Revenue & Tax

Revenue is essential to funding the priorities of the state and supporting vital public services. State and local revenue in New Hampshire stems primarily from taxes, and each resident, visitor, and employer has a vital role in generating the resources required to maintain essential systems and meet the needs of Granite Staters.

Property taxes are the primary revenue source for local governments, while the largest tax revenue sources for the State are taxes on business profits and compensation, restaurant meals and hotel room rentals, tobacco sales, real estate transactions, insurance premiums, motor fuels, and other economic activity. State revenue also comes from sales by State-operated enterprises selling liquor and lottery tickets.

NHFPI seeks to improve public understanding of New Hampshire’s revenue system, its role in financing state expenditures, and the impact it has on families and individuals at different income levels.

 

Property Taxes in New Hampshire: How They Work and How They Compare

A new analysis finds that a $500,000 home’s property tax bill can range from $1,310 to $18,270 depending on which New Hampshire town or city you live in. The report looks at the property tax landscape in New Hampshire, finding high property tax burdens compared to other states, heavy reliance on local property taxes, limited state support, and disproportionate impacts on lower-income households.

What We’re Reading — the March 2026 Edition

On the last Friday of each month, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute’s research team shares a curated list of books, research papers, podcasts, and more that are helping to shape our understanding of the economic wellbeing of the Granite State and beyond. Here are our picks for March 2026: 📝 New Hampshire’s Struggling Manufacturing ...

🎙️ New Hampshire Uncharted Season 2, Episode 3: Who Pays for Public Education in New Hampshire?

Public education is one of the largest investments New Hampshire makes, and one of the most debated. In Episode 3 of Season Two of New Hampshire Uncharted, host Gene Martin is joined by New Hampshire State Representative Walter Spilsbury, Vice Chair of the House Education Funding Committee, to discuss House Bill 1800, a proposal that could significantly change how education funding works in the Granite State. 

This Pi Day, NHFPI Is Serving Up…Pie Charts

March 14 is Pi Day, when people across the country celebrate the mathematical constant π (3.14) with slices of their favorite pies. This Pi Day, our Research Team is sharing something they love even more than pie: pie charts.

February Revenues Show Strong Final Push from Tax Amnesty Program and Adds to Surplus

According to a new NHFPI analysis, February revenues surged past expectations after New Hampshire’s Tax Amnesty Program generated far more than forecast, pushing the State’s fiscal year totals into surplus. But the one-time windfall also obscures mixed results from key ongoing revenue sources. With major business tax payments due in March and April, the State’s fiscal outlook remains uncertain.