Most retirement dreams are built on the foundation of financial security, and for many Americans, Social Security benefits are the cornerstone of that security. However, many retirees are surprised to learn that their Social Security benefits may be taxed by the Federal government and even some states!
Luckily, most states don’t fall into this category. Many states provide exemptions for Social Security income, giving retirees extra breathing room. If you live in one of these states, your benefits can stretch further.
We dove into the laws surrounding each state to give you an accurate depiction of the taxes they may collect from your Social Security (or not). Below, we’ve listed all states without Social Security taxes in no particular order.
Generally, these states fall into two different categories. They either have no income tax at all or provide exemptions for those receiving Social Security.
Why Does it Matter?
Source: Lane V. Erickson / Shutterstock.com
As the grocery bill climbs and gas prices become ridiculous, making the most of your retirement income becomes even more important. Many retirees rely on Social Security, and taxes only reduce the amount of money in their pockets. If you don’t live in one of the states mentioned below, you may need to budget for extra taxes on your Social Security income.
You can learn more about planning for retirement on our Social Security hub page.
1. Alabama
Source: Alexander Lukatskiy / Shutterstock.com
Alabama does not have any state-level income tax at all. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about paying taxes on your Social Security income.
2. Arkansas
Source: Zack Frank / Shutterstock.com
Arkansas offers retirees a natural financial advantage, allowing them to skip paying their Social Security taxes.
3. Florida
Source: Alexander Lukatskiy / Shutterstock.com
Florida is another state without income taxes, which means they also don’t require taxes to be paid on Social Security income.
4. Georgia
Source: Norm Lane / iStock via Getty Images
Georgia exempts Social Security from state income tax, so you can focus on enjoying your golden years. The vast majority of Social Security retirees qualify.
5. Louisiana
Source: Nina Alizada / Shutterstock.com
Louisiana lets you keep all of your Social Security benefits despite having a state income tax. They have laws exempting Social Security from these taxes.
6. Oklahoma
Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images
Oklahoma also joins the ranks of states that don’t tax your Social Security, giving you more freedom in your golden years.
7. South Carolina
Source: Alexander Lukatskiy / Shutterstock.com
South Carolina keeps your Social Security benefits out of the state taxman’s grasp so you can relax and enjoy the Lowcountry charm. The state does have an income tax, but they provide exemptions for Social Security.
8. Tennessee
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
The Volunteer State has no income tax, allowing retirees to keep their whole Social Security check in their pockets.
9. Texas
Source: dibrova / iStock via Getty Images
Texas is another state that doesn’t have any state income tax, allowing everyone to keep as much of their income in their pocket as possible. This includes retirees receiving Social Security.
10. Virginia
Source: AustralianCamera / Shutterstock.com
Virginia offers a tax-free haven for your Social Security. They do have a state income tax, but they don’t make retirees pay taxes on their Social Security.
11. Alaska
Source: Maridav / Shutterstock.com
Since there’s no state income tax here, your retirement income stays yours. It’s one of the few states that doesn’t implement an income tax at all.
12. Arizona
Source: rtrible / iStock via Getty Images
Retirees in Arizona get to keep their whole Social Security check, thanks to the state’s specific exemptions.
13. California
Source: fivetonine / Shutterstock.com
The Golden State also exempts all Social Security income from the state income tax, making your retirement a little bit brighter.
14. Colorado
Source: marekuliasz / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado is a bit complicated. They allow retirees to deduct up to $24,000 of Social Security benefits from their income, which removes the Social Security tax in practice (though not necessarily in name).
15. Hawaii
Source: Alexander Lukatskiy / Shutterstock.com
Hawaii also exempts those receiving Social Security benefits from paying state income taxes on those benefits. However, they do have a state income tax that may affect other portions of your income.
16. Idaho
Source: Kirk Fisher / iStock via Getty Images
Idaho does have a state income tax. However, they offer exemptions for Social Security benefits.
17. Illinois
Source: EJ_Rodriquez / iStock via Getty Images
Social Security benefits are also exempt from Illinois state income tax. However, you may have to pay tax on other parts of your income.
18. Indiana
Source: DnDavis / Shutterstock.com
Indiana exempts Social Security, letting you enjoy all the state has to offer tax-free. This is through exemption, though, as the state does have an income tax.
19. Iowa
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Iowa offers tax cuts to retirees by exempting Social Security from state income taxes. Therefore, you can keep a bit more money in your pocket if you live in this state.
20. Mississippi
Source: SamWagnerTimelapse / iStock via Getty Images
Thanks to their exemptions, Mississippi allows you to keep as much of your income in your pocket as possible. You don’t have to worry about paying your Social Security benefits taxes here.
21. New Hampshire
Source: P199 / Wikimedia Commons
New Hampshire has no income tax, so you don’t have to worry about paying taxes on your Social Security or any other income. However, they do have other taxes, like sales tax.
22. South Dakota
Source: Artyom Lezhnyuk / Shutterstock.com
South Dakota is another state that doesn’t have any income taxes. You won’t have to worry about paying income tax at the state level, but federal taxes still apply.
23. Washington
Source: Artyom Lezhnyuk / Shutterstock.com
Washington is another state that doesn’t have any state income tax. Instead, the state is funded through other taxes, like sales and property taxes.
24. Wyoming
Source: AustralianCamera / Shutterstock.com
Wyoming may not be one of the most popular places to retire, but it has no income tax. Because no one pays income tax, you don’t have to worry about your Social Security income being taxed, either.
25. Delaware
Source: aparlette / Flickr
Delaware does have a state income tax. However, they do not count Social Security income for this purpose.
26. Kentucky
Source: AustralianCamera / Shutterstock.com
Kentucky does have an income tax, but they don’t include Social Security income in this category. Therefore, retirees don’t have to worry about paying taxes on their Social Security.
27. Maine
Source: pavdw / Flickr
Maine is another one of those states that has an income tax but exempts Social Security income from these taxes.
28. New Jersey
Source: Wirestock / iStock via Getty Images
New Jersey does have an income tax, but they don’t count any Social Security income towards this tax. Other types of income may be counted, though.
29. New York
Source: photoquest7 / iStock via Getty Images
New York also recently exempted those with Social Security income from paying taxes on that income.
30. North Carolina
Source: Alexander Lukatskiy / Shutterstock.com
Just like in South Carolina, you don’t have to pay state-level income taxes on your Social Security benefits in North Carolina, either.
31. Ohio
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Ohio has joined the majority of states that don’t require Social Security income to be counted as income for tax purposes. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about paying income taxes.
32. Pennsylvania
Source: Alexander Lukatskiy / Shutterstock.com
Pennsylvania also doesn’t require Social Security benefits to be counted as income for tax purposes. While they do have an income tax, this factor prevents retirees from having to pay taxes on their Social Security income.
33. West Virginia
Source: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com
West Virginia is like many states on this list. They do have an income tax. However, they don’t count Social Security benefits as income for this purpose.
34. Nevada
Source: chaddavisphotography / Flickr
Nevada has no state income tax at all. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about paying taxes on any amount of your income.
35. Maryland
Source: kenlund / Flickr
Maryland exempts all Social Security benefits from their state income tax. That said, retirees will have to pay federal income taxes, just like in every other state.
36. Massachusetts
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Massachusetts is like most of the states on this list. While they do have a state income tax, they don’t count Social Security benefits as income for the purpose of taxes, exempting more retirees from paying any income tax.
37. Michigan
Source: Alexander Lukatskiy / Shutterstock.com
Michigan absolutely has a state income tax, but most retirees don’t have to pay it. They exempt Social Security benefits from this tax, but they may require retirees to pay on other income they receive.
38. North Dakota
Source: Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock.com
While others must pay income tax in North Dakota, this doesn’t apply to retirees who only receive Social Security. You only have to pay income tax if your other income exceeds a certain tax bracket.
39. Oregon
Source: AlbertPego / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon doesn’t require any retirees to pay income taxes on their Social Security income, leaving you with more money in your pocket.
40. Wisconsin
Source: cweimer4 / iStock via Getty Images
Wisconsin also doesn’t require retirees to pay taxes on Social Security benefits, though they do have a state-level income tax.
Bonus: 41. District of Columbia
Source: pom-angers / Flickr
The District of Columbia is not a state. However, they don’t require income tax to be paid on Social Security, so we added them to this list, too.
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)
Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.
Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.
Click here now to get started.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
