Most Expensive States for Retired Military Service Members

If you’re a Veteran, you may want to think twice about where you choose to retire.

You can’t avoid paying federal tax on your military retirement pay since the IRS taxes that income as a pension. But you might be able to escape a state tax bill — as long as you don’t retire in one of the places on this list.

For instance, California is the only state with no exemptions for military retirement pay in 2024. That means your military pension is taxed as regular retirement income. Meanwhile, other states may offer a partial tax break on your retirement income even if it’s still subject to a state tax.

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When it comes to taxing Veterans, these are the most expensive places in the United States.

States that tax military retirement pay in 2024

The good news is that most states fully exempt military retirement income from state taxation. The bad news, when it comes to tax treatment, is that some states don’t favor retired military members.

As mentioned, some only offer a partial tax break for Veterans.

Here are the states that still tax military retirement income to some degree in 2024.

California

The Golden State is known for high taxes, and when it comes to military retirement benefits, California is the most expensive state in the country. That’s because it is the only state in the U.S. that fully taxes military retirement pay.

As Kiplinger reported, state lawmakers previously considered a proposal to end the California military pension tax. However, the bill was delayed and won’t be considered again until later this year.

How California taxes other types of retirement income:

• California can impose a 2.5% state penalty on early distributions from retirement plans, annuities and IRAs (in addition to the 10% federal penalty for early withdrawals).
• Most retirement income is subject to state tax, including federal and public pensions.
• Tier 1 railroad benefits and Social Security benefits are tax-exempt.

Colorado

Colorado allows Veterans to exempt part of their military retirement pay from state income tax. How much you can exempt depends on how old you are at the end of the tax year.

Retired service members under age 55 can subtract up to $15,000 from their taxable income through 2028. Retirees 55 and older can claim the regular Colorado pension and annuity subtraction ($20,000 up to age 64 and $24,000 for taxpayers 65 and older).

How Colorado taxes other types of retirement income:

• Social Security benefits are tax-deductible.
• Railroad retirement benefits are tax-exempt.

Delaware

Delaware taxes military retirement pay and only offers an income exclusion of $2,000 for veterans under the age of 60 and up to $12,500 for those 60 and older. However, military disability retirement pay paid to Veterans and their families is not taxed by the state. Income tax rates max out at 6.6% in Delaware, but the city of Wilmington imposes a separate income tax of its own.

How Delaware taxes other types of retirement income:

• The pension exclusion of up to $12,500 (maximum exclusion for all income) also applies to other types of retirement income for taxpayers 60 and older, such as from dividends, rentals, and interest.
• Social Security retirement benefits are tax-exempt.
• Delaware does not tax railroad retirement benefits.

District of Columbia

Although Washington D.C. isn't a state, it is one of the most expensive places in the U.S. for retired Veterans to live. Like California, the District of Columbia fully taxes military retirement pay. And to make matters worse, tax rates can reach as high as 10.75% for some residents.

There is one small tax break. Veterans aged 62 or older can exclude up to $3,000 of their pension, military retired pay, or annuity for tax years beginning before Jan 1. 2015.

How Washington D.C. taxes other types of retirement income:

• Tier 1 railroad benefits are tax-exempt.
• Social Security benefits are tax-exempt.

Georgia

Georgia’s exclusion for military retirement pay is much more generous than in Delaware. That’s because taxpayers under 62 years of age can exclude $17,500, and their spouses can as well (if they qualify). So, some married veterans can subtract $35,000 from their Georgia taxable income.

Additionally, Georgia allows an additional $17,500 subtraction if you receive more than $17,500 of earned income during the tax year. Those between 62 and 64 years of old can exclude up to $35,000, while 65 and older can subtract up to $65,000. That’s good news for some Veterans.

How Georgia taxes other types of retirement income:

• Georgia doesn’t tax Social Security retirement benefits.
• Retirement income exclusions are available to taxpayers 62 and older.
• All retirement income that is taxable at the state level is taxed at 5.49%.

Idaho

Not everyone receiving a pension qualifies for Idaho’s pension exclusion, including Veterans receiving military retirement benefits. That’s because you must be 65 or older (or 62 or older if you have a disability) to subtract your retirement pay from your Idaho taxable income. The maximum exclusion amount was $41,140 last year. An updated maximum exclusion amount for 2024 has not yet been announced.

How Idaho taxes other types of retirement income:

• Social Security benefits aren’t taxed by Idaho.
• Railroad retirement benefits are tax-exempt.
• Taxable income is taxed at a 5.8% rate.

Kentucky

Kentucky allows a retirement income exclusion of up to $31,110. If you’re retired from the military (and your federal pension exceeds that amount), you may qualify to exclude a higher amount. Retirement income attributable to service credits before 1998 is 100% tax-exempt.

Retirees with service credits in 1998 and later can use the worksheet on Kentucky Schedule P to determine how much of their retirement pension is taxable.

How Kentucky taxes other types of retirement income:

• The retirement income exclusion of up to $31,150 also applies to distributions from 401(k)s and IRAs.
• Kentucky doesn’t tax Social Security benefits.

Note: Kentucky does not tax Military pay received for service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Maryland

Maryland recently increased its income exclusion for retired military members, but the exclusion is still much less generous than in other states that tax this type of income. Retired service members 55 and older can deduct up to $20,000 from their taxable income, but this amount drops to only $12,500 for those under age 55.

How Maryland taxes other types of retirement income:

• A pension exclusion of up to $39,500 is available to retirees 65 and older and those with total disabilities (or who have spouses with total disabilities).
• Social Security and railroad retirement benefits are tax-exempt.

Montana

A new law allows eligible Veterans to exclude up to half of their military retirement pay from their Montana taxable income beginning with the 2024 tax year.

• The exemption is available for up to five consecutive years after you qualify for the tax break.
• You can qualify for the benefit if you became a Montana resident after June 30, 2023, or began receiving military income after becoming a Montana resident.

For income that is taxable at the state level, retirees pay a tax rate between 4.7% and 6.5%.

How Montana taxes other types of retirement income:

• Railroad retirement benefits are tax-exempt.
• Montana taxes Social Security benefits unless your income falls below the threshold set for the year.

New Mexico

New Mexico is becoming a less expensive place for retired military members, but it’s still more expensive than most states in the U.S. For tax years 2024 through 2026, Veterans can exclude up to $30,000 from their taxable income.

How New Mexico taxes other types of retirement income:

• Taxpayers 100 and older are exempt from paying New Mexico income tax.
• New Mexico technically taxes Social Security benefits, but due to high-income thresholds, most retirees won’t pay state tax on this type of income.

Oregon

Oregon fully exempts military retirement pay for some retirees. However, only Veterans whose service credits were earned before October 1991 are eligible for the 100% exemption. Retirees who served before and after that date are eligible for a partial income exclusion.

Senators Janeen Solloman (D-Hissboro), and Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer) pledged to revive a bill they introduced last year that would allow veterans aged 62 or younger to exempt up to $17,500 received in military retirement pay or pensions from their taxable income. To date, that plan hasn’t come to fruition.

How Oregon taxes other types of retirement income:

• Railroad retirement benefits are tax-exempt.
• Social Security benefits are tax-exempt.

Vermont

Some retirees qualify for a military retirement income exclusion in Vermont. However, income limits apply, and the exclusion is worth a not-so-generous $10,000. To make matters worse, Vermonters cannot claim both the military retirement exclusion and Social Security income exclusion. These are only a few of the reasons Vermont is ranked by Kiplinger for 2024 as one of the worst states to retire to when it comes to taxes.

How Vermont taxes other types of retirement income:

• Social Security benefits are taxable for taxpayers who do not meet income requirements.
• Railroad retirement benefits are tax-exempt.

Virginia

Virginia will increase its military retirement income exclusion next year. For 2024, the exclusion is $30,000 and will increase to $40,000 for tax years 2025 and later. Last year, the exemption was only available to taxpayers 55 and older, but the age requirement has been eliminated.

How Virginia taxes other types of retirement income:

• Social Security benefits are tax-exempt.
• Railroad retirement benefits are tax-exempt.

Related Content

• 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees
• Do U.S. Military Veterans Get Tax Breaks?
• Taxes in Retirement: How All 50 States Tax Retirees