What is the best state to retire to avoid taxes?
Some states do not tax Social Security or income, which could appeal to retirees. Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming stand out for their tax-friendly policies and other amenities that retirees may enjoy.
1. Wyoming. Wyoming is considered to be very tax-friendly towards retirees. There is no state income tax in Wyoming, which means that residents do not pay state taxes on distributions from retirement plan accounts, public or private pension payments or Social Security benefits.
Overall Rank | State | Quality of Life Rank |
---|---|---|
1 | Florida | 1 |
2 | Colorado | 27 |
3 | Virginia | 13 |
4 | Delaware | 34 |
Unsurprisingly, the states with no state income taxes at all ended up scoring pretty highly. Those eight states are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
Which states won't tax my 401(k), Social Security benefits, and military retirement pay? If your retirement income stems from a 401(k), Social Security, or military retirement, three states do not tax that income: Illinois, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.
California. Colorado (as of 2023) Delaware.
- Alaska.
- Florida.
- Georgia.
- Mississippi.
- Nevada.
- South Dakota.
- Wyoming.
- Chiang Mai, Thailand. Advantages: Very inexpensive. ...
- San Juan, Puerto Rico. Advantage: In the United States. ...
- Claremont, New Hampshire. A couple who found a place to retire on $2,000 per month. ...
- Decatur, Indiana. Advantages: Potentially low rent. ...
- El Paso, Texas.
Inflation and stock market dips have also negatively impacted their financial situation. In response, seniors are seeking more affordable places to call home. For example, many are moving to Limestone County, Alabama, the fastest-growing county in the state.
- Florida (11.1% of all inbound moves)
- South Carolina (10%)
- New Jersey (6%)
- Texas (5.8%)
- Washington (5. 3%)
What states have the worst taxes?
The Northeast is home to the states with the highest percentages of income going to taxes, including New York (13.10%), Maine (11.22%), Vermont (10.41%) and Connecticut (10.00%). Among the top five overall, the only state outside of the Northeast was Hawaii (12.96%), which has the highest sales tax rate in the country.
Alaska is renowned for having the lowest tax burden among all states. With no state income tax or state sales tax, Alaskans enjoy the advantage of keeping more of their earnings.
Mississippi. Mississippi has the lowest cost of living in the United States. With a cost of living index of 83.3, expenses are nearly 17% less than the national average. Mississippi's housing costs are the lowest in the nation.
Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.
- Affordability, which considered factors such as cost of living and tax benefits.
- Quality of life, which looked at metrics like weather and the share of the state's population over the age of 65.
If you work for an employerwho doesn't withhold Social Security taxesfrom your salary, such as a government agency, any pension you get from that work can reduce your Social Security benefits. Not every public agency participates in Social Security, so coverage is for employees is not automatic.
Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.
Has your income declined or have you experienced a loss of financial resources? You may be able to get additional income through the Supplemental Security Income program, which helps seniors and the disabled who have limited income and financial resources.
Starting in 2024, tax Social Security benefits in a manner similar to private pension income. Phase out the lower-income thresholds during 2024-2043.
- Decatur, Alabama. Cost of living for retirees: 11.0% below U.S. average. ...
- Prescott, Arizona. ...
- Hot Springs, Arkansas. ...
- Grand Junction, Colorado. ...
- Punta Gorda, Florida. ...
- Sandy Springs, Georgia. ...
- Boise, Idaho. ...
- Bloomington, Indiana.
What is best state to live in while on Social Security?
1. Iowa. Iowa tops the list for best states to live on just a Social Security check thanks to a number of factors. Overall, the monthly cost of living-rent, groceries, healthcare, utilities, transportation, and any miscellaneous expenses-comes to just under $3,000.
One option for seniors is to downsize to a smaller home, apartment, or condo. This can help reduce housing expenses such as rent, mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. Seniors can also consider sharing a living space with family members, friends, or roommates to further reduce costs.
Querétaro, a historic city in Central Mexico, and Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, islands off the coast of Cancun and Riviera Maya, all offer housing for as low as $500 a month, access to excellent healthcare, and an abundance of recreational activities.
- Corozal, Belize. ...
- Panama City, Panama. ...
- San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. ...
- Santiago, Dominican Republic. ...
- Lake Chapala, Mexico. ...
- La Serena, Chile. Average Monthly Cost of Living: $1,640. ...
- Cuenca, Ecuador. Average Monthly Cost of Living: $1,500. ...
- Da Nang, Vietnam. Average Monthly Cost of Living: $1,500.
While $1,500 might not be enough for non-housing retirement expenses for many people, it doesn't mean it's impossible to stick to this or other amounts, such as if you're already retired and don't have the ability to increase your budget.