States That Don’t Tax Social Security

Social Security income amounts to approximately 30% of income for seniors, and an average of 66 million Americans receive the benefit each month. In certain states, however, you could face steep tax rates depending on your total income.

To help you plan for retirement, we’ve outlined every state that doesn’t tax Social Security below. Additionally, we’ve outlined tax-friendly states for retirees based on pension taxes, income taxes, cost of living and more.

Some of these states, such as Alaska and Florida, have no income tax at all, meaning they don’t tax any form of retirement income including Social Security. Other states, such as Ohio and Indiana, have an income tax but choose to exempt Social Security.

While each above state won’t tax your Social Security benefits, it doesn’t mean you won’t be taxed at all. Your checks could still be taxed by the federal government if your individual income is greater than $25,000 or if you’re married with a joint income greater than $32,000.

Social Security taxes are important to know, but it’s also important to take into account the cost of living and taxes on pensions, 401(k)s and military benefits. Considering these factors, we’ve created a list of the 15 most income-friendly states for retirees.

State income tax: No

Pension tax: No

401(k) tax: No

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: N/A

Cost of living index: 90.3

Tennessee has no state income tax or taxes on other types of retirement income. It also has the sixth lowest cost of living, meaning it’s an ideal place to live and conserve your retirement funds.

State income tax: No

Pension tax: No

401(k) tax: No

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: N/A

Cost of living index: 91.66

Wyoming doesn’t tax any form of retirement income and has a 10% lower cost of living than the national average. Eligible veterans may also receive a property tax exemption of $3,000.

State income tax: Yes

Pension tax: No

401(k) tax: No

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: Mississippi’s income tax rate is 4% if you earn between $5,000 and $10,000 and 5% if you earn any more than that.

Cost of living index: 84.5

Though Mississippi’s state income tax rate hovers around 5%, residents aren’t taxed for any types of retirement income. Since Mississippi also has the lowest cost of living of any state in the country, it’s one of the best places to save money during retirement.

State income tax: No

Pension tax: No

401(k) tax: No

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: N/A

Cost of living index: 92.6

Texas is another state that doesn’t levy income taxes, which means it doesn’t tax your pensions or other sources of retirement income. Additionally, veterans with a disability rating of 100% are exempt from all property taxes.

State income tax: Yes

Pension tax: Yes

401(k) tax: Yes

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: Oklahoma’s income tax ranges from 0.25% for those who earn between $0 and $1,000 annually to 4.75% for those who earn more than $7,200.

Cost of living index: 86.7

Oklahoma doesn’t tax Social Security, has a lower than average income tax rate and the second lowest cost of living in the U.S. Pensions, 401(k)s and IRAs are taxable, but taxpayers over 65 receive a deduction of $10,000 on income from retirement accounts.

State income tax: No

Pension tax: No

401(k) tax: No

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: N/A

Cost of living index: 101.9

Nevada has an average cost of living but distinguishes itself as a tax-friendly state for retirees since it has no state income tax. The Silver State also offers property tax exemption for veterans who served in the U.S. military during a wartime period.

State income tax: Yes

Pension tax: None

401(k) tax: Yes

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: Alabama’s income tax ranges from 2% for those who earn less than $500 annually to 4.75% for those earning more than $3,000.

Cost of living index: 87.1

While Alabama has an average income tax rate of 2% to 5%, it doesn’t tax pensions or military retirement benefits at all. It has the third lowest cost of living of any state, making it easier to conserve income in your golden years.

If you own property, you’ll also benefit from the homestead exemption, which decreases homeowner property taxes. If you’re planning to rely on income from a 401(k) or IRA, however, you’ll be taxed at the regular income tax rate.

State income tax: Yes

Pension tax: Yes

401(k) tax: Yes

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: For Iowa, income tax ranges from 0.33% for those who earn less than $1,743 annually to 8.53% for those earning more than $78,435.

Cost of living index: 88.2

Iowa doesn’t tax military retirement income or Social Security. Income from 401(k)s, pensions and IRAs are taxed, but seniors can receive a deduction up to $6,000 if they file as single or $12,000 if they file jointly.

State income tax: No

Pension tax: No

401(k) tax: No

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: N/A

Cost of living index: 104.5

Florida has no state income tax, meaning residents aren’t taxed for pensions, 401(k)s or any other type of retirement income. That said, the cost of living is more expensive than the average state.

State income tax: Yes

Pension tax: Yes

401(k) tax: Yes

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: 5% flat rate

Cost of living index: 92.8

Social Security and military retirement income is exempt from taxation in Kentucky. While 401(k)s and IRAs are taxable, the Bluegrass State exempts retirement accounts with less than $31,110 from taxation. If your retirement income exceeds that amount, however, you’ll be taxed at the flat rate of 5%.

State income tax: Yes

Pension tax: Yes

401(k) tax: Yes

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: 3.23% flat rate

Cost of living index: 90.2

Indiana has an income tax rate on the lower side, at a flat rate of 3.23%. This and the state’s low cost of living helps seniors conserve funds during retirement. Starting with the 2022 tax year, military retirement pay will also be exempt from income taxes.

State income tax: Yes

Pension tax: Yes

401(k) tax: Yes

Military benefits tax: Yes (but deducted from income taxes)

Income tax rate/range: For Ohio, income tax ranges from 2.77% for those who earn $25,000-$44,250 to 3.99% for those earning more than $110,650.

Cost of living index: 89.4

Ohio doesn’t tax Social Security, but it taxes withdrawals from any retirement accounts as regular income. If your main source of income is an IRA or 401(k), this state won’t be very tax-friendly. However, the low cost of living will help offset funds lost from taxes.

State income tax: Yes

Pension tax: Yes

401(k) tax: Yes

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: For Arkansas, income tax ranges from 0.2% for those who earn less than $4,300 annually to 5.5% for those earning more than $8,500.

Cost of living index: 90.7

Arkansas has a cost of living 10% below average and provides tax deductions on retirement accounts of $6,000 for seniors 59.5 years of age and older.

State income tax: No

Pension tax: No

401(k) tax: No

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: N/A

Cost of living index: 114.0

As a Washington retiree, you are exempt from income taxes. However, the cost of living is 14% higher than the national average and its sales tax rate is one of the highest in the U.S. at 6.5%.

State income tax: No

Pension tax: No

401(k) tax: No

Military benefits tax: No

Income tax rate/range: N/A

Cost of living index: 114.7

New Hampshire doesn’t have income tax, estate tax or sales tax, but has the third highest property taxes in the country, and cost of living is 14% higher than the average state. New Hampshire also taxes investment income above $2,400, but residents ages 65 and older can receive a $1,200 deductible.

Choosing the right location for retirement can have a major impact on your finances and overall quality of life. That’s why it’s important to know the tax policies and cost of living for the state where you retire.

If necessary, you might consider relocating to preserve your retirement income. For some moving tips for seniors, check out our infographic below.

Another important consideration when retiring is the cost of health care. To familiarize yourself with Medicare and how it can help you pay for health care, check out our full Medicare guide.