The Utah Taxpayers Association has released its 2026 Beehive Family Report, revealing the scope of local, state and federal taxes paid by a typical middle-class Utah family.
The report analyzes the finances of the fictional “Bob and Brooke Beehive Family,” a family of five living in Salt Lake City. Built using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Utah State Tax Commission, the model reflects a realistic snapshot of a Utah household.
In 2025, the Beehive Family earned $123,716 and paid a total of $34,482 in taxes, equal to 28% of their household income. That translates to nearly 2½ hours of every workday spent paying taxes.
“Most people think taxes are about what comes out of their paycheck for income taxes but that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Billy Hesterman, President of the Utah Taxpayers Association. “When you stack up payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes and all the hidden taxes built into everyday life, the total burden is much heavier than most Utah families realize.”
The report finds that the largest share of the family’s tax burden comes from Social Security and Medicare taxes, totaling $12,239, or 36% of all taxes paid. State income taxes totaled $3,851—exceeding the family’s federal income tax bill of $3,263 due to the impact of federal child tax credits.
Sales taxes also make up a significant portion of the burden. The Beehive Family paid $3,455 in sales taxes in 2025, driven in part by rising consumer prices and increased household spending. Property taxes added another $3,684, with the largest share going to fund the local school district.
More detailed information about what the Beehive family paid in auto taxes, taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and more can be found in the included report.
The Beehive Family Report is published annually by the Utah Taxpayers Association to provide transparency and help Utahns better understand the burden of taxes they pay at the federal, state, and local levels.
