Where My Taxes Go

Where state taxes goNew York, fiscal 2023

Where do my state taxes go in New York?

Of every dollar New York's state government spends, 44¢ goes to public welfare and 25¢ to education.$229.5 billion of general spending in fiscal year 2023 (April 2022 to March 2023): $11,601 per resident, 9th highest of the 50 states. 39% of the money came from the federal government.

Spending per resident
$11,601
#9 of 50 · all states $8,834
State taxes per resident
$6,327
#6 of 50
From federal funds
39%
of general revenue · #23 of 50

Where the money goes

General spending rose 6.8% on fiscal 2022 ($214.8 billion). The table under the chart has each function per resident, its rank and its change.

Public welfare and education take 69% of New York's spending

State government general expenditure by function, fiscal year 2023 (April 2022 to March 2023). Small print: the share in all 50 states combined.

FunctionSpendingShare
Public welfare 36% in all states$101.2B44.1%
Education 32% in all states$56.8B24.7%
Other 9% in all states$26.5B11.5%
Public health 3% in all states$12.0B5.2%
Government administration 4% in all states$8.2B3.6%
Hospitals 5% in all states$7.8B3.4%
Highways 6% in all states$7.7B3.4%
Interest on debt 1% in all states$3.3B1.4%
Prisons and corrections 2% in all states$3.3B1.4%
State police 1% in all states$1.3B0.6%
Parks and recreation 0% in all states$903.3M0.4%
Natural resources 1% in all states$591.6M0.3%
Per resident, rank and change for every function
FunctionNew York per residentAll states per residentRank (1 = most)Change since 2022
Education$2,869$2,78723 of 50+7%
Public welfare$5,116$3,1932 of 50+10%
Hospitals$396$40821 of 50+13%
Public health$605$2884 of 50-2%
Highways$389$53445 of 50+7%
State police$65$7428 of 50+7%
Prisons and corrections$165$19734 of 50-0%
Natural resources$30$11250 of 50+0%
Parks and recreation$46$2915 of 50+5%
Government administration$417$32119 of 50+9%
Interest on debt$166$10910 of 50-18%
Other$1,339$7828 of 50+2%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State Government Finances, 2023.

On your state tax bill

Your state taxes split in proportion to New York's 2023 general spending. State spending is funded by taxes, federal funds and fees together, so this shows how a tax dollar divides, not which dollar pays for what.

Goes toOf $1,000Of $2,500Of $5,000
Public welfare$441$1,103$2,205
Education$247$618$1,236
Other$115$288$577
Public health$52$130$261
Government administration$36$90$180
Everything else$108$271$541

Where the money comes from

New York collected $58.8 billion in individual income tax in fiscal 2023, 47% of its tax revenue.

Federal funds are New York's largest source of general revenue

State government general revenue by source, fiscal year 2023 (April 2022 to March 2023)

SourceRevenueShare
Federal funds$96.8B38.8%
Individual income tax$58.8B23.5%
Corporate income tax$24.3B9.7%
General sales tax$19.0B7.6%
Charges and fees (tuition, hospitals, tolls)$13.9B5.6%
Selective sales taxes (fuel, tobacco, alcohol, insurance)$13.9B5.6%
Interest, lottery and other$13.8B5.5%
Other taxes (severance, estate and others)$7.3B2.9%
Licenses (vehicles, businesses, hunting)$1.9B0.8%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State Government Finances, 2023.

Federal money and New York

Federal taxes paid by New York residents and businesses: how much federal tax New York pays. Federal spending in the state: federal money in New York. For federal taxes, see where your federal taxes go.

Questions and answers

Where do my state taxes go in New York?
Of every dollar New York's state government spent in fiscal year 2023 (April 2022 to March 2023), 44¢ went to public welfare, 25¢ to education and 12¢ to other purposes. Total general spending was $229.5 billion.
How much does New York spend per person?
$11,601 per resident in fiscal 2023, 9th highest of the 50 states (all states together: $8,834).
How much of New York's budget comes from the federal government?
39% of general revenue ($96.8 billion) in fiscal 2023 came from the federal government, the largest part for Medicaid. By that share New York ranks 23rd of the 50 states (1st = most reliant). Taxes were 50%.
Does New York have a state income tax?
New York collected $58.8 billion in individual income tax in fiscal 2023, 47% of its tax revenue.
How much does New York spend on education and Medicaid?
Education $56.8 billion (25%) and public welfare, mostly Medicaid, $101.2 billion (44%) in fiscal 2023. Education spending includes aid to local school districts, which then add their own property-tax money.
How much debt does New York's state government have?
$128.6 billion at the end of fiscal 2023, $6,499 per resident. Local governments' debt is separate.

Other states

All 50 states

Sources and notes

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State Government Finances, "ASFIN State Totals" tables for 2022 and 2023 (Last Revised: September 16, 2025). Thousands of dollars in the source. Public domain.
  2. General expenditure is the state government's spending excluding its utilities, liquor stores and insurance trust funds (state employee pensions and unemployment benefits). It includes aid passed to local governments.
  3. Fiscal years end on 30 June in 46 states; New York (31 March), Texas (31 August), and Alabama and Michigan (30 September) differ.
  4. Population: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates, July 2023.