PORTLAND – A new study released Wednesday gives Maine a low ranking for its business tax climate compared to other states.

The annual State Business Tax Climate Index by the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation ranks Maine 42nd in the country, up one place from last year.

The study rates states on how business friendly their tax systems are based on factors such as corporate, income and sales taxes, unemployment insurance and tax collections.

The top states on the list were Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska and Nevada. New Hampshire was ranked seventh.

Rhode Island came in at the bottom, followed by Ohio, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.

In the ranking, Maine was given a high mark for its sales tax system and low marks for corporate, income, unemployment and property taxes.

The Tax Foundation, which calls itself a nonpartisan tax research group, says states that rank high on the index have competitive tax systems and are suited to generate economic growth.