State-by-State Guide to Taxes on Retirees
See how each state treats retirees when it comes to income, sales, property, and other taxes.
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Are you thinking of spending your golden years in a different state? If so, make sure you first do some research on taxes for retirees by state. At one time or another, pretty much everyone approaching retirement or early in retirement thinks about relocating. Some retirees want to be closer to family, while others are just looking for a better climate or a cheap place to live. But whatever reason you may have for moving from one state to another, it's important to pick a tax-friendly state for retirees. That's because the overall tax burden can vary widely from one state to another. In many cases, we're talking about thousands of dollars between State A and State B (and don't forget about local taxes, too).
The map below will help you compare taxes for retirees by state. Hover over and click on any state in the map to open detailed information about its income, sales, property, gasoline, cigarette, and other taxes that affect retirees. We'll also point you to special state tax breaks for seniors. You can also click on the state-specific links near the bottom of this page to get the same information.
Also check out the tax-specific articles listed below the map, including our picks for the 10 most tax-friendly states for retirees and the 10 least tax-friendly states for retirees. (See our Tax Map for Middle-Class Families (opens in new tab) to find out how states tax ordinary American families.) If you're about to move to a new state, hopefully this information on taxes for retirees by state will help make a smart decision that helps your bottom line.

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Related Content
- 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees
- 10 Least Tax-Friendly States for Retirees
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- 14 States That Won't Tax Your Pension
- 12 States That Won't Tax Your Retirement Income
- 33 States with No Estate Taxes or Inheritance Taxes
- 9 States with No Income Tax
- 5 States With No State Sales Tax
See the Full Tax Picture by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
SOURCES: State government websites, American Petroleum Institute (opens in new tab), U.S. Census Bureau (opens in new tab), Tax Foundation (opens in new tab), Federation of Tax Administrators (opens in new tab), Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (opens in new tab), and Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (opens in new tab).
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About Our Methodology (opens in new tab)
Rocky was a Senior Tax Editor for Kiplinger from October 2018 to January 2023. He has more than 20 years of experience covering federal and state tax developments. Before coming to Kiplinger, he worked for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting and Kleinrock Publishing, where he provided breaking news and guidance for CPAs, tax attorneys, and other tax professionals. He has also been quoted as an expert by USA Today, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, Accounting Today, and other media outlets. Rocky has a law degree from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in History from Salisbury University.
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