8 states tax Social Security benefits, 42 don’t: Here’s the list
If your income is over certain levels, the federal government will take a slice of your Social Security benefits at tax time. States handle taxes for Social Security differently, however.
Forty-two states exempt Social Security from state taxes but eight do not and even those rules vary from place to place. Those eight states are Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont.
AARP offered a breakdown of the different rules impacting states that tax Social Security:
Colorado
People age 65 and older can fully deduct Social Security benefits from state income. Recipients age 55 to 64 can deduct benefits based on their Adjusted Gross Income, or AGI. Individuals with an AGI of $75,000 or more or $95,000 or more for couples married filing jointly can deduct up to $20,000 in retirement income, including Social Security payments. Anything above that level is taxed at 4.4%.
Connecticut
Single filers with AGI of less than $75,000 and married couples with AGI below $100,000 pay no state tax on their benefits. Filers with higher incomes get a partial exemption, with a tax cap of no more than 25% of Social Security benefits.
Minnesota
Beneficiaries with AGIs up to $86,410 for individuals and $110,780 for joint filers do not have to pay state income tax on Social Security benefits. Residents with higher incomes – up to $126,410 for single filers and $150,780 for couples – can qualify for a partial break. People earning above those levels face state income tax on all federally taxable benefits.
Montana
Montana does not tax Social Security for people with overall incomes of less than $25,000 for a single filer or $32,000 for married couples filing jointly. Higher earners are subject to state taxes based on a variety of factors. Montana’s state income taxes range from 4.7% to 5.9%.
New Mexico
Social Security is fully deductible for New Mexico filers with AGI below $100,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples filing jointly. Earn above those amounts and a portion of benefits are taxed. New Mexico taxes income at rates from 1.5% to 5.9%.
Rhode Island
Social Security for people who reach full retirement – 67 for those born in 1960 or later – and have incomes below certain thresholds are not taxed.
People who have not reached full retirement age or have incomes above the thresholds are taxed at state levels ranging from 3.75% to 5.99%, based on federally taxed benefits.
Utah
Married couples filing jointly with AGI of $90,000 or less or singles with AGI of $54,000 or less qualify for a full tax credit on their Social Security benefits. The break goes down as income increases. Utah taxes that Social Security income at a flat 4.5%.
Vermont
Single filers with AGI of $55,000 or less receive full exemption on state taxes on their benefits. Higher earners can receive a partial exemption. The exemption applies for married couples filing jointly with incomes up to $70,000 with partial breaks up to $80,000. Single filers earning $65,000 or more or couples making $80,000 or more are taxed at state rates ranging from 3.35% to 8.75%.
Go here to see more specifics for each state.