Texas
Permian residents paying most in Texas
There isn’t a region in the state where people will owe the most to the federal government than the Permian Basin.
There also are quite a few taxpayers in the Permian set to receive large refunds.
SmartAsset, a financial information website, reports that when it comes to the average tax amount owed, eight of the top 10 counties are located in West Texas. They include Martin, where the average amount owed topped $35,000, ranking it No. 1 in the state. Following Martin ($35,630) is Glasscock County ($33,944), Howard ($15,453), Reeves ($15,228) and Reagan ($14,560). Midland County ranked seventh with an average tax owed of $13,592.
Across the state, Smart Asset showed more than 2.57 million taxpayers owing an average of $6,458.
In terms of taxes refunded, the region where the average refund is highest is south Texas. Karnes County is No. 1. The average amount refunded for taxpayers there is $5,465. The next two counties are neighbors in the Permian – Glasscock ($4,757) and Midland ($4,691). The only other Permian county in the top 10 was Reagan ($4,313).
Across the state, there were 10.183 million taxpayers receiving an average of $3,358, according to SmartAsset.
In 2021, Glasscock and Midland counties ranked first and third respectively in average tax refunds. Martin County ranked first with an average tax amount owed of $29,100. There were eight Permian counties in the top 10.
In 2020, Midland ranked first for taxes refunded, and Martin was tops again for average taxes owed.
Highest tax refunds
Number
County receiving refunds refund average
Karnes 4,340 $5,465
Glasscock 370 $4,757
Midland 61,200 $4,691
DeWitt 6,350 $4,639
LaSalle 2,090 $4,573
Zapata 4,540 $4,562
Reagan 1,310 $4,313
Kendall $13,890 $4,184
Live Oak 3,700 $4,071
Goliad 2,480 $4,061
Places that owe the most
CountyNumber owing average owed
Martin 500 $35,530
Glasscock 180 $33,944
Howard 2,270 $15,453
Reeves 890 $15,228
Reagan 250 $14,560
DeWitt 1,460 $14,115
Midland 16,430 $13,592
Crockett 260 $13,558
Karnes 1,130 $13,236
Dawson 950 $13,138
Source: SmartAsset