Retired in USA

Your golden years are your best years! Make them shine!

  • Home
  • Personal Finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

Which States Tax Social Security Benefits in 2026?

January 7, 2025 · Updated February 3, 2026 · Personal Finance
social security changes
Image by Jason Raff from Shutterstock

Are your Social Security benefits about to get taxed?

When you are a retiree and you are planning your financial future, the tax treatment of Social Security benefits is an important factor to consider. The number of states that tax social security benefits gets lower each year, but there are still some states out there that do that, and we believe that it’s important to know about them.

The good part? Last year there were eleven such states, so we are moving towards a better future.

There are many states where low-income retirees find their benefits entirely exempt from state taxes, but the states we want to discuss today have some stricter guidelines and still tax the benefits. Why is it important to be aware of all of this? This is the perfect guide for those retirees who want to optimize their finances and minimize tax burdens.

This article discusses how each of these states will tax Social Security benefits in 2026. From income-based exemptions to flat taxation schemes, we’ll explain how to navigate these restrictions.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

22 comments on “Which States Tax Social Security Benefits in 2026?”

  1. Antoinette says:
    March 27, 2026 at 11:13 pm

    It is just sad for your Social Security to be tax. Especially after you worked all these years. Just SAD, SAD.

    Reply
  2. Roger Coney says:
    August 12, 2025 at 3:34 pm

    I agree, Social Security should not be taxed; however, because it’s “social” security, each individual should only get back in benefits what they put in minus the “social” cost for those who are disabled and unable to continue working and contributing during their working years. Also the tax cap on earnings should be increased considerably. To say 1-2 Million in income. The tax for everyone could then be reduced, especially for those who don’t earn more than say, 30 to 50k. I.e., Make the tax progressive like other income based taxes.

    Reply
  3. Emily Coryell says:
    August 10, 2025 at 12:45 pm

    SS should not be taxed, I’m retiring in 1 year
    and 9 months. We all have paid taxes all of I working lives and it’s our turn to get something back.

    Reply
  4. Wayne Ragin says:
    April 3, 2025 at 12:33 pm

    No taxes on Social Security while paying into while working . That’s double taxing a retirees

    Reply
  5. JOHN J DUMAS says:
    March 22, 2025 at 4:30 am

    It is a waste of government resources to tax anyone under the median income. It only invites more government programs to return the money in the form of services at a premium.

    Reply
  6. nan says:
    February 27, 2025 at 11:54 pm

    As a disabled/retired teacher I knew SS would be low enough! But MY government wants to “double dip” me? Not ethical. Not affordable!! Total slap in the face……barely breathin’ here!!

    Reply
  7. MICHAEL RICHARD FRIDY says:
    February 13, 2025 at 2:59 pm

    Any state that taxes social security the people must vote all of the legislatures from the governor down all out of office. Social security was and has been abused for a long time by beaurocrats

    Reply
  8. Benjamin wada says:
    February 11, 2025 at 1:21 pm

    SS, Should not be taxed. Retirees earned this amount n wouldn’t that be double taxing. The U.S.Government should step in an make it a law that all States n U.S. Territories stop taxing SS.

    Reply
  9. Tammi Johnson says:
    February 10, 2025 at 6:44 pm

    so correct you are. we pay when we earn and we pay when we spend and then the IRS every year and we are by no means rich. In todays economy, my 63 year old husband works 60 & 70 hour weeks delivering concrete with 2 hip replacements. just to make ends meet s.s. is not an income you can survive on. they say he makes to much so we have to pay, needless to say they tax him severely before he even gets paid. we have no savings left, being on disability at 50, I was told I would not survive, 16 years later, still disabled, paying taxes while the rich get richer. I am now retirement age, what a mess, Thank the Good Lord I started working at 15 in the 70’s. 65 and still paying them due only to my s.s check !!!

    Reply
  10. Yvonne says:
    February 9, 2025 at 9:25 pm

    I feel its very wrong to be taxed an money that was alresdy been taxed while working, isnt that double taxation.?????

    Reply
Se încarcă comentarii...

Nu mai există comentarii de afișat.

Search

Latest Posts

  • Illustration of a person walking up stone steps on a ridge marked with retirement ages toward a rising sun. 9 Social Security Mistakes That Can Cost You Thousands
  • A man stands in a bank lobby looking at a receipt near an ATM and a January wall calendar. 9 Ways the 3.6% COLA Will Show Up in Your January Check
  • Mature woman with gray hair working on architectural blueprints with a pen at a desk in a bright loft office. 11 High-Paying Jobs Over $45 an Hour That Welcome Older Workers
  • A man and woman talk on a brick sidewalk outside a library and community theater along a sunlit small-town main street. 5 Hidden-Gem Towns Where $2,500 a Month Covers a Comfortable Retirement
  • A woman measuring an empty living room with hardwood floors and a brick fireplace using a yellow tape measure. How Much Home Can You Really Afford on a Retirement Income?
  • Retro illustration of a winding highway dividing a coastal landscape with palm trees and a desert with saguaro cacti. 11 States Seeing the Most Retirees Move In
  • Watercolor illustration of a man standing on a stone terrace overlooking a winding hillside road and a distant city. 8 Social Security Rules That Could Shrink Your Check After a Spouse Dies
  • Watercolor illustration of an open weekly planner showing retirement activities like pickleball, gardening, choir, and hiking. 11 Retirement Hobbies That Let You Make Friends Quickly
  • Winding road through autumn and winter landscape with timeline icons for Nov 28, Direct Deposit, and Jan 13. 12 Dates Between Now and January 13 Every Social Security Recipient Should Know
  • A woman in a tan coat carries a tote bag of groceries along a sunny city sidewalk outside an apartment building. 15 US Cities Where Rent Now Tops $2,000 a Month

Newsletter

Get retirement tips and senior living advice delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

A retired couple smiling while looking at a tablet on a sunny patio.

Best Annuity Rates for Retirees Right Now

Discover the best fixed annuity rates for retirees right now, compare MYGA yields against 401(k)s,…

Read More →
An older female mentor in a library patiently explains a blueprint design to a young female apprentice under warm afternoon light.

10 Best Part-Time Jobs for Retirees Who Love to Teach or Mentor

Explore the 10 best part-time teaching and mentoring jobs for retirees to earn supplemental income,…

Read More →
An older woman in a cozy cream cardigan sits by a window with a warm mug, looking thoughtfully out at her morning garden.

Social Security Survivor Benefits: What Every Retiree Should Know

Discover the 2026 rules for Social Security survivor benefits, from earnings limits and remarriage clauses…

Read More →
Illustration of a retired couple looking at a calendar and a compounding growth chart labeled COLA Base.

6 Ways to Boost Your Next COLA Check

Learn 6 practical ways to maximize your Social Security COLA check by increasing your primary…

Read More →
Savings

10 Huge Mistakes That Will Drain Your Savings

A man examines a financial app on his smartphone, illustrating the need to monitor spending…

Read More →
part-time gig

10 Great Part-Time Gigs For Retirees (Available Now!)

Are You Looking For A Part-Time Gig? Your retirement should be the time when you…

Read More →
is pension taxable income

“Is Pension Taxable Income” and Other Retirement Tax Questions From Retirees

As you transition into retirement, understanding how your income will be taxed is crucial for…

Read More →
scams data

Seniors, Read This: 9 Ways to Protect Personal Data Online

Ensuring you’re safe online could be overwhelming because most users have their photos, credit cards,…

Read More →
Kamala Harris Tax Reform

6 Kamala Harris Tax Reforms We Avoided by Choosing Trump

What types of Kamala Harris tax reforms will we see if she wins the presidency?…

Read More →
Retired in USA

Your golden years are your best years! Make them shine!

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@ineditagency.com

Trust & Legal

  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertiser Disclosure
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Request to Know
  • Request to Delete
  • CA Privacy Policy

Categories

  • Enjoying Retirement
  • Personal Finance
  • Saving & Spending

© 2026 Retired in USA. All rights reserved.