IRS migration data show Texas gained $5B as NY, CA lost billions

They could be the frontrunners in the race to become America’s next economic heavyweight.

The latest Internal Revenue Service (IRS) immigration data shows billions of dollars of taxpayer wealth flowing to Texas, while Census figures show the state’s largest metro areas continue to outpace much of the country in population growth, reinforcing a decades-long shift in America’s economic center of gravity.

Moreover, Texas is not tied to a single booming city. Dallas-Fort Worth added more residents than any other metro area in the country last year, while Houston, Austin and San Antonio also ranked among the nation’s fastest-growing metro areas.

This extraordinary breadth provides Texas with multiple engines of economic growth; It provides businesses with larger labor pools, diversified industries, and a broader customer base than states anchored by a single dominant city.

BILLIONS OF TAX REVENUES ARE LEAVING TWO ICONIC STATES AS A NEW ECONOMIC MAP EMERGES

The population explosion is accompanied by an influx of wealth. IRS transit data analyzed by the Tax Foundation shows the Lone Star State earned more than $5 billion in adjusted gross revenue from interstate carriers, while California and New York recorded losses in the billions of dollars.

“Capital follows where there is trust,” Texas Business Association Chief Policy Officer Gabriela von zur Muehlen previously told Fox News Digital. “And there is tremendous confidence in Texas right now.”

Von zur Muehlen said Texas’ tax structure and predictable regulatory environment continue to attract businesses and investments from other states are helping strengthen the state’s economic momentum.

While Florida attracted the nation’s largest inflow of taxpayer wealth and South Carolina recorded the strongest rate of inbound migration, Texas stood out by combining billions of dollars in new taxable revenue with rapid growth in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

Economists say the combination is important because higher-income households bring in spending, investment, entrepreneurship and tax revenue that can fuel job creation, fuel business development and attract more businesses. Over time, these forces can transform rapidly growing metropolises into some of the country’s most influential economic centers.

A Southern city you’ve never heard of is growing faster than anywhere else in America

Unlike simple censuses, adjusted gross income offers an insight into the economic resources newcomers brought with them. High-income households may contribute disproportionately to consumer spending, investment, and local tax collections, making income migration an important measure of a region’s long-term economic strength.

Migration data is only part of the story.

Previous federal estimates showed that Texas was not just adding new residents, it was growing richer per capita. Despite adding roughly 419,000 residents in 2025, per capita GDP continued to rise as Texas’ economic output rose to nearly $2.9 trillion; This suggests that the state’s economy is becoming more productive rather than growing.

RED STATES RACE AHEAD IN AMERICA’S MIGHTY WEALTH EXPLOSION – AND STATES FALLING BEHIND.

Texas has arguably become a top destination as businesses leave high-cost states. (Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News/Getty Images)

Business leaders say these trends are creating a self-reinforcing cycle. As more workers and higher-income households move to Texas, companies gain access to a larger labor pool and customer base, spurring additional hiring, investment and expansion. This growth creates more jobs and opportunities that can attract more residents.

This exodus coincided with years of corporate relocations and business investments across the state, particularly in technology, finance, manufacturing and energy. This influx has also fueled new housing projects, logistics centers, manufacturing projects and expanding commercial corridors in many of Texas’ fastest-growing metro areas.

Supporters of Texas’ economic model argue that the lack of a state income tax, relatively affordable cost of living, and business-friendly environment continue to attract both employers and workers and fuel the state’s long-term growth.

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California and New York continue to be among the nation’s largest and most influential economies.

But the latest Census, IRS and federal economic data show Texas continues to gain ground by simultaneously attracting people, taxpayer wealth and economic output; It’s an unusual combination that could reshape where businesses invest, jobs are created and economic clout grows over the next decade.