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.
A guide by Taxstra Tax & Accounting · CPA-led tax strategy for business owners
Pension income
See broad, partial, age-based, and plan-specific pension exclusions.
Open the guide →Social Security
Compare the states that tax at least some Social Security benefits.
Open the guide →Military retirement
Compare full, partial, and no-income-tax treatment for retired pay.
Open the guide →Which states don't tax pensions?
States with no individual income tax plus the states whose pension treatment is listed as exempt in the reviewed table below. Partial and age-based exclusions are in the table.
Which states don't tax Social Security?
Most states exempt benefits. The states that still tax at least some Social Security are the ones missing from this list; the table below shows each one's rule.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Washington DC
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.
| Official tax source | Exempt | Often exempt | Partially taxed | $6,000 account exclusion at age 65+ | 5.00% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official tax source | No income tax | No income tax | No income tax | No individual income tax | None |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Taxed | Up to $2,500 for qualifying government pensions | 2.50% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Up to $6,000 of eligible retirement income | 3.70% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Taxed | Taxed | $20,000 military-pay exclusion with income limits | 13.30% |
| Official tax source | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Retirement subtraction up to $20,000 or $24,000 | 4.40% |
| Official tax source | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Income-based Social Security and pension phaseouts | 6.99% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Up to $12,500 pension exclusion at age 60+ | 6.60% |
| Official tax source | No income tax | No income tax | No income tax | No individual income tax | None |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Retirement exclusion up to $35,000 or $65,000 | 4.99% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Often exempt | Taxed | Employer-funded pension portions may be exempt | 11.00% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Taxed | Deduction for certain public pensions | 5.30% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Qualified retirement income is subtracted | 4.95% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Taxed | Taxed | Federal civil-service deduction may apply | 2.95% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Exempt at 55+ | Exempt at 55+ | Qualifying retirement income exclusion at age 55+ | 3.80% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Taxed | Kansas public pensions are generally exempt | 5.58% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Retirement-income exclusion up to $31,110 | 3.50% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Age-65 exclusion starts at $12,000 per eligible person and is indexed annually | 3.00% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Eligible IRA and pension deduction; Social Security offset and income phaseout | 7.15% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Pension exclusion for qualifying residents age 65+ | 6.50% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Taxed | Many government pensions are exempt | 9.00% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | 2026 eligible-retirement cap $67,610 single / $135,220 joint; plan funding matters | 4.25% |
| Official tax source | Partially taxed | Taxed | Taxed | Income-based Social Security subtraction | 9.85% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Qualified retirement income is exempt | 4.00% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Public-pension deduction and phased $6,000 private exemption | 4.70% |
| Official tax source | Partially taxed | Taxed | Taxed | Former pension deduction repealed; separate general age-65 subtraction is indexed | 5.65% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Taxed | Taxed | Military retirement pay is exempt | 4.55% |
| Official tax source | No income tax | No income tax | No income tax | No individual income tax | None |
| Official tax source | No income tax | No income tax | No income tax | Interest and dividends tax ended in 2025 | None |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Large age-62 exclusion subject to income limits | 10.75% |
| Official tax source | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | $8,000 age-65 deduction; $30,000 military exclusion | 5.90% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | $20,000 exclusion at 59.5+; government pensions exempt | 10.90% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Taxed | Taxed | Bailey relief and service-conditioned military deduction | 3.99% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Taxed | Taxed | Large zero-rate bracket; military pay exempt | 2.50% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Taxed | Taxed | Retirement-income and senior credits may apply | 2.75% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Up to $10,000 retirement-income exclusion | 4.50% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Taxed | Taxed | Limited retirement-income credit may apply | 9.90% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | Eligible retirement distributions are exempt | 3.07% |
| Official tax source | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Income-tested retirement exclusion | 5.99% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Retirement deduction plus age-65 deduction rules | 5.21% |
| Official tax source | No income tax | No income tax | No income tax | No individual income tax | None |
| Official tax source | No income tax | No income tax | No income tax | No individual income tax | None |
| Official tax source | No income tax | No income tax | No income tax | No individual income tax | None |
| Official tax source | Partially taxed | Taxed | Taxed | Income-tested retirement and Social Security credits | 4.45% |
| Official tax source | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Taxed | Income-tested Social Security and pension exemptions | 8.75% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Age deduction and $40,000 military subtraction | 5.75% |
| Official tax source | No income tax | No income tax | No income tax | No broad individual income tax | None |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Taxed | Taxed | Most retirement income is taxable | 10.75% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Taxed | Social Security fully exempt in 2026; coordinate the age modification | 4.58% |
| Official tax source | Exempt | Partially taxed | Partially taxed | Up to $24,000 at age 67+; claiming it bars state credits | 7.65% |
| Official tax source | No income tax | No income tax | No income tax | No individual income tax | None |
Put retirement income in a household context
The state-by-state table separates Social Security, pensions, traditional accounts and military retirement. For a high-income household, also compare the investment portion of income and the cost of the home, insurance and healthcare. A category exemption is not an exemption for every dollar a retiree receives.
Our controlled age-67 married household receives $120,000 from traditional accounts, $60,000 from private pensions, $60,000 from Social Security, $30,000 of ordinary investment income and $30,000 of long-term gains. Eligibility, ownership and income limits must be applied before calculating a state return.
Compare all 50 states for high-income retirement · Explore the guide libraryDC remains a separately identified jurisdiction in the existing table.
State-by-State Retirement Income Tax Guide
Retirement-income treatment depends on the source of the money, the owner’s age and the state’s eligibility rules. Use the 50-state reference to distinguish Social Security, traditional accounts, private and public pensions, and military benefits. The controlled plan-income comparison adds a reproducible example without pretending to calculate every retiree’s tax return.
The published 50-state ranking
See how states treat retirement-account withdrawals, pensions and Social Security, with explanations and source links for every state.
Higher scores mean a stronger result on the factors this guide measures. They do not guarantee a better fit for your household or investment. Ties stay tied, and missing data is clearly marked.
Taxstra’s published 2026 ranking. One methodology, applied consistently to every state. See the factors and scoring rules.
Pick a state. See how it fits.
Explore grades out of 10, category ranks and the tradeoffs behind them. Each state uses the same published factors and weights.
The map loads when the page opens. All 50 states are available in the selector and table.
Gray = unavailable or provisional; no comparable rank. Alaska and Hawaii shown as insets.
Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / US Atlas.
Why Illinois scores this way
Illinois ranks #1 of 50, with $0. 13 states share this rank.
A higher category score means a stronger result on that measure. Check the “Good fit for” and “Less suited to” notes against your own priorities.
2026 state guideRetirement income taxes
Illinois
Taxstra’s state comparison
Selected-category grade#1 in the comparison
How to read this score
Portion of $180,000 qualified plan income left after category exclusions for two age-67 spouses in the specified $300,000 cash-income profile. Before general deductions, credits and rates; not tax due. Social Security and investments are separate.
Retirement income subject to tax
#1 of 50 · 100% weight$0 of the example couple’s retirement-plan income remains subject to tax; this is income, not the tax bill.
Quality of life
#5 of 50 · WalletHub category · Not in overall scoreWalletHub: #5 for Quality of Life, #18 overall; this score uses the category.
Homeowner property taxes
#45 of 50 · Not in overall score$5,399 typical annual homeowner tax bill; check the specific property before budgeting.
Home insurance costs
#20 of 50 · Not in overall score$1,480 average annual homeowner premium; rental and short-term rental coverage can cost differently.
Good fit for
- Retirees drawing heavily from qualified plans who want Illinois family and community ties.
Less suited to
- Investment-heavy households assuming everything received after retirement becomes exempt income.
Illinois: full analysis and evidenceRead the state-specific explanation and supporting sources.
Illinois
Back to comparison ↑Illinois is the clearest reason to separate retirement income from a state’s reputation for other taxes. Qualified traditional IRA, 401(k) and pension income in this example is subtracted, producing zero plan-income exposure. That does not exempt the household’s ordinary investments and capital gains. The property-tax category also remains in the household score, so retirement relief does not erase the cost of owning a home.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Illinois adds an estate-planning question to its favorable annual retirement-income treatment. The Attorney General’s instructions for 2023–2026 use a $4 million Illinois exclusion, include adjusted taxable gifts in the filing analysis and do not provide federal-style portability. A qualifying plan distribution can be exempt during life while the accumulated assets still matter at death. The estate calculation is not simply a flat percentage of assets above $4 million.
Illinois eliminated its state 1% grocery tax on January 1, 2026, but authorized municipal or county grocery taxes and specified transit-district taxes can remain. Price groceries in the actual destination. A statewide statement that all groceries became tax-free would miss those local charges.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Illinois Publication 120: retirement income (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Illinois Publication 120: retirement income (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Illinois Attorney General estate-tax instructions for 2023–2026 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Illinois FY 2026-11: grocery occupation tax changes (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
Cite the state. Include the method.
Use the state, guide title, published methodology and source years when citing a score. State selection changes the card, not the ranking methodology.
Media and interview inquiries · Source data · Taxstra methodology
Full ranking table · 50 of 50 statesCompare every state’s rank, housing costs, property taxes and tax treatment.
50 of 50 states
| Rank | State | Qualified plan income exposed to tax | Home value ACS 2024 | Property-tax bill ACS 2024 median | Price index BEA 2024 | Individual bonus treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $376,500 | $3,976 | 102.4 | Alaska does not impose a broad individual income tax. |
| 1 | Florida | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $396,900 | $2,993 | 103.4 | Florida does not impose a broad individual income tax. |
| 1 | Illinois | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $280,700 | $5,399 | 100.0 | Reverse federal §168(k)/§168(n) amounts and compute the Illinois depreciation modification. |
| 1 | Iowa | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $227,300 | $2,937 | 87.8 | Iowa follows current federal depreciation, including §168(k) and §168(n), for 2026 to 2027. |
| 1 | Mississippi | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $186,500 | $1,221 | 87.0 | Mississippi permits a state 100% first-year deduction for qualifying depreciable property; it is not simple federal bonus conformity. |
| 1 | Nevada | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $455,500 | $2,143 | 100.0 | Nevada does not impose a broad individual income tax. |
| 1 | New Hampshire | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $458,800 | $6,707 | 104.2 | New Hampshire does not impose a broad individual income tax. |
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $277,600 | $3,214 | 97.6 | Pennsylvania personal income tax uses its own depreciation rules rather than the federal bonus amount. |
| 1 | South Dakota | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $289,600 | $2,940 | 88.6 | South Dakota does not impose a broad individual income tax. |
| 1 | Tennessee | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $332,600 | $1,488 | 91.9 | Tennessee does not impose a broad individual income tax. |
| 1 | Texas | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $313,200 | $4,108 | 97.1 | Texas does not impose a broad individual income tax. |
| 1 | Washington | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $602,200 | $4,729 | 107.0 | Washington does not impose a broad individual income tax. |
| 1 | Wyoming | $010.0 / 10 category grade | $339,500 | $1,947 | 92.7 | Wyoming does not impose a broad individual income tax. |
| 14 | Georgia | $50,0007.5 / 10 category grade | $343,300 | $2,554 | 96.3 | Use Georgia depreciation without federal §168(k) or §168(n). |
| 15 | Michigan | $60,0007.0 / 10 category grade | $254,200 | $2,988 | 96.2 | For individuals and flow-through entities, Michigan retains the pre-OBBBA phaseout: 20% federal bonus in 2026 and 0% in 2027; §168(n) is disallowed. |
| 16 | Alabama | $108,0004.6 / 10 category grade | $233,300 | $890 | 88.8 | Follows the federal §168(k) and §168(n) deductions for 2026 to 2027. |
| 17 | Kentucky | $117,7804.1 / 10 category grade | $226,000 | $1,611 | 90.2 | Kentucky does not adopt the current federal bonus provisions; use Kentucky depreciation. |
| 18 | Hawaii | $120,0004.0 / 10 category grade | $875,900 | $2,385 | 110.0 | Hawaii does not allow the federal bonus deduction; compute Hawaii depreciation separately. |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $132,0003.4 / 10 category grade | $294,700 | $3,680 | 94.1 | Wisconsin does not adopt federal §168(k) or §168(n); compute Wisconsin depreciation separately. |
| 20 | New York | $140,0003.0 / 10 category grade | $449,800 | $6,542 | 107.9 | Reverse federal §168(k) and §168(n) deductions and claim New York depreciation. |
| 21 | Maine | $154,3082.3 / 10 category grade | $341,900 | $3,103 | 97.1 | Add back the federal bonus amount and claim depreciation under Maine’s pro-forma computation. |
| 22 | Delaware | $155,0002.3 / 10 category grade | $371,600 | $1,750 | 99.8 | Ordinary eligible 2026 property retains 20% bonus under the pre-OBBBA schedule; the rest follows regular depreciation. |
| 23 | Louisiana | $155,3522.2 / 10 category grade | $223,200 | $1,187 | 88.2 | Louisiana offers an optional state 100% expensing deduction for qualifying property; later federal depreciation on the same basis is added back. |
| 24 | Maryland | $158,8002.1 / 10 category grade | $436,300 | $4,144 | 105.0 | Generally decoupled from federal bonus; qualifying manufacturing property may receive different treatment. |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $160,0002.0 / 10 category grade | $222,100 | $1,672 | 87.8 | Oklahoma permits a state 100% expensing election for qualifying property; it is not simple federal bonus conformity. |
| 25 | South Carolina | $160,0002.0 / 10 category grade | $299,500 | $1,337 | 93.7 | Use South Carolina depreciation without federal §168(k) or §168(n). |
| 27 | Arkansas | $168,0001.6 / 10 category grade | $215,600 | $1,113 | 86.9 | Federal bonus depreciation is not adopted; use the Arkansas depreciation computation. |
| 28 | Arizona | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $426,000 | $1,828 | 100.7 | Individuals retain the full federal §168(k) bonus amount for eligible new property in 2026; §168(n) is separately added back. |
| 28 | California | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $759,500 | $5,369 | 110.7 | California does not conform to federal bonus depreciation; compute California depreciation separately. |
| 28 | Colorado | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $574,600 | $2,828 | 103.1 | Colorado follows the federal deductions for §168(k) bonus and §168(n) qualified production property. |
| 28 | Connecticut | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $396,900 | $6,573 | 103.6 | Add back 100% of federal bonus, then deduct 25% of the addition in each of the next four years. |
| 28 | Idaho | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $446,400 | $1,912 | 95.5 | Add back the federal bonus difference in the first year; deduct later Idaho-versus-federal depreciation differences. |
| 28 | Indiana | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $243,500 | $1,798 | 93.3 | Add back federal bonus depreciation and maintain Indiana basis for later depreciation or disposition. |
| 28 | Kansas | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $238,700 | $2,983 | 90.1 | Current Kansas statutes recognize federal §168(k); a direct current official statement on §168(n) was not located. |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $607,400 | $6,080 | 105.8 | §168(k) remains disallowed. §168(n) is disallowed for 2026 and follows federal law beginning in 2027. |
| 28 | Minnesota | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $344,600 | $3,501 | 98.6 | For §168(k), add back 80% and deduct one-fifth of that addition in each of the next five years. Qualified production property under §168(n) is not added back. |
| 28 | Missouri | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $254,400 | $2,021 | 90.8 | Missouri follows current federal depreciation and does not require a bonus addback for current property. |
| 28 | Montana | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $425,400 | $2,939 | 94.6 | Montana begins with the current federal income base and has no current bonus-depreciation addback. |
| 28 | Nebraska | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $263,100 | $3,739 | 90.1 | Nebraska follows the current federal depreciation deduction for 2026 to 2027. |
| 28 | New Jersey | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $496,000 | $9,358 | 108.8 | New Jersey does not follow the federal bonus deduction; calculate New Jersey depreciation and basis separately. |
| 28 | New Mexico | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $279,900 | $1,776 | 92.2 | Ordinary §168(k) bonus flows into individual income in 2026. The enacted 2027 depreciation reversal changes the corporate base, not the individual base. |
| 28 | North Carolina | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $333,000 | $2,044 | 94.3 | Add back 85% of the federal accelerated-depreciation amount, then deduct 20% of that addition in each of the next five years. |
| 28 | North Dakota | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $266,100 | $2,550 | 89.0 | North Dakota follows the federal deductions through its current federal income starting point. |
| 28 | Ohio | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $239,800 | $2,937 | 92.8 | For §168(k), generally add back five-sixths and deduct one-fifth of that addback in each of the next five years. Payroll-growth and NOL exceptions can change the result; §168(n) generally follows federal law. |
| 28 | Oregon | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $497,500 | $3,895 | 103.4 | Oregon disallows federal bonus depreciation for 2026 to 2027; implementing recovery instructions are pending. |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $455,700 | $4,886 | 102.3 | Compute depreciation and basis as though federal bonus depreciation had not been enacted. |
| 28 | Utah | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $545,200 | $2,648 | 98.9 | Utah starts with current federal adjusted gross income and does not enumerate a §168(k) or §168(n) reversal. |
| 28 | Vermont | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $352,800 | $5,026 | 98.0 | Vermont disallows §168(k) and §168(n), then permits recovery under the non-bonus depreciation schedule. |
| 28 | Virginia | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $403,500 | $2,872 | 101.1 | Recompute Virginia depreciation as though the federal bonus provisions did not apply. |
| 28 | West Virginia | $180,0001.0 / 10 category grade | $170,800 | $881 | 89.5 | West Virginia adopted the 2025 federal changes, so §168(k) and §168(n) flow through for 2026 to 2027. |
Retirement income scenarios
Taxstra’s published retirement-income comparison
A $300,000 retirement household can have very different results depending on where the money comes from. This comparison separates the IRA, employee-funded 401(k), private pension and Social Security before any tax rate is applied.
Tax year 2026 · Verified September 12, 2026 · Married, both age 67 · Each spouse receives half of every category.
These are fixed editorial assumptions applied consistently to every state. Browsing a state or searching the table does not alter the published comparison or its rankings.
Illinois: the income behind the comparison
The specified qualifying IRA, 401(k) and private pension distributions are outside this state income base. Other income and other taxes are separate.
The modeled Social Security benefit is excluded from this state income base.
$0 is the retirement-income subtotal remaining in this example before investment income, general deductions, credits and rates. State tax due is not calculated.
Showing 50 of 50 states.
Read the exact profile and calculation method
Income-base dollars, not taxes: each account column applies category-specific exclusions first. A shared allowance is then subtracted once. Social Security is a separate $60,000 cash category with $51,000 federally taxable. The remaining $60,000 of investment income is disclosed but its state preferences, general deductions, credits and final tax are not calculated. Military and public pensions are outside the fixed private-sector profile.
The IRA is self-funded with no exempt-pension rollover. The 401(k) consists entirely of employee elective deferrals, with no employer contribution. The private pension is employer-funded. Both spouses meet Pennsylvania’s eligible retirement-distribution conditions. There is no after-tax basis. Shared investment-and-retirement allowances are applied to qualifying plans first.
The separate investment categories are $30,000 of ordinary income and $30,000 of long-term capital gains. They are included when testing the $291,000 federal AGI, but their state taxable amounts and the final return are not calculated. Maine’s pension subtotal remains unavailable pending its precise indexed phaseout threshold. Rhode Island’s fixed-profile ineligibility is established by an explicit conservative CPI bound; that bound is not its published threshold.
Educational comparison, not individualized tax advice. Taxstra’s retirement ranking methodology
What changes the comparisonThe rules, exceptions and tradeoffs behind the figures.
A retirement account is not the same as a pension exemption
Keep IRA, 401(k), defined-benefit pension, military and public-system payments on separate lines. Maryland is one example where an ordinary IRA does not qualify for an employer-plan pension exclusion. Hawaii’s pension treatment can depend on funding. A rollover can change the state question even when the federal transaction is familiar.
Read limits per recipient
The examples allocate equal income to two age-67 spouses. Several exclusions apply per person, so a married return does not automatically transfer an unused allowance to the spouse receiving all the distributions. Use the actual recipient shown on each form.
Separate taxable income from tax due
The rank compares the portion of $180,000 of qualified plan income left after category-specific exclusions. It excludes Social Security, investments, general deductions and rates. Equal exposure therefore does not imply equal state tax bills. The broader high-income retirement guide adds living costs and livability.
Track the year of the rule
Michigan’s phase-in reaches its full 2026 stage, Wisconsin has an age-67 exclusion and West Virginia completes its Social Security phase-in in 2026. Existing source reviews and new verification dates remain visible. A 2025 rule should not silently become a 2026 assumption.
Use consistent plan funding across states
The model uses employee-only elective 401(k) deferrals, a self-funded IRA without an exempt-pension rollover and an employer-funded defined-benefit pension. Hawaii and Michigan distinguish those funding sources. Pennsylvania separately requires its own eligible-plan and retirement conditions. Federal qualification alone does not settle every state’s treatment.
Worked example
Two age-67 Wisconsin spouses each receiving sufficient qualifying income can use $24,000 each in the controlled example: $180,000 − $48,000 = $132,000 of plan income exposed before general deductions and tax rates. If only one spouse met the age requirement, that two-person assumption would not apply.
Every state, explainedBrowse all 50 state chapters, with detailed analysis and linked evidence.
AlabamaRead state analysis
Alabama
Back to comparison ↑Alabama separates pension design from the age of the person receiving it. A qualifying defined-benefit pension can be exempt while IRA and defined-contribution withdrawals remain a different calculation. That makes a household with an employer pension materially different from one living entirely on rolled-over accounts. The enacted 2026 text retains the $6,000 age-65 exclusion per recipient. With $60,000 of exempt defined-benefit pension and $12,000 of account exclusions, $108,000 remains exposed.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $108,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $108,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Alabama enrolled HB341, section 40-18-19(a)(6) and (13) (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Alabama 2026 enrolled HB341: retirement exclusions, pages 3 and 6 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
AlaskaRead state analysis
Alaska
Back to comparison ↑Alaska does not levy an individual income tax on the modeled retirement distributions. The retirement-tax result therefore ties other zero-exposure states. The household decision remains sensitive to its spending basket, travel budget and access to its chosen healthcare providers. A tax tie is not evidence that living costs or practical access are equal.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Alaska Court System: tax matters (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
ArizonaRead state analysis
Arizona
Back to comparison ↑Arizona exempts Social Security, but the guide’s private pension and traditional-account withdrawals do not receive the special treatment reserved for qualifying government pensions. The modeled plan-income exposure is therefore broad even though the state’s rate structure may produce a different tax bill from another state with the same exposure. Private and public pension households should use separate worksheets.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Arizona Revised Statutes 43-1022 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
ArkansasRead state analysis
Arkansas
Back to comparison ↑Arkansas provides a limited retirement exclusion rather than a blanket exemption. With eligible distributions owned equally, the example uses $6,000 per spouse against $180,000 of plan income, leaving $168,000 exposed before general deductions. A single owner cannot automatically use both spouses’ exclusions; account ownership matters even on a joint return.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $168,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $168,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Arkansas Revenue Subject 206: pensions and annuities (2023; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
CaliforniaRead state analysis
California
Back to comparison ↑California exempts Social Security but generally taxes the traditional distributions and private pension used here. Its retirement-income exposure score is therefore weak for this particular income mix. The separate livability component can still support California for a household prioritizing its amenities, family or medical relationships. A strong lifestyle fit deserves a real budget, not dismissal because of one tax category.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- California FTB Publication 1005: pension and annuity guidelines (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
ColoradoRead state analysis
Colorado
Back to comparison ↑Colorado’s age-65 Social Security subtraction can shelter the full federally taxable benefit. That subtraction also reduces the separate pension-and-annuity allowance. Each modeled spouse has $25,500 of federally taxable Social Security, enough to use the $24,000 allowance, so no additional exclusion is assigned to the $180,000 of other plan income. Adding both benefits in full would overstate relief.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Colorado 2025 income-tax filing guide, DR0104AD instructions (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Colorado: Social Security, pensions and annuities (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
ConnecticutRead state analysis
Connecticut
Back to comparison ↑Connecticut’s pension and IRA relief is income-sensitive. The example’s $291,000 federal AGI is above the joint-return range for that relief, so all $180,000 of its private plan income remains exposed. Lower-income retirees can have a different outcome. Social Security has its own state calculation and is not included in this plan-income measure.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Connecticut DRS senior-citizen tax guidance (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Connecticut tax tips for senior citizens (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
DelawareRead state analysis
Delaware
Back to comparison ↑Delaware allows an age-based retirement exclusion that can also involve eligible investment income. Both modeled spouses are over 60; assigning $12,500 each to plan income leaves $155,000 exposed. Because the allowance is shared across qualifying categories, the same dollars cannot be used again to shelter investment income in a separate calculation.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $155,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $155,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Delaware Code Title 30, section 1106 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
FloridaRead state analysis
Florida
Back to comparison ↑Florida does not impose an individual income tax on the modeled retirement income. That produces the same plan-exposure result as several states with selective retirement exemptions. The comparison then turns to a real home, insurance contract and spending pattern. A coastal and inland property can have very different insurance and maintenance economics despite receiving the same statewide retirement-tax result.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Florida Revenue: personal income tax FAQ (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
GeorgiaRead state analysis
Georgia
Back to comparison ↑Georgia’s age-65 retirement exclusion is substantial but limited. The model allocates $65,000 per spouse to eligible plan income, leaving $50,000 of $180,000 exposed. Social Security is separate. An investment-heavy household should coordinate the allowance across all eligible categories rather than assign the full exclusion repeatedly to pensions, interest and gains.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $50,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $50,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Georgia Revenue retirement-income exclusion (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Georgia retirement income exclusion (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
HawaiiRead state analysis
Hawaii
Back to comparison ↑Hawaii distinguishes employer-funded pension benefits from distributions attributable to employee contributions and individual retirement accounts. The controlled example assumes the entire $60,000 defined-benefit pension was employer-funded; that leaves $120,000 from traditional accounts exposed. Actual plan funding history can change the answer. Housing, island location and travel remain separate from the tax classification.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $120,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $120,000 tax bill.
The funding assumption is specific: the entire modeled 401(k) comes from voluntary employee deferrals, the IRA is self-funded without an exempt-pension rollover, and only the private defined-benefit pension is employer-funded. Hawaii TIR 96-5 allocates treatment when employee and employer funding are mixed. An actual 401(k) with employer matching can therefore produce a different exposed amount than this example.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Hawaii TIR 96-5, August 14, 1996: continuing pension-funding guidance (1996; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
IdahoRead state analysis
Idaho
Back to comparison ↑Idaho’s qualifying public-pension deduction is not a general exemption for every retiree. This private-sector profile receives no special plan-income subtraction, leaving $180,000 exposed before general deductions. The result does not say that Idaho has the largest tax bill: the tax rate, deductions and other income must still be applied. A former public employee needs a separate eligibility review.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Idaho Retirement Benefits Deduction (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
IllinoisRead state analysis
Illinois
Back to comparison ↑Illinois is the clearest reason to separate retirement income from a state’s reputation for other taxes. Qualified traditional IRA, 401(k) and pension income in this example is subtracted, producing zero plan-income exposure. That does not exempt the household’s ordinary investments and capital gains. The property-tax category also remains in the household score, so retirement relief does not erase the cost of owning a home.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Illinois adds an estate-planning question to its favorable annual retirement-income treatment. The Attorney General’s instructions for 2023–2026 use a $4 million Illinois exclusion, include adjusted taxable gifts in the filing analysis and do not provide federal-style portability. A qualifying plan distribution can be exempt during life while the accumulated assets still matter at death. The estate calculation is not simply a flat percentage of assets above $4 million.
Illinois eliminated its state 1% grocery tax on January 1, 2026, but authorized municipal or county grocery taxes and specified transit-district taxes can remain. Price groceries in the actual destination. A statewide statement that all groceries became tax-free would miss those local charges.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Illinois Publication 120: retirement income (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Illinois Publication 120: retirement income (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Illinois Attorney General estate-tax instructions for 2023–2026 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Illinois FY 2026-11: grocery occupation tax changes (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
IndianaRead state analysis
Indiana
Back to comparison ↑Indiana generally includes the private pension and traditional distributions modeled here. Certain civil-service and military benefits have separate treatment, but they are not part of this profile. County income taxes can also matter to a resident household; a state-only rate is not a completed Indiana projection. Compare the county of residence along with the house and the state return.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Indiana Revenue individual deductions (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
IowaRead state analysis
Iowa
Back to comparison ↑Iowa’s qualifying retirement exclusion at age 55 or older can shelter this example’s traditional plans and private pension. The $180,000 plan-income exposure is zero even though Iowa still has an income tax on other categories. Older summaries using a small pension cap can miss this difference. Review the current Schedule 1 treatment rather than applying a pre-change retirement allowance.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Iowa removed another retirement-planning distinction when its inheritance tax ended for deaths on or after January 1, 2025. That change is separate from the age-qualified retirement-income exclusion. Older estate-planning summaries and older small pension allowances can therefore mislead in two different ways; review their effective dates before using either in a relocation comparison.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Iowa retirement-income tax guidance (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Iowa Schedule 1: retirement income exclusion (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Iowa inheritance-tax guidance (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
KansasRead state analysis
Kansas
Back to comparison ↑Kansas exempts Social Security and gives specified government retirement systems separate treatment. The private pension and traditional accounts in this example remain exposed. A retiree receiving benefits from a listed public system therefore needs a different comparison from a former private employee. Account rollovers also deserve review before assuming they preserve a pension-specific tax result.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Kansas 2025 individual-income-tax instructions (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
KentuckyRead state analysis
Kentucky
Back to comparison ↑Kentucky’s standard pension exclusion is $31,110 per eligible recipient. With sufficient qualifying income in both names, $62,220 is excluded and $117,780 remains exposed in the example. Special treatment for qualifying older public service is a separate inquiry. The state tax rate determines what that exposure costs; a dollar of excluded income is not a dollar of savings.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $117,780 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $117,780 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Kentucky Revenue pension-income exclusion (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Kentucky individual income tax: pension exclusion (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
LouisianaRead state analysis
Louisiana
Back to comparison ↑Louisiana’s enacted age-65 exemption is indexed annually. The Revenue Department’s June 2026 rulemaking example confirms a $12,324 allowance for 2026, consistent with the $12,000 base and 2.7% CPI-U increase. Two eligible recipients exclude $24,648, leaving $155,352 of modeled plan income exposed. The agency example illustrates the statutory adjustment; it is not being presented as a final regulation. Qualifying public retirement systems have separate rules.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $155,352 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $155,352 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:44.1 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Louisiana retirement exemption and annual inflation adjustment (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Louisiana RIB 25-012: individual income-tax reform (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Louisiana Revenue June 2026 rulemaking example: $12,324 indexed exemption (2026; 2026-09-12)
- BLS December 2025 CPI-U release: 2.7% annual increase (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
MaineRead state analysis
Maine
Back to comparison ↑Maine’s pension deduction includes eligible IRA distributions, and Social Security benefits reduce the available allowance. High-income phaseout rules were also amended in 2026. The 2026 maximum deduction is verified at $49,824 per recipient before offsets. The indexed joint phaseout starts at $255,800, calculated from the legally specified historical chained-CPI vintage. At $291,000 federal AGI, the combined allowance is $25,691.90 and $154,308.10 of plan income remains exposed.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $154,308.096 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $154,308.096 tax bill.
The verified 2026 maximum is $49,824 per recipient before offsets. Subtracting each spouse’s $30,000 gross Social Security leaves a combined $39,648 before phaseout. The enacted statute uses federal adjusted gross income, and Chapter 662 retains that definition; we follow it instead of the FAQ’s inconsistent Maine-AGI shorthand. The September 15, 2025 BLS vintage preserved by Federal Reserve ALFRED gives June-window averages of 172.3449167 and 176.3495833. Applying their ratio to $250,000 and rounding down to $50 produces $255,800. The $35,200 excess AGI phases out 35.2% of the allowance, leaving $25,691.90. This is Taxstra’s reproducible statutory calculation, not a claimed quotation from an unpublished 2026 pension worksheet.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Maine 2026 estimated-tax worksheet, revised July 2026 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Maine retirement income FAQ, revised April 13, 2026 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Maine Title 36 section 5122: pension phaseout income base (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Maine enacted Chapter 662, printed text (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Maine sections 5402–5403: chained-CPI vintage and rounding (2026; 2026-09-12)
- BLS chained CPI, September 15, 2025 vintage preserved by Federal Reserve ALFRED (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
MarylandRead state analysis
Maryland
Back to comparison ↑Maryland’s 2026 maximum pension exclusion is $40,600 per eligible person, reduced by gross Social Security. With $30,000 of benefits per spouse, the example can assign $10,600 each to qualifying employer plans, leaving $158,800 of total plan income exposed. Ordinary IRA distributions do not qualify for this pension exclusion. A rollover can therefore change the category even when federal treatment looks similar.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $158,800 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $158,800 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Maryland Comptroller pension exclusion (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Maryland pension exclusion: 2026 maximum $40,600 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Maryland seniors and retirees: Social Security offset (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
MassachusettsRead state analysis
Massachusetts
Back to comparison ↑Massachusetts generally taxes the private pension and traditional distributions in this profile while excluding Social Security. Certain public retirement benefits and previously taxed contributions can change a real household’s result. The example assumes no after-tax basis, so it does not manufacture a basis recovery deduction. High investment income and any applicable surtax need their own return calculation.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Massachusetts tax treatment of pensions (2024; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
MichiganRead state analysis
Michigan
Back to comparison ↑Michigan’s retirement deduction phase-in reaches its full 2026 stage. The verified joint private-retirement cap is $135,220; the example has $120,000 of eligible IRA and defined-benefit income, which fits under that cap. Its $60,000 employee-only 401(k) income is excluded from the qualifying pool under the stated funding assumption and remains exposed. Birth-year alternatives and the age-67 standard-deduction option still require comparison on a full return. A headline that the pension tax ended should not be read as an unlimited exclusion at any income.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $60,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $60,000 tax bill.
The same employee-only 401(k) assumption is used in Hawaii and Michigan. Michigan’s eligible retirement pool contains the $60,000 IRA and $60,000 defined-benefit pension, which fit under the $135,220 joint ceiling, while the $60,000 unmatched employee 401(k) remains exposed. A plan with employer funding requires an allocation; changing one state’s funding assumption while leaving the other unchanged would defeat the comparison.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Michigan Revenue Administrative Bulletin 2026-1, January 8, 2026 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Michigan 2026 withholding guide: retirement deduction limits (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Michigan Revenue Administrative Bulletin 2026-1 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Michigan withholding guidance for retirees: eligible plan funding (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
MinnesotaRead state analysis
Minnesota
Back to comparison ↑Minnesota’s Social Security subtraction depends on income, and the private plan income in this high-income profile remains broadly exposed. Its healthcare-spending observation is context from all ages and payers, not a Medicare premium forecast. A household attracted by its community and care relationships should compare actual premiums, supplemental coverage and planned distributions rather than rely on one statewide cost number.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Minnesota Revenue: seniors (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
MississippiRead state analysis
Mississippi
Back to comparison ↑Mississippi can exclude qualifying retirement distributions, including the plans used in this age-67 example. That creates zero exposure for the $180,000 plan-income measure. Premature or nonqualifying distributions require separate treatment, and investment income does not become a retirement distribution merely because the owner has stopped working. Its lower-cost observations should be tested against the desired locality.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Mississippi income-tax regulations, Title 35 Part III Chapter 07 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
MissouriRead state analysis
Missouri
Back to comparison ↑Missouri’s public-pension and Social Security changes should not be confused with its income-limited private-pension deduction. This high-income private-sector profile does not receive that private-pension relief, leaving $180,000 exposed before general deductions. The public versus private distinction is more useful here than describing the entire state as tax-friendly or unfriendly to retirees.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Missouri Revenue pension exemption FAQ (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
MontanaRead state analysis
Montana
Back to comparison ↑Montana’s simplified system starts from federal taxable income and has a separate age-65 subtraction. That general age deduction is not a blanket pension exemption and is excluded from this narrow plan-income exposure measure. Its amount is indexed, so an old fixed-dollar summary should not be presented as a verified 2026 figure. Federally taxable Social Security needs attention as well.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Montana Revenue tax simplification resource hub (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Montana tax simplification: retirement and age deductions (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
NebraskaRead state analysis
Nebraska
Back to comparison ↑Nebraska’s Social Security exclusion does not make traditional IRA and private pension distributions exempt. All $180,000 of this example’s plan income remains exposed before general deductions. Changes in the state’s ordinary income-tax rate affect the eventual bill, so comparing only the existence of an exemption misses another part of the calculation. A low housing cost can still support the household decision.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Nebraska 2025 Schedule I adjustments (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
NevadaRead state analysis
Nevada
Back to comparison ↑Nevada has no individual income tax on the example’s retirement distributions. That is a real advantage for plan-income exposure, but it ties several other states rather than establishing a unique winner. The statewide price and insurance observations should be replaced with the chosen home’s budget. A move between very different local markets cannot be evaluated with one median home value.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Nevada Department of Taxation: income tax in Nevada (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
New HampshireRead state analysis
New Hampshire
Back to comparison ↑New Hampshire’s interest-and-dividends tax repeal applies from 2025, alongside its lack of a broad wage tax. The modeled retirement-plan exposure is zero. Property taxes remain a separate recurring household cost, so an income-tax comparison should not erase the property category. The investment-income repeal also deserves separate recognition from the long-standing treatment of plan distributions.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- New Hampshire DRA: interest-and-dividends repeal (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
New JerseyRead state analysis
New Jersey
Back to comparison ↑New Jersey’s pension exclusion is income-limited; this $300,000 cash-income household is above the relevant eligibility range. Its private plan income remains exposed in the example. State contribution basis may differ from federal basis, but the model assumes none. Retirees should preserve records rather than treat every distribution as fully taxable or fully exempt without checking its history.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- New Jersey Division of Taxation: retirement income (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
New MexicoRead state analysis
New Mexico
Back to comparison ↑New Mexico’s retirement and Social Security relief includes income tests. The high-income example does not assume those benefits shelter its private plan distributions. Housing and general prices may support a lower household budget, but that is a separate reason for a favorable score. A withdrawal or conversion year should be projected using the current filing-status thresholds.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- New Mexico personal-income-tax overview (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
New YorkRead state analysis
New York
Back to comparison ↑New York excludes up to $20,000 of qualifying private pension and annuity income per person at the required age. Each modeled spouse qualifies, so $40,000 is assigned against plan income and $140,000 remains exposed. Government pensions have separate treatment. New York City or Yonkers residency also belongs in the full tax projection; the private-pension exclusion is not a combined state/local tax estimate.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $140,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $140,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- New York tax information for seniors (2026; 2026-09-12)
- New York tax information for seniors (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
North CarolinaRead state analysis
North Carolina
Back to comparison ↑North Carolina’s special treatment for qualifying vested government retirement benefits is not a general private-pension exclusion. The example deliberately uses a private pension and traditional accounts, leaving $180,000 exposed before general deductions. Military retirement is another separate category. A retiree who qualifies for one of those exceptions needs an individualized comparison instead of importing this profile unchanged.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- North Carolina Bailey retirement-benefit guidance (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
North DakotaRead state analysis
North Dakota
Back to comparison ↑North Dakota exempts Social Security but generally includes traditional accounts and private pensions. The plan-income exposure therefore matches several states with much different rates and living costs. This demonstrates why exposure is only one financial category. Personal tolerance for the location and the specific community belongs in the decision, even where the cost observations look favorable.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- North Dakota 2025 income-tax instructions (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
OhioRead state analysis
Ohio
Back to comparison ↑Ohio’s retirement-income credits are subject to eligibility and income limits. This high-income example does not turn those limited credits into a pension exclusion, so its $180,000 plan exposure remains intact. Social Security is separate, and local tax treatment requires income-specific review. A municipal wage-tax rate should not be blindly applied to retirement distributions.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Ohio Revised Code 5747.055 (2019; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
OklahomaRead state analysis
Oklahoma
Back to comparison ↑Oklahoma permits an exclusion of up to $10,000 per person from eligible retirement plans, including the qualified account categories used here. With income split evenly, the example excludes $20,000 and leaves $160,000 exposed. Public-system exclusions cannot be stacked repeatedly to exceed the shared limit for the same person. Military and qualifying CSRS benefits follow separate provisions.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $160,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $160,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Oklahoma Tax Commission: other retirement income (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Oklahoma retirement income exclusions (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
OregonRead state analysis
Oregon
Back to comparison ↑Oregon generally includes this profile’s private pension and traditional distributions while excluding Social Security. A limited retirement credit is not modeled as an exclusion for this high-income household. Local income taxes can depend on the particular jurisdiction and income level, so the state return is only one part of a Portland-area comparison. The statewide lifestyle grade cannot substitute for that address-level review.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Oregon’s estate-transfer filing threshold is another consideration for an asset-rich retiree. Its Revenue Department identifies a $1 million gross-estate threshold when the estate has property taxable by Oregon. That is a filing rule, not a statement that the tax equals the value over $1 million. A home and accumulated retirement assets should be reviewed alongside annual distributions and the estate’s deductions.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Oregon Revenue personal-income-tax guidance (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Oregon estate-transfer-tax guidance (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
PennsylvaniaRead state analysis
Pennsylvania
Back to comparison ↑Pennsylvania excludes qualifying retirement benefits received under the applicable retirement rules, including the modeled age-67 pension and traditional plans. The plan-income exposure is zero. That does not make brokerage interest, dividends or every gain tax-free, and inheritance-tax questions belong in a separate estate review. Retirement cash flow and the cost of leaving assets to beneficiaries are different comparisons.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Pennsylvania’s eligible retirement-income exclusion does not eliminate its inheritance tax. The rate depends on the beneficiary: the Revenue Department lists 4.5% for adult lineal heirs, 12% for siblings and 15% for other nonexempt heirs, with a spouse exemption and other specified exceptions. Beneficiary designations and the nature of the transferred asset deserve a separate review from the annual 1099-R.
For everyday spending, Pennsylvania lists a 6% general sales and use tax, with a further 1% in Allegheny County and 2% in Philadelphia. Exempt items and the local destination still matter. These rates describe taxable purchases, not a tax on the entire retirement spending budget.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Pennsylvania personal-income-tax guide: gross compensation (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Pennsylvania Revenue official tax-rate table (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
Rhode IslandRead state analysis
Rhode Island
Back to comparison ↑Rhode Island’s pension modification depends on age and income. The exact indexed 2026 threshold is not asserted here. The fixed household’s $291,000 federal AGI is nevertheless conclusively ineligible: the agency’s $133,750 prior-year joint threshold, the enacted inflation mechanism and BLS observations place even a deliberately generous 2026 upper bound at $141,350. All $180,000 of this profile’s plan income therefore remains exposed. That bound is an eligibility proof for this household, not a replacement threshold for other taxpayers.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Rhode Island’s 2026 estate-tax advisory sets a $1,838,056 net taxable estate threshold. It is independent of the income-tested pension modification, and marital deductions and other estate rules can affect the result. Compare annual withdrawal treatment and the projected taxable estate separately rather than treating one favorable deduction as a complete retirement-tax answer.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Rhode Island retirement-income guide, issued February 2026 for tax year 2025 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Rhode Island ADV 2025-27: 2026 estate threshold (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Rhode Island enacted H7127Aaa, June 12, 2026: Article 6 pension income test (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Rhode Island ADV2025-22: 2025 joint pension income ceiling (2025; 2026-09-12)
- BLS CPI-U public series: September 2023–August 2025 (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
South CarolinaRead state analysis
South Carolina
Back to comparison ↑South Carolina allows a retirement deduction of up to $10,000 per age-65 recipient. The example assigns $20,000 to plans and shows $160,000 exposed. Its separate age-65 deduction is reduced by the retirement deduction already claimed; it is not an additional unrestricted $15,000 on top. The remaining general age relief is outside this narrow plan-income measure.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $160,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $160,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- South Carolina income-tax FAQs (2026; 2026-09-12)
- South Carolina individual income tax FAQ (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
South DakotaRead state analysis
South Dakota
Back to comparison ↑South Dakota does not impose an individual income tax on the modeled retirement distributions, producing zero plan-income exposure. Its overall household position can still differ from another zero-tax state because prices, housing and livability differ. The guide does not award a unique tax rank to break that genuine tie. Personal proximity to family and providers should be tested independently.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- South Dakota Revenue sales/use tax guide (2022; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
TennesseeRead state analysis
Tennessee
Back to comparison ↑Tennessee’s former Hall tax no longer applies, and the modeled plan distributions face no individual income tax. The plan-exposure score is therefore tied with other zero states. A retiree still pays for housing, insurance and taxable purchases; the correct comparison uses a full annual budget. Nashville-area and smaller-community costs should not be assumed to match a statewide median.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Tennessee Revenue: Hall income-tax repeal (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
TexasRead state analysis
Texas
Back to comparison ↑Texas has no individual income tax on the modeled plan distributions. Property carrying costs remain visible in the retirement household score because an income-tax advantage does not eliminate a home’s annual bill. Exemptions, assessments, insurance and maintenance should be quoted for the actual property. A large house can make a zero-income-tax move more expensive than a smaller home elsewhere.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Texas Constitution Article VIII, section 24-a (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
UtahRead state analysis
Utah
Back to comparison ↑Utah’s retirement and Social Security credits are income-sensitive. This high-income private-sector profile does not assume those credits eliminate plan income, leaving $180,000 exposed before general deductions and any credit calculation. Its ordinary tax rate is a separate input. A retiree attracted to the state’s lifestyle should compare actual after-tax distributions and housing rather than treat the exposure score as a verdict.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Utah TC-40A supplemental schedule instructions (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
VermontRead state analysis
Vermont
Back to comparison ↑Vermont’s Social Security and eligible retirement relief depends on income and benefit category. The high-income example cannot assume those exclusions shelter its private plans. Housing, healthcare arrangements and lifestyle can still drive a reasonable Vermont decision. The relevant planning question is the cost of the desired life after the correct income tests, not whether a state has any retirement provision at all.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Vermont statutes, Title 32 chapter 151, section 5830e (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
VirginiaRead state analysis
Virginia
Back to comparison ↑Virginia provides age-related relief subject to rules and income limits, rather than a blanket exemption for this private plan profile. The narrow measure shows all $180,000 exposed before general deductions. Social Security and military benefits require their own classifications. Comparing Northern Virginia with another Virginia locality also calls for a housing and transportation budget, not just a common statewide rate.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Virginia Tax: subtractions (2025; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
WashingtonRead state analysis
Washington
Back to comparison ↑Washington has no broad individual income tax on the modeled 2026 plan distributions. Its separate capital-gains regime and enacted future income-tax changes should not be confused with current pension taxation. The guide’s $180,000 plan measure is zero for 2026; a multiyear plan needs a separate review of future effective dates and investment transactions. Home and insurance costs remain independent.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Washington Revenue capital-gains FAQ (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
West VirginiaRead state analysis
West Virginia
Back to comparison ↑West Virginia completes its Social Security exclusion in 2026, regardless of income. That is a meaningful change from the earlier partial phase-in, but it does not exempt the example’s private pension and traditional plans. The age-based modification interacts with other subtractions and should not be counted twice. Our plan-exposure measure remains $180,000 before general age deductions.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $180,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $180,000 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- West Virginia senior-citizen Social Security modification (2026; 2026-09-12)
- West Virginia Social Security modification: full exemption in 2026 (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
WisconsinRead state analysis
Wisconsin
Back to comparison ↑Wisconsin’s newer age-67 retirement exclusion can reach $24,000 per qualifying person. Both modeled spouses qualify and own eligible income, so the joint $48,000 exclusion leaves $132,000 of plan income exposed. The rule should not be confused with older income-limited retirement relief. The full joint amount requires both spouses to meet the age requirement.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $132,000 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $132,000 tax bill.
Wisconsin’s age-67 subtraction also comes with a return-level tradeoff: taxpayers electing it cannot claim credits on that return. The plan-income exposure measure applies the $48,000 joint subtraction because it is comparing an income base. A complete Wisconsin tax return must still evaluate whether electing the subtraction is preferable to the otherwise available credits.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Wisconsin Revenue retired-person FAQ (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Wisconsin retirement income FAQ (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
WyomingRead state analysis
Wyoming
Back to comparison ↑Wyoming has no individual income tax on the modeled retirement distributions, placing it in the zero-exposure tie. Whether it is a good retirement destination then depends on the household’s community, housing, travel and healthcare arrangements. A state average cannot capture the cost difference between a high-demand resort location and another community. The guide keeps those practical choices separate from the tax fact.
In the controlled two-spouse profile, $0 of $180,000 qualified plan income remains exposed before general deductions and rates. This is an income-base comparison, not a $0 tax bill.
Keep the original plan type, owner, age and after-tax basis with each 1099-R. A public pension, military benefit, IRA and employer plan may have different state treatment even when their federal forms look similar. Compare a distribution year and a conversion year separately before changing the withdrawal sequence.
- Wyoming government: about Wyoming (2026; 2026-09-12)
- Census ACS housing, rent and property-tax data
- NAIC 2023 homeowner premium table
Taxstra methodologyScoring rules, financial assumptions and research limitations.
How Taxstra grades each state out of 10
This guide ranks one financial result, such as a tax bill or deduction. Lifestyle does not change that number. Other category tiles provide extra context and are labeled when they do not affect the overall score.
What does a score out of 10 mean?
For financial categories, 10 is the strongest result in the comparison and 1 is the weakest. Lower costs generally score better; higher pay scores better. A 7.9 is a comparison tool, not a promise about your finances.
Why can scores and ranks look different?
Cards show one decimal place, while rankings use two. Two states can both display 7.9 and still have slightly different ranks. States with the same ranking value share a rank.
Which WalletHub ranking do we use?
We use WalletHub’s Quality of Life category, not its overall ranking. For example, Illinois is fifth for Quality of Life and eighteenth overall in the cited study. Those are two different measures.
What if information is missing?
We leave it missing instead of guessing. If a required factor is unavailable, we label the score provisional and do not give it an overall rank.
Technical formulas and source definitions
- Financial categories: actual measurement spread
- The most favorable observed value receives 10 and the least favorable receives 1. Intermediate grades are scaled linearly between them: 1 + 9 × the favorable share of the observed range. Lower costs score higher; higher pay scores higher. If every observation is identical, each receives 5.5. These relative grades do not have a universal pass/fail cutoff. Extreme observations can widen the range and compress other grades. We do not narrow a genuine gap just to produce a tighter leaderboard; a change to a source population must have a documented measurement reason. The STR grade is a regional spending-cost screen. Hotel employment is excluded from its score because hotel jobs do not measure residential STR demand; actual occupancy and booking revenue require local property research.
- Malpractice and rental taxes: defined samples
- The physician index weights CMS county malpractice-cost observations by their malpractice RVUs within each state. It uses the underlying 2026 update, based on 2023 premiums and RVUs, before Medicare payment adjustments. State-specific specialty mix, missing insurer types and CMS imputation limit its use as a quote comparison. Apartment-tax comparisons hold building and fixture values constant and average the study’s named urban and rural municipalities equally. Including both reduces dependence on one city; it still does not represent all localities. They are neither statewide tax rates nor single-family STR bills.
- Quality of life: the source category, not the overall WalletHub rank
- We use the quality-of-life category of WalletHub’s 2026 state study, published August 10, 2026. Taxstra converts its rank to a grade using 1 + 9 × (50 − rank) / 49. The publisher’s category includes amenities, mobility, leisure, weather and environmental conditions. WalletHub’s overall ranking also includes affordability, economy, education and health, and safety. We use its narrower quality-of-life category as an amenities and daily-life input; our financial factors already measure costs separately. For example, Illinois is #5 in that category and #18 overall in WalletHub. Taxstra’s own guide ranking is a third, separately calculated result. Differences in these rank-based grades are not measured differences in happiness.
- Overall grade and rank
- Multiply each unrounded component grade by its published weight, add the results, then display one decimal place. Round the composite to two decimals for ranking and retain genuine ties at that precision. Cards display one decimal for readability; two cards displaying 7.9 can therefore have different positions. The table tooltip and downloadable dataset include the ranking value. For example, financial 6.0 and quality of life 9.0 produce 6.6 at 80% financial / 20% quality-of-life weights. Direct tax and deduction comparisons rank their displayed dollar outcomes and show a separate normalized category grade.
- Incomplete evidence
- Unavailable category data receives no grade. When a weighted component is missing, the remaining components are reweighted and the card labels the result provisional, shows evidence coverage and excludes it from the overall rank. The presence of a numeric provisional grade is not evidence that the missing category was measured.
- What a grade does not claim
- These are screening grades, not completed all-factor tax or legal rankings. The named tax benchmarks and CMS malpractice-cost index are included only where the displayed weights say so. Full-return taxes, individual insurance quotes and legal-policy judgments remain separate. A high amenities grade does not mean that everyone prefers the state. Family ties, local neighborhoods, climate preferences and a particular job can outweigh statewide observations.
For investment guides, livability describes market context; it does not forecast rent growth or returns and does not assume that the investor lives in the property’s state. In guides about tax bills, the tax calculations stay separate from lifestyle grades.
Each spouse receives exactly half of each income category; no after-tax basis, early distributions or public/military pension. Full-year residents. Qualified traditional distributions; employer-funded defined-benefit pension; 401(k) entirely employee elective deferrals with no employer contributions; IRA entirely self-funded with no exempt pension rollover; Pennsylvania-eligible retirement distributions after retirement. Exclusions are applied to qualifying plan income first where several income categories are eligible. No federal or state tax bill is estimated.
Financial comparisons preserve equal outcomes and leave unavailable calculations unranked. Statutes and election mechanics are factual comparisons, not subjective policy grades. These educational examples are not individualized tax advice.
Sources and measurement datesOriginal datasets, primary authority, verification dates and downloadable research.
Download the published 50-state dataset (CSV) · Dataset definitions and coverage
Economic observations were retrieved September 12, 2026. Measurement years differ because the agencies publish on different schedules. Existing retirement rules retain their August 4, 2026 review date; existing PTET and depreciation research retain August 30, 2026. Unresolved entries remain identified.
- Taxstra controlled retirement profile and calculation methodologySource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Hawaii TIR 96-5, August 14, 1996: continuing pension-funding guidanceSource year / applicable rules: 1996 · Verified 2026-09-12
Pages 1–4 distinguish employee elective contributions, employer contributions and exempt-pension rollovers; model assumes no employer 401(k) contributions and no exempt IRA rollover.
Pages 1–4 distinguish employee elective contributions, employer contributions and exempt-pension rollovers; model assumes no employer 401(k) contributions and no exempt IRA rollover.
- Pennsylvania personal-income-tax guide: gross compensationSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Pennsylvania eligible retirement-plan conditions and retirement status; federal qualification alone does not control.
Pennsylvania eligible retirement-plan conditions and retirement status; federal qualification alone does not control.
- Michigan Revenue Administrative Bulletin 2026-1, January 8, 2026Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Qualified distribution definitions and 2026 deduction methods; voluntary unmatched employee 401(k) funding is not in the eligible retirement pool.
Qualified distribution definitions and 2026 deduction methods; voluntary unmatched employee 401(k) funding is not in the eligible retirement pool.
- Michigan withholding guidance for retirees: eligible plan fundingSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Employee-only contributions do not meet qualifying employer-plan distribution conditions.
- Michigan 2026 withholding guide: retirement deduction limitsSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Wisconsin Revenue retired-person FAQSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Law as of February 4, 2026: $24,000 age-67 retirement subtraction, $48,000 joint when both qualify, and restriction on claiming credits.
Law as of February 4, 2026: $24,000 age-67 retirement subtraction, $48,000 joint when both qualify, and restriction on claiming credits.
- Maine Title 36 section 5122: pension phaseout income baseSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
M-3 opening text uses federal AGI. Enacted Chapter 662 retains that definition; the statute governs instead of the inconsistent FAQ shorthand.
- Maine enacted Chapter 662, printed textSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Page 2 amends filing-status phaseout amounts; does not replace the opening federal-AGI definition.
- CMS 2026 Medicare premiums and deductiblesSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
National Part B base monthly premium $202.90 and annual deductible $283; income adjustments are additional.
- Alabama enrolled HB341, section 40-18-19(a)(6) and (13)Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Defined-benefit exemption and $6,000 age-65 retirement exclusion; the new National Guard provision starts in 2027.
Defined-benefit exemption and $6,000 age-65 retirement exclusion; the new National Guard provision starts in 2027.
- Alabama 2026 enrolled HB341: retirement exclusions, pages 3 and 6Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Alaska Court System: tax mattersSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Alaska has no individual income tax; unrelated federal estate figures on this page are not used.
Alaska has no individual income tax; unrelated federal estate figures on this page are not used.
- Arizona Revised Statutes 43-1022Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Subtractions identify specified government pension systems, not the modeled private plans; Social Security subtraction.
Subtractions identify specified government pension systems, not the modeled private plans; Social Security subtraction.
- Arkansas Revenue Subject 206: pensions and annuitiesSource year / applicable rules: 2023 · Verified 2026-09-12
$6,000 retirement exclusion per recipient and eligible IRA distributions at age 59½; revised February 24, 2023.
$6,000 retirement exclusion per recipient and eligible IRA distributions at age 59½; revised February 24, 2023.
- California FTB Publication 1005: pension and annuity guidelinesSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Pages 4–7: resident traditional-plan income, basis differences and Social Security; excludes special military rules from this private profile.
Pages 4–7: resident traditional-plan income, basis differences and Social Security; excludes special military rules from this private profile.
- Colorado 2025 income-tax filing guide, DR0104AD instructionsSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Age-65 $24,000 pension allowance is reduced by the Social Security subtraction; each modeled spouse already subtracts $25,500.
Age-65 $24,000 pension allowance is reduced by the Social Security subtraction; each modeled spouse already subtracts $25,500.
- Colorado: Social Security, pensions and annuitiesSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Connecticut DRS senior-citizen tax guidanceSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Income-sensitive pension and IRA relief does not extend to $291,000 joint federal AGI.
Income-sensitive pension and IRA relief does not extend to $291,000 joint federal AGI.
- Connecticut tax tips for senior citizensSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Delaware Code Title 30, section 1106Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Age-60 $12,500 allowance per recipient shared across eligible retirement and investment income.
Age-60 $12,500 allowance per recipient shared across eligible retirement and investment income.
- Florida Revenue: personal income tax FAQSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Florida does not have a personal income tax.
Florida does not have a personal income tax.
- Georgia Revenue retirement-income exclusionSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Age-65 $65,000 exclusion per recipient and qualifying income categories.
Age-65 $65,000 exclusion per recipient and qualifying income categories.
- Georgia retirement income exclusionSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Idaho Retirement Benefits DeductionSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Deduction requires the listed qualifying public retirement benefits; private-plan profile does not qualify.
Deduction requires the listed qualifying public retirement benefits; private-plan profile does not qualify.
- Illinois Publication 120: retirement incomeSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
December 2025 publication covers qualifying IRA and employee-plan income; brokerage income is separate.
December 2025 publication covers qualifying IRA and employee-plan income; brokerage income is separate.
- Illinois Publication 120: retirement incomeSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Illinois Attorney General estate-tax instructions for 2023–2026Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
$4 million exclusion, adjusted taxable gifts and no Illinois portability; not a simplified marginal-tax formula.
- Illinois FY 2026-11: grocery occupation tax changesSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
State 1% grocery tax ended January 1, 2026; authorized local grocery tax and specified transit taxes can remain.
- Indiana Revenue individual deductionsSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Listed civil-service and military deductions do not apply to the private-plan profile.
Listed civil-service and military deductions do not apply to the private-plan profile.
- Iowa retirement-income tax guidanceSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
March 13, 2025 guidance: qualifying retirement-income exclusion at age 55, effective from tax year 2023.
March 13, 2025 guidance: qualifying retirement-income exclusion at age 55, effective from tax year 2023.
- Iowa Schedule 1: retirement income exclusionSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Iowa inheritance-tax guidanceSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
No Iowa inheritance tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2025.
- Kansas 2025 individual-income-tax instructionsSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Specified government retirement subtractions and Social Security; no general private-plan subtraction.
Specified government retirement subtractions and Social Security; no general private-plan subtraction.
- Kentucky Revenue pension-income exclusionSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
$31,110 standard pension exclusion; other statements on this mixed-year page, including its displayed rate, are not adopted.
$31,110 standard pension exclusion; other statements on this mixed-year page, including its displayed rate, are not adopted.
- Kentucky individual income tax: pension exclusionSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:44.1Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Statutory CPI-U indexing begins in 2026. The agency June 2026 rulemaking example confirms $12,324 per eligible recipient.
Statutory CPI-U indexing begins in 2026. The agency June 2026 rulemaking example confirms $12,324 per eligible recipient.
- Louisiana retirement exemption and annual inflation adjustmentSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Louisiana RIB 25-012: individual income-tax reformSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Page 3 confirms retirement-exemption indexing beginning in 2026; no final indexed 2026 amount supplied.
- Louisiana Revenue June 2026 rulemaking example: $12,324 indexed exemptionSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Pages 2 and 4 give the indexed 2026 amount. This proposed rule illustrates an already enacted statutory adjustment; it is not represented as a final regulation.
- BLS December 2025 CPI-U release: 2.7% annual increaseSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Maine 2026 estimated-tax worksheet, revised July 2026Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
$49,824 maximum before Social Security offset and phaseout. Statute uses federal AGI; the $255,800 joint 2026 phaseout threshold is reconstructed from the legally specified September 2025 BLS vintage.
$49,824 maximum before Social Security offset and phaseout. Statute uses federal AGI; the $255,800 joint 2026 phaseout threshold is reconstructed from the legally specified September 2025 BLS vintage.
- Maine retirement income FAQ, revised April 13, 2026Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Maine sections 5402–5403: chained-CPI vintage and roundingSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- BLS chained CPI, September 15, 2025 vintage preserved by Federal Reserve ALFREDSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Actual historical monthly indexes, not revised current data. The twelve-month June-window ratio and statutory downward $50 rounding yield $255,800 for joint 2026 pension relief.
- Maryland Comptroller pension exclusionSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
2026 maximum $40,600 per person less gross Social Security; ordinary IRA, SEP and Keogh benefits ineligible.
2026 maximum $40,600 per person less gross Social Security; ordinary IRA, SEP and Keogh benefits ineligible.
- Maryland pension exclusion: 2026 maximum $40,600Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Maryland seniors and retirees: Social Security offsetSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Massachusetts tax treatment of pensionsSource year / applicable rules: 2024 · Verified 2026-09-12
Private pension taxation and recovery of contributions previously taxed by Massachusetts; profile has no state basis.
Private pension taxation and recovery of contributions previously taxed by Massachusetts; profile has no state basis.
- Michigan Revenue Administrative Bulletin 2026-1Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Minnesota Revenue: seniorsSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Resident pension income is taxable; special public-pension and Social Security relief are separate from this private-plan exposure.
Resident pension income is taxable; special public-pension and Social Security relief are separate from this private-plan exposure.
- Mississippi income-tax regulations, Title 35 Part III Chapter 07Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Qualifying retirement-plan and IRA distributions are excluded; premature or nonqualifying distributions are not.
Qualifying retirement-plan and IRA distributions are excluded; premature or nonqualifying distributions are not.
- Missouri Revenue pension exemption FAQSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Private pension relief remains income-sensitive; broader public-pension relief does not apply to the profile.
Private pension relief remains income-sensitive; broader public-pension relief does not apply to the profile.
- Montana Revenue tax simplification resource hubSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Prior partial pension deduction repealed in 2024; new general age-65 subtraction indexed beginning in 2025.
Prior partial pension deduction repealed in 2024; new general age-65 subtraction indexed beginning in 2025.
- Montana tax simplification: retirement and age deductionsSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Nebraska 2025 Schedule I adjustmentsSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Social Security, military and civil-service adjustments are listed; none is a general private-plan exclusion.
Social Security, military and civil-service adjustments are listed; none is a general private-plan exclusion.
- Nevada Department of Taxation: income tax in NevadaSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Nevada does not impose individual income tax.
Nevada does not impose individual income tax.
- New Hampshire DRA: interest-and-dividends repealSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
No broad retirement income tax; interest-and-dividends repeal effective January 1, 2025, not 2026.
No broad retirement income tax; interest-and-dividends repeal effective January 1, 2025, not 2026.
- New Jersey Division of Taxation: retirement incomeSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement exclusion unavailable above $150,000 New Jersey total income; profile exceeds this even without Social Security.
Retirement exclusion unavailable above $150,000 New Jersey total income; profile exceeds this even without Social Security.
- New Mexico personal-income-tax overviewSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Age-65 relief is a general income-dependent exemption; it is not a private-plan category exclusion.
Age-65 relief is a general income-dependent exemption; it is not a private-plan category exclusion.
- New York tax information for seniorsSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
$20,000 eligible pension/annuity exclusion per recipient age 59½; unused spousal exclusion is not transferable.
$20,000 eligible pension/annuity exclusion per recipient age 59½; unused spousal exclusion is not transferable.
- New York tax information for seniorsSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- North Carolina Bailey retirement-benefit guidanceSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Bailey relief concerns specified vested government systems, not modeled private benefits; page identifies tax year 2025.
Bailey relief concerns specified vested government systems, not modeled private benefits; page identifies tax year 2025.
- North Dakota 2025 income-tax instructionsSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Federal-income starting point and listed state adjustments; general tax brackets do not exempt private-plan income as a category.
Federal-income starting point and listed state adjustments; general tax brackets do not exempt private-plan income as a category.
- Ohio Revised Code 5747.055Source year / applicable rules: 2019 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement and senior relief are tax credits subject to income limits, not subtractions from the private-plan income base.
Retirement and senior relief are tax credits subject to income limits, not subtractions from the private-plan income base.
- Oklahoma Tax Commission: other retirement incomeSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
$10,000 per recipient for specified qualifying retirement benefits, coordinated with other retirement exclusions.
$10,000 per recipient for specified qualifying retirement benefits, coordinated with other retirement exclusions.
- Oklahoma retirement income exclusionsSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Oregon Revenue personal-income-tax guidanceSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Resident pension income taxable; credits and pre-October-1991 federal-service relief are separate.
Resident pension income taxable; credits and pre-October-1991 federal-service relief are separate.
- Oregon estate-transfer-tax guidanceSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
$1 million gross-estate filing threshold and Oregon property connection; filing threshold is not an estimated tax bill.
- Pennsylvania Revenue official tax-rate tableSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Inheritance rates by beneficiary relationship and general sales/use rates with local additions.
- Rhode Island retirement-income guide, issued February 2026 for tax year 2025Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Guide describes tax year 2025 age/income-limited pension relief. The exact 2026 indexed threshold remains unpublished; the fixed $291,000 federal-AGI household is above the independently bounded eligibility ceiling.
Guide describes tax year 2025 age/income-limited pension relief. The exact 2026 indexed threshold remains unpublished; the fixed $291,000 federal-AGI household is above the independently bounded eligibility ceiling.
- Rhode Island ADV 2025-27: 2026 estate thresholdSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
2026 net taxable estate threshold $1,838,056, distinct from annual pension exclusion.
- Rhode Island enacted H7127Aaa, June 12, 2026: Article 6 pension income testSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Article 6, PDF pages 152–154 retains pension eligibility and indexing. Exact 2026 indexed threshold is not published here. The fixed high-income outcome is established separately by a conservative CPI bound.
Enacted text differs from the earlier Article 6 Sub A proposal; the proposal is not used as law.
- Rhode Island ADV2025-22: 2025 joint pension income ceilingSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Pages 3–4 expressly cover 2025 and establish $133,750; not used as the exact 2026 threshold.
- BLS CPI-U public series: September 2023–August 2025Source year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Nonseasonally adjusted monthly observations bound the change between the two annual windows; source supports a conservative ceiling, not an invented precise 2026 exemption threshold.
- South Carolina income-tax FAQsSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Age-65 retirement deduction $10,000 per recipient; separate age deduction is reduced by retirement deduction.
Age-65 retirement deduction $10,000 per recipient; separate age deduction is reduced by retirement deduction.
- South Carolina individual income tax FAQSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- South Dakota Revenue sales/use tax guideSource year / applicable rules: 2022 · Verified 2026-09-12
Explicit no-individual-income-tax statement only; obsolete sales rates elsewhere in this edition are not used.
Explicit no-individual-income-tax statement only; obsolete sales rates elsewhere in this edition are not used.
- Tennessee Revenue: Hall income-tax repealSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Hall income tax ended for tax periods beginning January 1, 2021; no broad individual income tax on modeled distributions.
Hall income tax ended for tax periods beginning January 1, 2021; no broad individual income tax on modeled distributions.
- Texas Constitution Article VIII, section 24-aSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Constitutional prohibition of a tax on individuals net incomes.
Constitutional prohibition of a tax on individuals net incomes.
- Utah TC-40A supplemental schedule instructionsSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement and Social Security relief are credits; the displayed worksheet is tax year 2025 and is not a 2026 rate source.
Retirement and Social Security relief are credits; the displayed worksheet is tax year 2025 and is not a 2026 rate source.
- Vermont statutes, Title 32 chapter 151, section 5830eSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Income-limited Social Security, CSRS and specified other retirement provisions; no exemption at the modeled $291,000 income.
Income-limited Social Security, CSRS and specified other retirement provisions; no exemption at the modeled $291,000 income.
- Virginia Tax: subtractionsSource year / applicable rules: 2025 · Verified 2026-09-12
General age deduction and special previously state-taxed retirement contributions; no state contribution basis is modeled.
General age deduction and special previously state-taxed retirement contributions; no state contribution basis is modeled.
- Washington Revenue capital-gains FAQSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-account assets are excluded from the separate capital-gains tax; current profile is tax year 2026.
Retirement-account assets are excluded from the separate capital-gains tax; current profile is tax year 2026.
- West Virginia senior-citizen Social Security modificationSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Full Social Security exclusion in 2026 and interaction with age-based modifications.
Full Social Security exclusion in 2026 and interaction with age-based modifications.
- West Virginia Social Security modification: full exemption in 2026Source year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Wisconsin retirement income FAQSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Retirement-income rule only; not verification of every rate or example on the linked page.
- Wyoming government: about WyomingSource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Verified 2026-09-12
Wyoming has no individual income tax.
Wyoming has no individual income tax.
- BEA regional price parities, via FREDSource year / applicable rules: 2024 · Retrieved 2026-09-12
- Census ACS 1-year: B25077, B25103, B25064Source year / applicable rules: 2024 · Retrieved 2026-09-12
- NAIC homeowners report, HO-3 average premiumsSource year / applicable rules: 2023 · Retrieved 2026-09-12
- WalletHub 2026 quality-of-life categorySource year / applicable rules: 2026 · Retrieved 2026-09-12
The Quality of Life Rank column, not Overall Rank. Overall also includes affordability, economy, education and health, and safety. Illinois is #5 in the quality-of-life category and #18 overall. Category ranks are converted to Taxstra grades; overall ranks are shown only for source context.
The Census property-tax figure is a median dollar bill on owner-occupied homes, not a tax rate on rentals. BLS physician wages exclude self-employment. NAIC premiums describe owner-occupied HO-3 policies. CMS healthcare spending includes several payers and all ages. BLS accommodation employment includes hotels and other lodging; it is not STR revenue.
State-specific primary-authority links appear with each state. A source listed for one tax category does not verify a different category.
More questions about retirement income taxes
Does every state exempt Social Security?
No. Treatment varies by state, income and sometimes age. The reference table separates Social Security from pensions and accounts because an exemption for one does not establish an exemption for the others.
Are 401(k) and IRA withdrawals always treated the same?
No. Some states tie relief to qualifying employer plans or other categories. Keep the plan type and any state contribution basis with the tax records rather than grouping every 1099-R into one number.
Why is the example’s Michigan exposure $60,000 rather than $44,780?
The 2026 joint cap is $135,220, but the cap applies to eligible distributions. This example’s unmatched employee-only 401(k) is outside that eligible pool. Its $120,000 IRA and defined-benefit pension fit beneath the cap, leaving the $60,000 401(k) exposed. A different employer-funding history changes the allocation.
Does a federally qualified plan guarantee Pennsylvania exemption?
No. Pennsylvania applies its own eligible retirement-plan requirements. This example assumes written eligible plans and distributions after the applicable retirement conditions are met. A 1099-R or federal qualified status alone is not a substitute for that state eligibility check.
Does Wisconsin’s age-67 subtraction affect credits?
Yes. Wisconsin’s current guidance says taxpayers electing the retirement-income subtraction cannot claim credits on that return. The guide compares exposed income, so a full tax calculation should still compare the available choices before making that election.
Can military retirement be exempt when a private pension is taxable?
Yes. Military retirement often has a separate statutory provision. The controlled private-sector example excludes military benefits, so military retirees should use the dedicated category and their own income mix.
What does the plan-income rank measure?
It ranks the income still exposed after qualifying-plan exclusions in one specified $180,000 two-spouse profile. Lower exposure receives the more favorable rank. It is not an effective tax-rate ranking or an estimate of total retirement taxes.
How was Maine’s indexed 2026 pension relief calculated?
Taxstra applies the statutory June-window chained-CPI ratio using the September 15, 2025 data vintage archived by the Federal Reserve. Rounding the indexed $250,000 joint threshold down to $50 gives $255,800. Applying the $291,000 fixed AGI and Social Security offsets leaves $25,691.90 of pension relief.
Do state exemptions eliminate federal tax?
No. State modifications operate on the state return. Federal retirement-income rules, Medicare income adjustments and other federal consequences require their own calculations.
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
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.
