Tax revenue information is public record, but the source depends on what level of government you're looking at

Federal tax revenue data comes from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service. State tax revenue comes from your state's department of revenue or finance office. City and county revenue comes from the local finance or budget department. Each publishes reports online, though the format and detail level vary widely. You do not need special permission to view this information — it is open to the public.

The fastest route depends on what you actually need. If you want to know how much your state collected in income tax last year, the state revenue office has that in one place. If you want to see how your city spends the money it collects, the city budget office or city council publishes that breakdown. If you want to compare tax rates across states, the Tax Foundation and the Federation of Tax Administrators both maintain searchable databases.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal tax revenue data is published by the Treasury Department and the IRS, with detailed breakdowns available through their websites and annual reports.
  • State tax revenue information comes from your state's department of revenue or finance, usually in an annual report or on a public dashboard.
  • City and county revenue is found through the local finance department, city council meetings, or the municipal budget office.
  • Tax Foundation and the Federation of Tax Administrators maintain databases comparing tax rates and revenue across states, saving you from checking fifty websites.
  • Most government websites publish this data as PDF reports or spreadsheets, not in a single searchable format, so knowing the exact document name saves time.

Federal tax revenue: Treasury and IRS sources

The U.S. Department of the Treasury publishes an annual report called the Financial Report of the U.S. Government, which breaks down all federal revenue by source — income tax, payroll tax, excise tax, and other categories. You can read this from treasury.gov. The report is detailed but dense; it is meant for accountants and policy researchers, not casual reading.

The IRS publishes Statistics of Income, which shows how much income tax was collected, from how many people, at what income levels. This is updated annually and available at irs.gov/statistics. If you want to know whether high earners paid more or less tax in a given year, or how many people filed returns, this is the source.

For a simpler overview, the Treasury Department also publishes a monthly Treasury Bulletin with current revenue figures. This is shorter and more current than the annual report, though less detailed. Both are free to read.

State tax revenue: Department of Revenue and Finance offices

Every state publishes its own tax revenue data through the department of revenue or the department of finance — the name varies by state. To find yours, search "[your state name] department of revenue" or "[your state name] tax revenue report." Most states publish an annual report showing total revenue collected by tax type: income tax, sales tax, corporate tax, and others.

Some states also maintain a live dashboard or monthly update showing year-to-date revenue. These are often easier to read than the full annual report. For example, California publishes monthly revenue figures on the State Controller's website. New York publishes a quarterly revenue report. Check your state's finance office website for whatever format they use.

If your state's website is hard to navigate, the Federation of Tax Administrators (taxadmin.org) maintains links to every state's tax revenue page. This saves you from searching fifty different state websites.

City and county tax revenue: Budget and finance departments

Local tax revenue is published by the city or county finance department, usually as part of the annual budget document. Search "[your city name] budget" or "[your city name] finance department." Most cities post the budget online before the city council votes on it, usually in spring or early summer.

The budget document shows not just revenue collected but also where the money goes — police, schools, roads, parks, and so on. This is more useful than the revenue number alone, because it shows you the actual spending decisions. Some cities also publish a simplified "budget summary" or "budget overview" alongside the full document, which is easier to read.

If the city website does not have a clear link, call the city finance department directly. They can tell you where the budget is posted and whether they have a summary version. Many cities also hold public hearings on the budget, which you can attend or watch online.

Comparing tax rates and revenue across states

If you want to see how your state's tax rates compare to others, the Tax Foundation (taxfoundation.org) publishes state tax rate comparisons and historical revenue data. The Urban Institute (urban.org) also publishes research on state and local tax revenue trends. Both are nonprofit research organizations, not government agencies, but they compile government data into searchable formats.

The Census Bureau publishes Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, which shows revenue and spending for every state and many large cities. This is the official source for comparing across jurisdictions, though the data lags by a year or two. You can search it at census.gov.

For a quick visual comparison, the Tax Foundation's "State Business Tax Climate Index" ranks states by tax burden. This is not raw revenue data, but it shows which states collect the most tax relative to income, which is often what people actually want to know.

Finding specific revenue categories or time periods

If you need revenue from a specific tax — say, sales tax only, or corporate income tax — most government reports break it down by type. Look for a table of contents or summary page in the annual report. If the main report does not have what you need, call the revenue office and ask for the specific breakdown. They often have more detailed data than what appears on the website.

If you need data from several years back, most government websites keep archives. State revenue offices usually post the last five to ten years of reports. The IRS keeps Statistics of Income going back decades. The Census Bureau data goes back to 1967. If a specific year is missing from the website, the agency can usually provide it by request, though there may be a delay.

Understanding what the numbers actually mean

Revenue figures can be reported in different ways, which changes what they tell you. Some reports show revenue collected in a calendar year (January through December). Others show fiscal year revenue (which may run July through June, or October through September, depending on the state). Some reports show revenue when it was collected; others show revenue when it was earned. These differences matter if you are comparing across years or across jurisdictions.

Most government reports explain their methodology in the fine print or in an appendix. If the report does not explain it clearly, the revenue office can. This matters most if you are trying to compare your state to another state, or this year to last year, because the definitions have to match for the comparison to be fair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find how much tax my city collected last year?

Search "[your city name] budget" or "[your city name] finance department." The annual budget document shows total revenue by source. If the city website is unclear, call the finance department and ask for the annual budget or a revenue summary. Most cities post this before the city council votes on the next year's budget.

Can I see a breakdown of where tax money actually goes?

Yes. The budget document shows both revenue and spending. It breaks down spending by department — police, fire, schools, parks, roads — so you can see what percentage of the budget each gets. This is usually in a table or chart in the budget summary or the full budget document.

How do I compare my state's tax rate to other states?

The Tax Foundation publishes state tax rate comparisons at taxfoundation.org. The Federation of Tax Administrators also maintains links to every state's tax revenue page. Both let you see income tax rates, sales tax rates, and total tax burden across states without visiting fifty different websites.

Is the data I find online current, or is it always a year behind?

It depends on the source. Federal monthly revenue figures are published within weeks. State annual reports usually come out four to six months after the fiscal year ends. City budgets are published before the vote, which is usually in spring. Some states and cities also publish monthly or quarterly updates. Check the publication date on the report to know how current it is.

What if I cannot find the specific number I am looking for?

Call the revenue office directly. They have more detailed data than what appears on the website, and they can often provide breakdowns by tax type, time period, or category. There may be a delay if the data has to be pulled from archives, but the information is public and they are required to provide it.