2026 tax year · Delaware
Local income tax in Delaware
Wilmington is the most expensive of the Delaware levies we hold, $1,000 on $80,000, on top of federal and state tax.
A flat percentage on gross wages, with a matching tax at the same rate on self-employed profit.
Wilmington charges commuters the same 1.25% as residents, no reduced rate for people who only work there.
What the Delaware levies cost on $80,000
| Jurisdiction | How it is worked out | On $80,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 1.25% on wages and the same on net profits | $1,000 |
Does it reach self-employment profit?
Yes. In Delaware the local tax reaches net profit from self-employment, not only wages. No employer withholds it, so it is on you to pay it, usually alongside your quarterly estimates, and it is routinely missed for exactly that reason.
What catches people out in Delaware
Wilmington is the only place in Delaware with a municipal wage tax. It is 1.25% on gross earned income.
Unlike Michigan, there is no reduced rate for people who work in the city but live elsewhere, residents and commuters pay exactly the same 1.25%.
A separate Net Profits Tax, also at 1.25%, covers sole proprietors and partnerships, so working for yourself does not avoid it.
The rate is set by the Delaware General Assembly rather than by the city, so it moves with state legislation rather than city budgets.
These figures were checked in July 2026 against Delaware city and state revenue sources, and we rate our confidence in them as high. Local rates change by council vote and local referendum far more often than state rates do, so confirm yours with the city or county itself before relying on a number here.
What these words mean
- Net profit
- What your business earned after business expenses, before any tax. It is the figure the self-employment tax is charged on, not what you took out of the business.
- Sole proprietor
- Someone who works for themselves without forming a company. The default if you started working for yourself and never registered anything, you and the business are the same legal person for tax.
Related
- Local income tax in every state
- 1099 taxes in Delaware
- Paycheck in Delaware
- Quarterly payments in Delaware
- S-corp election in Delaware
General information about how these taxes work, not tax advice. Local rates change by ordinance and referendum, confirm with your jurisdiction or a tax professional before acting on anything here.