Is your state among the 14 states that don’t tax pensions and social security?
There was a time when most companies offered retirement plans to employees, allowing them to live a high quality life even after retirement. That is no longer the case in corporate America, as companies lose their soul in order to make every last possible buck they can. Most jobs no longer offer pension, so if you are receiving a pension after retirement, you should automatically count yourself among the lucky few.
In fact, only 17% of the workforce in the private industry was offered retirement plans. There are still some major companies that offer retirement plans as an incentive to their workers, but they are few and far between, including Coca Cola (NYSE:KO), General Mills (NYSE:GIS) and NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) to name a few. By the way, if you are invested in one of these companies you should send an email to your company’s IR contacts and ask them why they are still practicing excessive salary practices.
So let’s say you’re lucky enough to work in the government or the private sector and you’ve had a long, fulfilling career and now you’ve retired to sit down, relax and enjoy your pension and social security to get you through retirement. Since pensions are generally nowhere near the ordinary wages one earns while working, you would think these would be exempt for tax. Unfortunately, both pensions and social security payments are taxed in most states, as they are deemed ordinary income. Even if some states don’t tax these payments, that generally depends on your age as well as the income, so the likelihood is quite small that you will be able to avoid such payments.
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However, here’s the good news. There are a total of 14 states which do not tax any pension or social security no matter what your age and how much you earn. For a person who’s about to retire, moving to one of these states seems to be a good idea. Though it is also important to note that just because your pension and social security isn’t being taxed doesn’t mean that no retirement income will be taxed. For example, it could be your 401k bearing the brunt of the taxman. Therefore, it is always important to note the overall tax policy of a state. On the other hand, if you want to move abroad, you should consider taking a look at the 11 best places to retire overseas for affordable and efficient healthcare.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at the states where your retirement income is free from Uncle Sam’s grips, starting with number 14:
14. Florida
There’s a reason Florida is famous for retirees and it’s not just the weather and the beaches. Since the state doesn’t have an income tax, your pension will remain in your pocket and not the state’s, in addition to social security benefits as well.
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13. Illinois
Any private pension from an approved plan is exempt in Illinois, while there is no tax on social security benefits at all.
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12. Alabama
Alabama also exempts private pension earned from defined benefit retirement plans, while social security is completely exempt.
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11. Hawaii
Living on the beaches of Honolulu after retirement might sound like a dream, but it’s a very probable dream considering that Hawaii does not tax retirement plans, both private and public, provided you have not contributed to the plan. If you have contributed to the plan, then you will be liable for tax only for the amount contributed by you.
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10. New Hampshire
If you want to live in New England, New Hampshire is the way to go, as it’s the only state there not to tax pensions. In fact, it doesn’t tax general income at all.
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9. Nevada
There’s a reason Nevada is the gambling home of America. The state of Nevada has no income tax at all, which is why pensions, social security and even 401ks are all safe and exempt from tax.
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8. Pennsylvania
If you’re receiving your pension from an employer sponsored retirement plan which is approved, you don’t need to pay any taxes on your pension at all. Social security of course, is also exempt.
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7. Washington
Another state without income tax, you are exempt from tax in Washington against any pension you may be eligible to receive, without any caveats.
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6. Alaska
If you love the cold, then Alaska is an excellent place to move to after retirement. And if you don’t like the cold, you can simply use your tax savings to buy excellent heating equipment since Alaska doesn’t have income tax.
5. Mississippi
Mississsippi is an excellent state for retirees, and thus a part of the states that don’t tax pensions and social security, as long as you retire at the appropriate time (at the age of 59) and not earlier, as Mississippi then does not tax either pension, whether private or public, or social security.
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4. South Dakota
South Dakota is another state in the US which has no state tax on income, thereby exempting both pension and social security from tax.
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3. Tennessee
For now, residents of Tennessee are only required to pay taxes on their income from dividends and interest; pension and social security is exempt. In 2021, even these incomes will not be taxable.
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2. Texas
One of the biggest states in the US by both land mass and population, Texas does not have a state income tax, thereby exempting both pension and social security.
1. Wyoming
Topping the list of 14 states that don’t tax pensions and social security is a state often called the best state in the US for retirees, with no income tax. It further also does not have any taxes on the 401k, which means any income you receive after retirement is yours to do whatever you feel like.
See also 18 countries with the lowest tax rates in the world and 16 easiest tax deductions and credits to claim on your return.
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Disclosure: 14 States that don’t Tax Pensions AND Social Security is originally published at Insider Monkey.
