, moderate sales and property tax) is genuinely different from truly no-income-tax states like neighboring South Dakota -- weigh both carefully if minimizing total tax burden is a priority.
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