The county stack
MD is one of few states where local income tax is universal. A $120K earner in Montgomery County pays ~5.75% marginal state + 3.2% county ≈ 8.95% marginal — worse than NJ's 6.37% at the same income.
DC–MD–VA commuter triangle
MD residents working in DC owe MD tax (DC has no commuter tax). MD's combined ~9% top makes it the expensive leg of the triangle vs. VA's 5.75% flat-like and DC's ~8.95%.
2025 high-earner surcharge
Maryland's 2025 budget added two new top brackets — 6.25% over $500K and 6.5% over $1M — plus a capital-gains surcharge. High earners should re-run withholding.
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Read the guideFAQ
Why is my MD withholding higher than the 5.75% top rate?
Because your county adds 2.25%–3.2% on top. The state+county combined marginal rate for most earners is 7.95%–8.95%.
Does MD tax Social Security?
No. Social Security is exempt, and retirees 65+ get additional pension exclusions.
I live in MD and work in DC — who taxes me?
Only Maryland. DC does not tax non-residents, so you file and pay MD state + your county's local tax.
Living in the five boroughs changes the answer — the NYC paycheck calculator adds the city resident tax on top of state withholding.
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