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CDs vs T-bills (after tax, by state)

Updated Oct 16, 2026 · By Jeison Cobb

The short answer

A 1-year CD and a 52-week T-bill lock up your money for about the same time. CD interest is taxed by your state; T-bill interest isn't.

Best 1-yr CD: Marcus High-Yield CD (12-mo) at 4.40%. 52-wk T-bill: US T-Bill 52 Weeks at 4.47% (state-tax free). Data as of 2026-10-16 12:30 ET, federal bracket 22%.

52-wk T-bill wins in 51 of 51 states. Even before state tax, the Treasury pays more, so it wins in every state.

StateState tax1-yr CD after-tax52-wk T-bill after-tax1-yr CD APY needed to tie
Alabama5%3.26%3.49%4.71%
Alaska0%3.43%3.49%4.47%
Arizona2.5%3.35%3.49%4.58%
Arkansas3.9%3.30%3.49%4.65%
California13.3%2.98%3.49%5.16%
Colorado4.4%3.28%3.49%4.68%
Connecticut6.99%3.19%3.49%4.81%
Delaware6.6%3.21%3.49%4.79%
District of Columbia10.75%3.06%3.49%5.01%
Florida0%3.43%3.49%4.47%
Georgia5.19%3.25%3.49%4.71%
Hawaii11%3.05%3.49%5.02%
Idaho5.3%3.25%3.49%4.72%
Illinois4.95%3.26%3.49%4.70%
Indiana2.95%3.33%3.49%4.61%
Iowa3.8%3.30%3.49%4.65%
Kansas5.58%3.24%3.49%4.73%
Kentucky3.5%3.31%3.49%4.63%
Louisiana3%3.33%3.49%4.61%
Maine7.15%3.19%3.49%4.81%
Maryland6.5%3.21%3.49%4.78%
Massachusetts9%3.12%3.49%4.91%
Michigan4.25%3.29%3.49%4.67%
Minnesota9.85%3.09%3.49%4.96%
Mississippi4%3.29%3.49%4.66%
Missouri4.7%3.27%3.49%4.69%
Montana5.65%3.24%3.49%4.74%
Nebraska4.55%3.28%3.49%4.68%
Nevada0%3.43%3.49%4.47%
New Hampshire0%3.43%3.49%4.47%
New Jersey10.75%3.06%3.49%5.01%
New Mexico5.9%3.23%3.49%4.75%
New York10.9%3.06%3.49%5.02%
North Carolina3.99%3.30%3.49%4.66%
North Dakota2.5%3.35%3.49%4.58%
Ohio2.75%3.34%3.49%4.60%
Oklahoma4.5%3.28%3.49%4.68%
Oregon9.9%3.09%3.49%4.96%
Pennsylvania3.07%3.33%3.49%4.61%
Rhode Island5.99%3.23%3.49%4.75%
South Carolina6.2%3.22%3.49%4.77%
South Dakota0%3.43%3.49%4.47%
Tennessee0%3.43%3.49%4.47%
Texas0%3.43%3.49%4.47%
Utah4.5%3.28%3.49%4.68%
Vermont8.75%3.13%3.49%4.90%
Virginia5.75%3.23%3.49%4.74%
Washington0%3.43%3.49%4.47%
West Virginia4.82%3.27%3.49%4.70%
Wisconsin7.65%3.17%3.49%4.84%
Wyoming0%3.43%3.49%4.47%

FAQ

Are CDs or T-bills better?

As of 2026-10-16, the US T-Bill 52 Weeks (4.47%) beat the best 1-year CD (Marcus High-Yield CD (12-mo), 4.40%) after tax in 51 of 51 states, at a 22% federal bracket.

Can I sell a T-bill early?

Yes. T-bills can be sold before maturity on the secondary market (price may vary). CDs usually charge an early-withdrawal penalty.

Are CD earnings taxed by my state?

Yes. CD interest is taxed federally and by your state. T-bill interest is federal-only.

How is after-tax yield calculated?

CD: APY × (1 − federal) × (1 − state). T-bill: yield × (1 − federal).

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Why you can trust CashYield

Every rate comes from the provider's own page or official Treasury data, with a source link and date. If we can't read a value, we show "—" or "missing" and never guess. Rankings are sorted only by after-tax yield; sponsors can't buy a rank, and paid placements are always labeled. Badges show how your money is protected: bank deposits are FDIC-insured up to the limits; T-bills are backed by the US government; money market funds and ETFs are investments and are not FDIC insured. Methodology · Disclosure