10 Tax-Friendly States for Retirees in 2026

10. Washington

Washington comes in on this list as the 10th most tax-friendly state for retirees, primarily because it has no state individual income tax. This means your Social Security benefits, 401(k) distributions, and pensions are not taxed at the state level. However, the financial landscape in the Evergreen State may not be so tax-advantageous for high-net-worth individuals.

• A Washington capital gains tax applies to the sale of long-term capital assets (like stocks and bonds) for gains exceeding $278,000 annually (adjusted for inflation).
• Starting in 2028, a new Washington 9.9% "millionaire's tax" is scheduled to take effect on annual income exceeding $1 million.

Meanwhile, for the average retiree, the property taxes in Washington are high, with a median tax bill of $4,266, but they are less than in some other states that don’t tax retirement income.

Another potential positive of living cheaply in Washington is that there is no inheritance tax or state taxes on groceries, which may cut down on how much your heirs (and you) pay for daily living expenses.

Potential cons of retiring in Washington

• As stated, although there isn't a state inheritance tax, there is a Washington estate tax, which ranges from 10% to 35% or 10% to 20%, depending on the month of death in 2026.
• Sales taxes are also a bit high, with an average combined rate of 9.51%, according to the Tax Foundation.

9. Alaska

The median property tax bill in Alaska is slightly lower than in Washington, at $4,004. While this number is still high when compared to most other states, the lack of state income tax in Alaska places the state at number nine.

Alaskans can even get paid for living in the state, thanks to the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. For the 2025 tax year, the dividend amount was $1,000.

Also, Alaska won’t tax your loved ones once you’re gone, since there are no estate or inheritance taxes in Alaska.

Potential cons of retiring in Alaska

• Alaska doesn’t have a statewide sales tax, which is a plus. But sales taxes easily make it on the cons list when considering local taxes, which can climb to 7.85%.
• Localities can also levy sales tax on your groceries. So, you may see a hike in your grocery bills if you retire in Alaska.

8. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania makes the list of tax-friendly places for retirees because it doesn’t tax retirement benefits. And even if you do have taxable income (such as wages), the Commonwealth has a flat tax rate of 3.07%, which is less than in most states that impose an income tax.

Although the median property tax bill in Pennsylvania exceeds $3,500, property taxes are still lower than in some states that don’t tax your retirement income.

Potential cons of retiring in Pennsylvania

• Although some residents can take advantage of Pennsylvania rebates for property taxes paid, limitations apply.
• You may also want to consider how not tax-friendly Pennsylvania is for your heirs. If you plan to leave your loved ones an inheritance, they could face a big tax bill due to death taxes in the Commonwealth.

7. Iowa

Median property tax bills fall below $2,900 in Iowa, the seventh most tax-friendly state to retire to on this list. Between slightly more reasonable property taxes and no state tax on traditional retirement benefits, Iowa could be an affordable place to live out your retirement.

And while the state does tax other types of income, Iowa recently lowered its income tax to a flat rate of 3.8%. That's significantly lower than the highest income tax rate two years ago, which was 5.7%.

Potential cons of retiring in Iowa

• Iowa has an income surtax for schools that localities can tax based on the taxpayer’s state income tax liability.
• The state sales tax is 6%, but local taxes can increase that rate to 8%.

6. South Dakota

South Dakota’s lack of income tax is appealing, especially if you have non-traditional forms of retirement income, such as income from investments.

At $2,693, the median property tax bill is still on the high end but is lower than in several other states that don’t impose an income tax.

South Dakota may also be a good choice for retirees who don’t want to leave their family members with a tax bill. There are no estate or inheritance taxes in the state.

Potential cons of retiring in South Dakota

• South Dakota is one of the states that still taxes groceries.
• The state recently reduced its grocery tax rate by 0.3%, from 4.5% to 4.2%. But that "grocery tax holiday" is set to expire June 30, 2027.

5. Florida

Florida is a popular retirement destination, but warm weather isn't the only reason people look for a cheap place to live in the Sunshine State. There are no state income taxes in Florida, which means you can continue working, receive your retirement benefits, and enjoy your dividends, all without worrying about the state taking a cut.

At $2,616, median property taxes aren’t too high compared with other states. Additionally, some Floridians are eligible for a homestead exemption up to the entire taxable value of their property.

Florida also doesn’t have estate or inheritance taxes, so your loved ones won’t need to share a chunk of their inheritance with the state.

Potential cons of retiring in Florida

• In recent years, Florida home insurance has shot up nearly 50% due to hurricane risks and skyrocketing reconstruction costs driven by inflation.
• While Gov. Ron DeSantis is seriously considering eliminating Florida property taxes, abolishing property taxes in Florida could be problematic due to potential budget cuts and higher sales taxes.

4. Nevada

Las Vegas often comes to mind for many people when they think of Nevada, but the state has more to offer than famous casinos, gambling, and entertainment. For starters, there is no state income tax in Nevada. That means all your income is safe from state taxes, rather than only your retirement benefits.

The median property tax bill in Nevada is lower than in many other states, at $1,937. And with an average effective tax rate of 0.49%, even homeowners with high property valuations may see low property tax bills.

There are no estate or inheritance taxes in Nevada, which makes it a very tax-friendly place for the loved ones you’ll leave behind one day.

Potential cons of retiring in Nevada

• While Nevada doesn’t quite make the cut for having one of the top 10 highest sales taxes in the country, the sales tax rate is still high.
• The average combined state and local sales tax rate is 8.24% in Nevada, but it’s important to note that you won’t pay this tax on groceries or prescription medications.

Related: The Most Tax-Friendly State For Middle-Class Families

3. Wyoming

Wyoming is another retirement destination without an income tax, so that already makes it a tax-friendly state for retirees. And with a median property tax bill of $1,640, Wyoming is even more affordable, at least where taxes are concerned.

If you’re looking for another tax benefit to choosing Wyoming as your retirement destination, you’re in luck. There are no estate or inheritance taxes in the state, so your heirs won’t inherit a state tax bill. Plus, the Cowboy State has one of the lowest sales taxes in the country, with a state sales tax rate of just 4%, and a combined average state and local rate of 5.56%.

Potential cons of retiring in Wyoming

• Although sales taxes in the Cowboy State are reasonable when compared to most other states, Wyoming living might not be for everyone.
• Due to the remote nature of several areas in the state, specialized medical care can be limited, and winters are typically longer and colder compared to some other states.

2. Tennessee

Yet another state with no income tax, Tennessee comes in as the second most tax-friendly state to live out your retirement. With a median tax bill of $1,462, Tennessee has several relatively cheap places to live and is one of the most retirement-friendly states for homeowners.

Another tax benefit to living in the Volunteer State is the lack of estate and inheritance taxes. So, even if you have a sizable estate, your heirs won’t have to share it with the state.

Potential cons of retiring in Tennessee

• Tennessee has a high statewide sales tax rate of 7%, and localities can impose separate sales taxes of their own.
• Additionally, the state taxes groceries. And though the grocery tax is reduced to 4%, it’s still not ideal.

1. Mississippi

Of all the states that won’t take a cut of traditional retirement income, Mississippi has the lowest property taxes, with a median tax bill of $1,388. So, Mississippi earns its place as the most tax-friendly U.S. state for retirees.

You won’t pass on a big state tax bill to your loved ones when you’re gone, either. Like most other states on this list, there are no estate or inheritance taxes in Mississippi.

Potential cons of retiring in Mississippi

• Mississippi isn’t perfect where taxes are concerned since the state still taxes groceries.
• The state taxes groceries at a higher rate than most others in the country, at 5%. This is because of all the states with a grocery tax, Mississippi's reduced rate is the second-highest.

For more information about retiring in Mississippi, check out Kiplinger's report, The Most Tax-Friendly State for Retirement.

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