Overall government tax collections for states increased $55.7 billion to $757.2 billion in fiscal year 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. Corporate net income tax revenue was at$40.2 billion, up 9.4 percent, while tax revenue on individual income was at $259.1 billion, up 9.8 percent. General sales tax revenue was at $234.5 billion, up 5.4 percent. Corporate net income tax revenue, individual income tax revenue and general sales tax revenue comprised 70.5 percent of all state government tax collections nationally. 

These new statistics come from the 2011 Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections, which contains annual statistics on the fiscal year tax collections of all 50 state governments, including receipts from licenses and compulsory fees. This survey provides an annual summary of taxes collected by states for up to 25 tax categories. Tax revenues also include related penalty and interest receipts of the governments.

"The nationwide increases in state government tax revenue are an indication of the stabilization of revenues for state governments," said Lisa Blumerman, chief of the Governments Division. "These data help us understand the condition of our state governments and their fiscal ability to continue to provide public services."

All 50 states saw an increase in total tax revenue in fiscal year 2011, led by North Dakota (44.5 percent), Alaska (22.4 percent),Illinois (15.3 percent), and New Mexico (15.1 percent). 

Among some of the findings from selected tax categories:

• States with the largest percent increase in revenue from individual income taxes were North Dakota (42.6 percent), Illinois(31.9 percent), Arizona (18.5 percent) and Indiana (18.5 percent).
• States with the largest percent increase in motor fuels tax revenue were California (80.3 percent), Alaska (37.4 percent),North Dakota (13.1 percent) and Kentucky (10.6 percent).
• Severance taxes — collected for removal or harvesting of natural resources (e.g., oil, gas, coal, timber, fish, etc.) — were up $3.5 billion, a 31.2 percent increase. This followed a 16.4 percent decrease in fiscal year 2010. The largest increases in severance tax revenue were seen in the West.
• Revenue on taxes imposed distinctively on insurance companies and measured by gross or adjusted gross premiums (insurance premium sales tax) increased $593.8 million, up 3.8 percent. This followed a 5.3 percent increase in fiscal year 2010. The largest increases in insurance premium sales tax revenue were seen in the Northeast and South.