Alabama charges 2-5% state income tax plus local taxes in some areas. Use the tax refund estimator pre-loaded with Alabama rates.
Open Tax Refund Estimator →In Alabama, you may receive refunds at both the federal and state level. Your state refund depends on how your employer's graduated withholding compared to your actual Alabama tax liability. Common reasons for a state refund include credits, deductions, or withholding calibrated for a higher income than you actually earned. Local tax refunds in Alabama are handled separately and add another variable. Use this estimator to project both your federal and Alabama state refund amounts.
Alabama uses a graduated income tax with brackets ranging from 2-5%. Lower income is taxed at lower rates, with the 5% top rate applying only to income in the highest bracket. This progressive structure means your effective state tax rate is always lower than the top marginal rate. In addition, some Alabama localities impose their own income tax, which stacks on top of the state rate. This is especially notable in areas like certain cities and counties. Always check your local rate when calculating total tax liability.
The table below shows what you actually keep at five salary levels in Alabama, accounting for federal tax, FICA, and Alabama's graduated (2-5%) state tax plus estimated local taxes.
See how Alabama compares to other South states. Each link takes you to the tax refund estimator landing page for that state.
For a comprehensive breakdown of Alabama’s tax structure, salary comparisons, cost-of-living analysis, and more, visit the full Alabama take-home pay page.