(RALEIGH) -- A new report comparing state business-tax climates shows that North Carolina has a lot of room for improvement.  The reports was released by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C.

In the report, North Carolina ranks 44th overall in terms of business taxes, compared with 41st a year ago. The report says Wyoming has the nation’s best business-tax climate; New Jersey, the worst.

“Clearly, we have an opportunity in this year’s General Assembly to pass tax legislation that helps draw businesses to the state and makes it easier for existing businesses to grow and create jobs,” said Gregg Thompson, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business. “There’s a real danger that we could lose potential jobs and even existing jobs to states with lower tax rates."

The entire Tax Foundation reports is available on-line at: http://www.taxfoundation.org/.