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Do the Math: District's Taxes Aren't the Worst

(Daniel Acker - Bloomberg News)

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D.C.: $15,027

Fairfax: $13,317

Arlington: $13,302

Alexandria: $13,117

A couple of other tax curiosities:

Virginia has far higher taxes on alcohol than either Maryland or the District. But as you might expect, tobacco is taxed in Virginia at a little more than half the rate of other jurisdictions -- old ways die hard.

The District, true to reputation, is a more expensive place in which to do business: Its corporate tax rate of 9.975 percent is well above Maryland's 8.25 percent and Virginia's 6 percent.

Again, surprisingly, the District abolished its inheritance tax back in 1987, while Maryland still charges 1 percent for spouses and children and 10 percent for indirect inheritors. Virginia doesn't have an inheritance tax per se but does levy a tax of 10 cents per $100 of value on the probate of wills.

The District is no tax haven, but it's also far from the tax house of horrors it is often portrayed as.

Now, if it could only make certain more of those tax dollars actually get spent on government functions . . .

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