All the States That Don’t Tax Social Security (2024)

FAQs

All the States That Don’t Tax Social Security? ›

Quick Facts. Alaska and New Hampshire are the only states with no sales, income or Social Security tax.

Quick Facts. Alaska and New Hampshire are the only states with no sales, income or Social Security tax.

You might also owe state taxes on the benefits depending on where you live. For the 2022 tax year, 11 states tax Social Security benefits: Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont.

Fortunately, there are some states that don't charge taxes on retirement income of any kind: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

There are 13 states that tax Social Security: Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia.

1. Alaska. Alaska is the most tax-friendly state for retirees because it has no state income tax or tax on Social Security. And its sales tax rate is the fourth lowest on our list - fifth lowest in the U.S. But keep this in mind: The cost of living in Alaska is higher than in most states.

To acquire the full amount, you need to maximize your working life and begin collecting your check until age 70. Another way to maximize your check is by asking for a raise every two or three years. Moving companies throughout your career is another way to prove your worth, and generate more money.

Social Security benefits may or may not be taxed after 62, depending in large part on other income earned. Those only receiving Social Security benefits do not have to pay federal income taxes.

What is the most tax friendly state? ›

MoneyGeek's analysis found that Wyoming is the most tax-friendly state in America, followed by Nevada, Tennessee, Florida and Alaska. States that received a grade of A all share something in common: no state income tax. Washington and South Dakota — which both received a B — also have no state income tax.

Social security benefits are not taxable by the state of California. The amount of social security benefits you included in adjusted gross income on your federal return is not taxed by California; however, the remainder could be. Social security benefits may be taxable by the federal government.

In 2020, the average American contributed 8.9% percent of their income in state taxes. Alaska had the lowest average overall tax burden – measured as total individual taxes paid divided by total personal income – at 5.4%, followed by Tennessee (6.3%), New Hampshire (6.4%), Wyoming (6.6%) and Florida (6.7%).

If you have a low living cost and can supplement your income with a part-time job or a generous pension, then retiring on $3,000 a month is certainly possible.

The ideal way to keep your Social Security benefits free from income tax is to make sure your total combined income is less than the threshold to pay tax. You can also reduce the tax burden by optimizing the savings in your retirement accounts and the order in which you tap them for income.

Yes, Social Security is taxed federally after the age of 70. If you get a Social Security check, it will always be part of your taxable income, regardless of your age. There is some variation at the state level, though, so make sure to check the laws for the state where you live.

The top five states to retire, according to the site, are Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Wyoming and Delaware, in that order. You can see the rest of the state rankings in WalletHub's report. WalletHub uses 47 “key indicators” in three areas — affordability, quality of life and healthcare — to calculate its rankings.

Cape Coral, Fla. With its desirable climate and favorable tax status, Florida is filled with popular retirement destinations. Many of our favorite retirement spots in the Sunshine State can be found along the Gulf Coast including St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Punta Gorda.

Rather, Alabama is the most affordable state to retire in, according to WalletHub's “2023 Best States to Retire.” The analysis compared all 50 states across three key categories: health care, quality of life and affordability.

All of the data below comes from the Census Bureau's 2021 1-year American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates. Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate in the U.S. at 0.27%. The Aloha state has a home median value of $722,500.

What are the 26 states that do not tax Social Security? ›

If you start receiving benefits at age 66 you get 100 percent of your monthly benefit. If you delay receiving retirement benefits until after your full retirement age, your monthly benefit continues to increase. The chart below explains how delayed retirement affects your benefit.

As Long as Possible, Wait

Your Social Security benefits will be permanently reduced by up to 30% if you claim "early," at age 62. However, waiting until 70 years old has the opposite effect. Your monthly benefits will receive an additional 8% "bonus" for each year you delay claiming benefits past full retirement age.

You must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in five of the last 10 years. • If you also get a pension from a job where you didn't pay Social Security taxes (e.g., a civil service or teacher's pension), your Social Security benefit might be reduced.

Some of you have to pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you have other substantial income in addition to your benefits (such as wages, self-employment, interest, dividends and other taxable income that must be reported on your tax return).

NOTE: The 7.65% tax rate is the combined rate for Social Security and Medicare. The Social Security portion (OASDI) is 6.20% on earnings up to the applicable taxable maximum amount (see below).

You can earn any amount and not be affected by the Social Security earnings test once you reach full retirement age, or FRA. That's 66 and 4 months if you were born in 1956, 66 and 6 months for people born in 1957, and gradually increasing to 67 for people born in 1960 and later.

What state is the easiest to get Social Security? ›

States that have no income tax aren't excessively wealthy and benevolent. They simply have a different structure for raising revenue. With no income tax dollars coming in, these states must get that revenue from other sources. Typically, this translates to higher sales taxes, property taxes and/or gasoline taxes.

1. Cheyenne, Wyoming. While not an obvious candidate, Cheyenne, Wyoming tops the list of U.S. cities with the lowest tax rates. Cheyenne tax rates are low across the board, with an average 9.7% rate for lower-income families.

How Florida Has No Income Tax. In 1968, the Florida Constitution was ratified to prevent the state from collecting an income tax. And the state constitution protects taxpayers from having the state impose new taxes or raise them.

You would not be required to file a tax return. But you might want to file a return, because even though you are not required to pay taxes on your Social Security, you may be able to get a refund of any money withheld from your paycheck for taxes.

Withholding on Social Security Benefits

Federal income tax can be withheld at a rate of 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% as of the tax year 2022. 3 You're limited to these exact percentages—you can't opt for another percentage or a flat dollar amount.

It's not double taxation because the funds you collect don't come directly from your taxes. Your taxes are paying for today's beneficiaries, so the benefits you receive will be from someone else's payroll taxes. You have to think about your payroll taxes as a premium into a retirement account.

The highest-earning Americans pay the most in combined federal, state and local taxes, the Tax Foundation noted. As a group, the top quintile — those earning $130,001 or more annually — paid $3.23 trillion in taxes, compared with $142 billion for the bottom quintile, or those earning less than $25,000.

What states have no sales tax? There are five states with no general statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. These are sometimes referred to as the NOMAD states (“N” for New Hampshire, “O” for Oregon, and so forth).

The ideal way to keep your Social Security benefits free from income tax is to make sure your total combined income is less than the threshold to pay tax. You can also reduce the tax burden by optimizing the savings in your retirement accounts and the order in which you tap them for income.

Is Social Security taxed after age 70? ›

Yes, Social Security is taxed federally after the age of 70. If you get a Social Security check, it will always be part of your taxable income, regardless of your age. There is some variation at the state level, though, so make sure to check the laws for the state where you live.

How is Social Security taxed? If your total income is more than $25,000 for an individual or $32,000 for a married couple filing jointly, you must pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. Below those thresholds, your benefits are not taxed.

Some of you have to pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you have other substantial income in addition to your benefits (such as wages, self-employment, interest, dividends and other taxable income that must be reported on your tax return).

Claiming “early,” at age 62, will result in the permanent reduction of your Social Security checks by up to 30%. Waiting until age 70, however, has the opposite effect. For every year that you delay claiming past full retirement age, your monthly benefits will get an 8% “bonus.”

To qualify for a Medicare giveback benefit, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and B. You must be responsible for paying the Part B Premiums; you should not rely on state government or other local assistance for your Part B premiums.

At What Age Can You Stop Filing Taxes? Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. Basically, if you're 65 or older, you have to file a tax return in 2022 if your gross income is $14,700 or higher.

The Bottom Line. So, when do you stop paying Social Security tax? As long as you're employed, the answer is almost always "never." But there are exceptions to every rule, and if one of those discussed above seems to apply to you, be sure to check it out.

You must pay taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security benefits if you file a: Federal tax return as an “individual” and your “combined income” exceeds $25,000. Joint return, and you and your spouse have “combined income” of more than $32,000.