Mississippi State Tax: Guide to Income, Sales, Property, and Retirement Taxes

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Navigating the complexities of state taxes can be daunting, but understanding Mississippi's tax landscape is essential for residents and newcomers alike.

In this guide, we'll explore key components of The Magnolia State's tax system, from income and sales taxes to property taxes and retirement benefits.

Mississippi state tax: Overview

If you're thinking about settling down in Mississippi, especially in retirement, you might be happy to know the state keeps property taxes relatively low.

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Mississippi homeowners here pay less in property taxes than the national average. And most retirement income is tax-free, which can make a difference when budgeting for retirement.

That said, the state does lean a bit heavier on sales taxes.

Mississippi is one of the few places that still taxes groceries, which can catch some newcomers off guard. But local governments typically don’t pile on extra sales tax, so what you see at the register is usually what you get.

[Data for this state tax guide was gathered from a number of sources including the Census Bureau, the state’s government website, the Sales Tax Handbook, and the Tax Foundation. Property taxes are cited as a rate percentage rather than the assessed value.]

Mississippi income tax rate

Mississippi has a flat 4.4% individual income tax rate.

Mississippi retirement taxes

Retirement income is exempt in Mississippi, but other types of income (including early withdrawals from retirement accounts) are still taxable. However, the income tax rate on taxable income is low, and it is set to decrease in the coming years.

Social Security: Not taxable
Pensions: Not taxable
401(k) and IRA Distributions: Not taxable

Mississippi sales tax

Still life of a small shopping cart with $1 USD bills

The sales tax rate in Mississippi is 7% according to the Tax Foundation. Some localities make for an average combined sales tax rate of 7.06%.

Groceries: Taxable
Clothing: Taxable
Motor Vehicles: Taxable (5%)
Prescription Drugs: Taxable

However, Mississippi holds two sales tax holidays every year, one of which focuses on back-to-school essentials. For more information, check out Kiplinger's report, Mississippi Tax-Free Weekend 2025.

Property taxes in Mississippi

In Mississippi, the property tax rate paid is 0.70% of assessed home value.

For homeowners age 65 and older or who are totally disabled, there is a property tax homestead exemption on the first $7,500 of assessed value.

Mississippi gas tax

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Product	Tax Amount
Gasoline	$0.18 per gallon
Diesel	$0.18 per gallon

Mississippi taxes on alcohol and tobacco

Mississippi tobacco taxes

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Product	Amount
Cigarettes	$0.68 per pack of 20
Other Tobacco Products	15% of the manufacturer's list price

Mississippi alcohol taxes

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Product	Tax Amount
Beer	$0.43 per gallon
Wine	$0.35 per gallon
Liquor	State controlled

Source: The Sales Tax Handbook

Mississippi estate and inheritance taxes

Mississippi does not have estate or inheritance tax.

Kelley R. Taylor is the senior tax editor at Kiplinger.com, where she breaks down federal and state tax rules and news to help readers navigate their finances with confidence. A corporate attorney and business journalist with more than 20 years of experience, Kelley has helped taxpayers make sense of shifting U.S. tax law and policy from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), to SECURE 2.0, the Inflation Reduction Act, and most recently, the 2025 “Big, Beautiful Bill.” She has covered issues ranging from partnerships, carried interest, compensation and benefits, and tax‑exempt organizations to RMDs, capital gains taxes, and energy tax credits. Her award‑winning work has been featured in numerous national and specialty publications.