What State Does Not Tax Social Security

If you’re on Social Security (or getting close to retirement), the state you live in can matter a lot. The good news: several states either don’t tax Social Security at all or only tax it if your overall income is high. The tricky part is that “doesn’t tax Social Security” can mean different things—so let’s split the answer into two groups right away, including a clear example: Montana.

States That Don’t Tax Social Security (Direct Answer List)

Here are the states that multiple snippets highlight as not taxing Social Security (and, in some cases, other retirement income like pensions and withdrawals):

• Alaska
• Florida
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• (Plus additional states in the same list, but the snippet you provided is truncated, so they aren’t fully visible here.)

Quick check: “No state income tax” vs “Exempt Social Security”

Some states don’t tax Social Security because they don’t have a state income tax. Others have an income tax system, but still treat Social Security (and sometimes other retirement income) differently.

That’s why it helps to treat these as separate buckets. Which brings us to the next part.

States With No State Income Tax (Why Social Security Is Often Not Taxed)

If a state has no income tax, then Social Security usually won’t be taxed by that state either. The snippets you shared call out that Texas and Florida don’t have an income tax at all, which is why they show up so often in “don’t tax Social Security” lists.

Other states that are commonly grouped this way in your snippets include:

• Alaska
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Florida

So if your goal is simple—“I want the state not to tax my retirement income”—a no-income-tax state is the easiest place to start.

States That Don’t Tax Social Security Only Under Income Limits

Some states don’t tax Social Security for everyone. Instead, they may use an income threshold—meaning the benefit is exempt only if your total income is under a certain level.

Montana (example with income limits)

One snippet notes that Montana does not tax Social Security for people with overall incomes below $25,000 for a single filer and $32,000 for a (truncated) higher filing category.

In real life, that means the exemption depends on whether your income stays under the cutoff. If your income goes over the limit, you may lose the exemption (or part of it). So for states like this, you can’t stop at “does it tax Social Security?” You also need to know “how much income counts for the rule?”

Which States Don’t Tax Social Security and Retirement Income?

Some snippets don’t stop at Social Security. They describe states that treat retirement income more broadly—Social Security plus things like pensions, IRAs, and 401(k) withdrawals.

One snippet points to Florida and says Florida doesn’t tax Social Security, pensions, IRAs, or 401(k) withdrawals.

If you’re planning for more than just Social Security—especially if you’ll have withdrawals from retirement accounts—you’ll want to focus on states that don’t tax *multiple* retirement sources, not only Social Security checks.

Based on the snippets you provided, Florida is the one that’s explicitly called out for this broader retirement-income exemption set.

Which States Do Tax Social Security (What to Watch For)

Your research notes say “most states do not tax Social Security income whatsoever,” which suggests some states *do* tax it. That depends on how they treat retirement income overall and where your income falls.

When you’re evaluating a state that might tax Social Security, pay attention to:

• Threshold rules: even if a state offers an exemption, it may apply only up to a certain income level (Montana is the example here).
• Broader retirement income rules: some states may exempt Social Security but tax other retirement withdrawals, and others do the reverse. Your snippet about Florida is an example of multiple retirement types being treated the same way.
• Incomplete lists: some snippets you were given are truncated, and some lists only name certain states clearly. Treat any list as a starting point, then verify based on your situation.

If you only remember one thing: don’t rely on the phrase “no taxes” unless the state is clearly described as having no state income tax at all.

Best State to Retire to Avoid Taxes (How to Use These Lists)

If your main goal is reducing taxes on your Social Security, use the lists like this:

1. Start with the “no income tax” states

Your snippets specifically name states like Texas and Florida as having no income tax, and they’re also included in “don’t tax Social Security” results.

1. Then look for states that don’t tax Social Security outright

From the direct list, that includes Alaska, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Tennessee, plus (others named in the snippets list).

1. Next, check for income-limit exceptions

For Montana, the Social Security exemption depends on your overall income staying under the cutoffs described in the snippet.

1. If you’ll have retirement withdrawals, not just Social Security, prioritize broader exemptions

That’s where the Florida example matters: it’s described as not taxing Social Security plus pensions, IRAs, and 401(k) withdrawals.

A practical “you can do this fast” shortlist

If you want a quick shortlist based strictly on what’s named in your snippets, consider:

• Florida (especially if you’ll also have IRA/401(k)/pension income)
• Texas (because it’s listed as no income tax and is also tied to not taxing Social Security)
• Alaska / Nevada / New Hampshire / South Dakota / Tennessee (because they’re named in the “don’t tax Social Security” group)
• Montana only if your income stays under the threshold (based on the cutoff described)

Will Social Security Stop Being Taxed in 2026?

Your provided research includes the question “Will Social Security stop being taxed in 2026?” but it doesn’t provide details or confirm any change for that year.

Based on what you shared here: there’s nothing in the provided research that confirms Social Security won’t be taxed in 2026.

So you should plan as if state taxation rules could still depend on where you live and what your income looks like, especially if you’ll retire with more than just Social Security.

What Is the Best State to Live in on Social Security?

There isn’t one “best” state for everyone, because your answer depends on two things:

1. Will you live on Social Security only, or will you also withdraw from retirement accounts?
2. Will your income be low enough to qualify for any exemptions that have limits?

Still, based on the pattern described in your snippets, these stand out:

• Florida is the clearest fit for a “mixed retirement income” setup, since the snippet says it doesn’t tax Social Security, pensions, IRAs, or 401(k) withdrawals.
• Texas is the clearest option if you want a straightforward situation, since it’s described as having no state income tax at all, and it’s also included in the group of states that don’t tax Social Security.
• If you want a state named in the “don’t tax Social Security” group, compare Alaska, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, and the other states listed in your snippets (noting that some lists are truncated).
• Montana can work well only if your overall income stays under the cutoff described in the snippet.

If you want a next step: use the lists above to narrow down a few states, then check how your income mix (Social Security plus any retirement withdrawals) matches the state’s rules. That gives you an answer you can actually plan around, not just a list.