Montana Tax & Salary Calculators (2026)
Everything you need to work out pay and tax as a Montana resident in 2026, in one place. Montana runs 2 progressive brackets from 4.70% to 5.90% after a $16,100 state standard deduction. Federal income tax and FICA (6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 plus 1.45% Medicare) apply on top, identically in every state — the Montana layer is what makes your net pay different from a neighbour's.
Montana consolidated its 7-bracket system to just two brackets (4.7% and 5.9%) in 2026 — paired with a federal-conforming standard deduction. Cost of living in Montana sits at index 102 (US average = 100), median household income is $66,800, and a one-bedroom apartment in Billings rents for around $1,150 per month. The local economy leans on energy, agriculture, and tourism.
Montana calculators
Montana income tax brackets 2026 (single filer)
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $20,500 | 4.70% |
| $20,500 and up | 5.90% |
Montana has no state sales tax — one of only five US states without a general sales tax.
Montana tax facts beyond income tax (2026)
| State sales tax | None |
| Avg. effective property tax | 0.74% of home value |
| Minimum wage 2026 | $10.85 / hour |
| Top state income tax rate | 5.90% |
| Reciprocity agreements | North Dakota |
Montana charges no general sales tax, homeowners pay an average effective property tax of 0.74% of market value, and the minimum wage in force during 2026 is $10.85 an hour. No general sales tax; some resort towns levy a local option tax.
Montana adds no state-mandated employee payroll deduction beyond federal FICA, so your gross-to-net gap comes only from federal tax and Montana income tax.
Montana taxes most retirement income, including Social Security above federal thresholds, with a modest subtraction at 65+.
Commuting and remote work across Montana lines
Montana holds income-tax reciprocity agreements with North Dakota. If you commute between them, your wages are taxed only by your state of residence — file the exemption certificate with your employer so the wrong state is not withheld from every paycheck.
If you work remotely for an out-of-state employer, the state where you physically sit normally has the first claim on your wages, while your employer may still be required to register for Montana withholding. Keep a day-count record whenever you split the year between Montana and Wyoming.
Montana vs Wyoming: $75,000 salary compared
| Measure | Montana | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Annual take-home | $58,363 | $61,593 |
| Effective tax rate | 22.2% | 17.9% |
| Cost-of-living index | 102 | 96 |
| Property tax rate | 0.74% | 0.61% |
| State sales tax | None | 4% |
The paycheck difference is $3,229 a year on a $75,000 salary, but the full picture depends on housing: a one-bedroom in Billings runs about $1,150 a month, and property and sales taxes shift the balance again. See the Wyoming hub for the mirror view.