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District of Columbia vs Delaware Taxes (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of income tax, property tax, sales tax, capital gains, and retirement treatment between District of Columbia and Delaware for tax year 2026. Use the calculator below to estimate how much you would save (or pay) after relocating.

TaxDistrict of ColumbiaDelaware
State income tax (effective)6.75%6.60%
Long-term capital gains6.75%6.60%
Property tax (effective)0.56%0.61%
Combined sales tax6.00%0.00%
Retirement incomepartial-exemptpartial-exempt
Income systemprogressiveprogressive

Tax savings calculator

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Estimated 2026 burden

District of Columbia total tax

$22,046

Delaware total tax

$21,897

District of Columbia state tax

$6,676

Delaware state tax

$6,527

Difference

−$148

Delaware saves you money

As % of income

0.12%

Federal tax is identical in both columns and excluded from the difference. Numbers use 2026 IRS brackets, state effective rates, and the 3.8% NIIT where applicable.

Relocation analysis

Moving from District of Columbia to Delaware could save about $148 per year on this profile — roughly 0.12% of gross income.

  • Property tax difference on a $400k home: $200/yr.
  • Sales tax difference on $50k of taxable spending: $3,000/yr.
  • Capital gains difference per $10k gain: $15.

Key differences

  • District of Columbia: Top 10.75% bracket; 8.25% franchise tax on businesses.
  • Delaware: No sales tax; corporate franchise tax favors incorporation.
  • Income system: District of Columbia is progressive, Delaware is progressive.
  • Retirement: District of Columbia — partial exempt; Delaware — partial exempt.

Recommended Tax Filing Software

Once you know what you owe, file with software built for your situation. We compare the top U.S. options below.

Editor's pick

TurboTax

Best overall guided experience

4.7·$0 – $129 federal
  • Step-by-step interview
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  • W-2 + 1099 auto-import
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File with TurboTax

H&R Block

Best for in-person backup

4.5·$0 – $115 federal
  • Free in-person review
  • Strong refund accuracy guarantee
  • Easy import from prior software
  • State filing adds up
File with H&R Block

TaxAct

Best value for self-employed

4.3·$0 – $99 federal
  • Cheaper than TurboTax/H&R
  • Strong Schedule C tools
  • Price-lock guarantee
  • Fewer guidance tooltips
File with TaxAct

FreeTaxUSA

Best truly-free federal e-file

4.6·$0 federal / $14.99 state
  • Free federal filing for all forms
  • Cheap state filing
  • Supports complex situations
  • Plainer interface
File with FreeTaxUSA

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Comparison FAQs

It depends on income mix. Delaware has an effective income rate of 6.60% vs District of Columbia's 6.75%. Property tax (0.56% vs 0.61%) and sales tax can swing the answer.

Related resources

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