What Do State Taxes Do?

Learn what state taxes are and what they do in this informative worksheet! Students will read six different needs that a state’s population has. They’ll match these needs to the way that state taxes help to meet them. Learners will read a brief scenario about a state deciding how to spend its tax money, then write about the benefits and drawbacks of this spending decision. 

The concept of taxes can be confusing and intimidating to students. This worksheet is designed to clarify the purpose of taxes for middle schoolers, helping them recognize how tax-funded services affect the daily lives of a state’s population. Students will also work on their critical thinking as they consider how a state might want to spend its budget. 

Learn more about taxes in What Do Local Taxes Do?, What Do Federal Taxes Do?, and How Do State Governments Collect Taxes?