PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island has the fourth-highest top statutory income tax rate of any U.S. state this year, according to Forbes.com.

The state’s top income tax rate for 2009 is 9.9 percent, and it applies to all taxable income over $372,950, Forbes said. (The top rate does not kick in until that threshold of income is reached; the amount below that is taxed at the same lower rates as apply to lower-earning taxpayers.)

The federal government’s top income tax bracket kicks in at $372,950 this year.

Forbes also noted that Rhode Island’s controversial flat income tax rate – which eliminates exemptions and deductions in exchange for a lower rate – is 6.5 percent this year, and is scheduled to fall to 6 percent in 2010 and 5.5 percent starting in 2011.

Only a few thousand taxpayers in Rhode Island used the flat tax last year, which liberal House lawmakers made a failed attempt to eliminate earlier this month during the budget debate.

“A high state individual income tax rate isn’t necessarily synonymous with a high overall state tax burden, since real estate and sales taxes must be considered too,” Forbes noted.

Forbes said the only states with top statutory rates on taxable income higher than Rhode Island’s are Hawaii (11 percent on income above $400,000 for married couples and above $200,000 for single residents); New Jersey (10.75 percent on income above $1 million); and California (10.55 percent on income above $1 million).

Behind Rhode Island is Vermont (9.4 percent on income above $372,950); Oregon (9 percent on income above $15,200 for couples and $7,600 for singles); and Iowa (8.98 percent on income above $63,315). New York, Maine and Minnesota completed the top 10.

However, some of the rates may have been changed since Forbes compiled its reports. A number of state legislatures were re-examining tax rates in recent weeks as they worked to close budget shortfalls before their fiscal years began today.