Which states do not tax Social Security in 2026?

Most states do not tax Social Security. Only Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont tax at least some benefits in 2026, and each offers an exemption, subtraction, or credit.

Do states tax 401(k) and IRA withdrawals?

Most states with an individual income tax start by taxing traditional 401(k) and IRA withdrawals, then apply state-specific age, income, or plan-type exclusions. Qualified Roth withdrawals are generally not included in federal taxable income and normally do not enter the state starting point.

What is the most tax-friendly state for retirees?

There is no universal winner. A no-income-tax state may have higher housing, insurance, sales, or property-tax costs. The right comparison uses your actual Social Security, pension, account withdrawals, home value, and estate plan.

2026 Retirement Tax Comparison

States That Don't Tax Retirement Income

A sortable 51-jurisdiction comparison of Social Security, pensions, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals, state exclusions, and top rates.

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By Bryan Martin, CPA, MBA | Updated August 4, 2026

The short answer

Nine states, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, impose no broad individual income tax on retirement income, and Illinois, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania exempt most traditional retirement income. Most states do not tax Social Security. The sortable table below compares all 50 states and DC for 2026.

Pension income

See broad, partial, age-based, and plan-specific pension exclusions.

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Social Security

Compare the states that tax at least some Social Security benefits.

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Military retirement

Compare full, partial, and no-income-tax treatment for retired pay.

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Compare Retirement Taxes in All 50 States and DC

Use the search and filters to narrow the table. Linked states have a full Wave R1 guide; unlinked rows remain in the comparison asset and will receive full guides in the next two waves.


Alabama Official tax source	Exempt	Often exempt	Partially taxed	$6,000 account exclusion at age 65+	5.00%
Alaska Official tax source	No income tax	No income tax	No income tax	No individual income tax	None
Arizona Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Taxed	Up to $2,500 for qualifying government pensions	2.50%
Arkansas Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Up to $6,000 of eligible retirement income	3.70%
California Official tax source	Exempt	Taxed	Taxed	$20,000 military-pay exclusion with income limits	13.30%
Colorado Official tax source	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Retirement subtraction up to $20,000 or $24,000	4.40%
Connecticut Official tax source	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Income-based Social Security and pension phaseouts	6.99%
Delaware Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Up to $12,500 pension exclusion at age 60+	6.60%
Florida Official tax source	No income tax	No income tax	No income tax	No individual income tax	None
Georgia Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Retirement exclusion up to $35,000 or $65,000	4.99%
Hawaii Official tax source	Exempt	Often exempt	Taxed	Employer-funded pension portions may be exempt	11.00%
Idaho Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Taxed	Deduction for certain public pensions	5.30%
Illinois Official tax source	Exempt	Exempt	Exempt	Qualified retirement income is subtracted	4.95%
Indiana Official tax source	Exempt	Taxed	Taxed	Federal civil-service deduction may apply	2.95%
Iowa Official tax source	Exempt	Exempt at 55+	Exempt at 55+	Qualifying retirement income exclusion at age 55+	3.80%
Kansas Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Taxed	Kansas public pensions are generally exempt	5.58%
Kentucky Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Retirement-income exclusion up to $31,110	3.50%
Louisiana Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Age-65 exclusion starts at $12,000 per eligible person and is indexed annually	3.00%
Maine Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Taxed	Pension-income deduction tied to Social Security benefit	7.15%
Maryland Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Pension exclusion for qualifying residents age 65+	6.50%
Massachusetts Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Taxed	Many government pensions are exempt	9.00%
Michigan Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	2026 subtraction up to $67,610 single or $135,220 joint	4.25%
Minnesota Official tax source	Partially taxed	Taxed	Taxed	Income-based Social Security subtraction	9.85%
Mississippi Official tax source	Exempt	Exempt	Exempt	Qualified retirement income is exempt	4.00%
Missouri Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Public-pension deduction and phased $6,000 private exemption	4.70%
Montana Official tax source	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Up to $5,500 qualified retirement subtraction	5.65%
Nebraska Official tax source	Exempt	Taxed	Taxed	Military retirement pay is exempt	4.55%
Nevada Official tax source	No income tax	No income tax	No income tax	No individual income tax	None
New Hampshire Official tax source	No income tax	No income tax	No income tax	Interest and dividends tax ended in 2025	None
New Jersey Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Large age-62 exclusion subject to income limits	10.75%
New Mexico Official tax source	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	$8,000 age-65 deduction; $30,000 military exclusion	5.90%
New York Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	$20,000 exclusion at 59.5+; government pensions exempt	10.90%
North Carolina Official tax source	Exempt	Taxed	Taxed	Bailey relief and service-conditioned military deduction	3.99%
North Dakota Official tax source	Exempt	Taxed	Taxed	Large zero-rate bracket; military pay exempt	2.50%
Ohio Official tax source	Exempt	Taxed	Taxed	Retirement-income and senior credits may apply	2.75%
Oklahoma Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Up to $10,000 retirement-income exclusion	4.50%
Oregon Official tax source	Exempt	Taxed	Taxed	Limited retirement-income credit may apply	9.90%
Pennsylvania Official tax source	Exempt	Exempt	Exempt	Eligible retirement distributions are exempt	3.07%
Rhode Island Official tax source	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Income-tested retirement exclusion	5.99%
South Carolina Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Retirement deduction plus age-65 deduction rules	5.21%
South Dakota Official tax source	No income tax	No income tax	No income tax	No individual income tax	None
Tennessee Official tax source	No income tax	No income tax	No income tax	No individual income tax	None
Texas Official tax source	No income tax	No income tax	No income tax	No individual income tax	None
Utah Official tax source	Partially taxed	Taxed	Taxed	Income-tested retirement and Social Security credits	4.45%
Vermont Official tax source	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Taxed	Income-tested Social Security and pension exemptions	8.75%
Virginia Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Age deduction and $40,000 military subtraction	5.75%
Washington Official tax source	No income tax	No income tax	No income tax	No broad individual income tax	None
Washington DC Official tax source	Exempt	Taxed	Taxed	Most retirement income is taxable	10.75%
West Virginia Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Taxed	Social Security fully exempt beginning in 2026	4.58%
Wisconsin Official tax source	Exempt	Partially taxed	Partially taxed	Up to $24,000 at age 67+; claiming it bars state credits	7.65%
Wyoming Official tax source	No income tax	No income tax	No income tax	No individual income tax	None

Showing 51 jurisdictions. Rates are top marginal state rates, not the rate every retiree pays. Local taxes and eligibility rules may change the result.

The States With No Broad Individual Income Tax

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming do not impose a broad individual income tax on Social Security, pensions, or retirement-account withdrawals.

That does not make every state-tax question disappear. Washington has a separate tax on certain long-term capital gains, and every state still has its own property, sales, insurance, and estate-planning cost profile.

Pensions and 401(k) Withdrawals Do Not Always Match

Some states exempt a traditional pension but tax an IRA distribution. Others cap one combined exclusion across pensions, annuities, and account withdrawals. Government pensions can receive a rule that private pensions do not.

That is why the table separates pensions from 401(k) and IRA withdrawals. The headline question is not just whether a state taxes retirement income. It is which stream you receive, at what age, and under which plan.

How to Compare States Before You Move

Run the comparison using a full year of your expected Social Security, pension, required distributions, Roth conversions, and taxable investments. Then add property tax, homeowners insurance, sales tax, health-care cost, and any estate or inheritance tax.

Use our separate guides for pension income, Social Security, and military retirement pay when one stream is a major part of the move.

Retirement Taxes by State FAQs

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming do not impose a broad individual income tax. Illinois, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania also exempt most traditional retirement income even though they tax other income.

Comparing retirement locations or a large distribution?

We model the federal and state interaction before the move or withdrawal locks in the result. Educational content is not individualized tax advice.

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