Theo Edwards 3/9/25 Theo Edwards 3/9/25

41 States That Won’t Tax Social Security Benefits in 2025

Social Security plays a big role in many Americans’ retirement security . 40% of Americans ages 65 and older rely on Social Security for at least half their income, according to the AARP. Additionally, where you live can make a big difference in how much of your Social Security check you get to keep. Not only can up to 85% of your Social Security benefits be subject to federal taxation, depending on your income, you could also face state income taxes on Social Security benefits. Fortunately, the list of states that tax Social Security is shrinking, and only nine will do so in 2025.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 41 States That Won’t Tax Social Security Benefits in 2025

Not only can up to 85% of your Social Security benefits be subject to federal taxation, depending on your income, you could also face state income taxes on Social Security benefits. Fortunately, the list of states that tax Social Security is shrinking, and only nine will do so in 2025.

“The list of states that do not tax Social Security is much longer than those that do,” said Brian Kuhn CFP, CLU, SVP, and financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Group. “And each state makes its own rules, which sometimes change, including, recently, in Missouri and Nebraska.”

Missouri and Nebraska have decided to stop taxing Social Security benefits in 2024. Kansas also joined in with a bill signed midway through 2024, so the state will not tax Social Security going forward.

Only 9 States Will Tax Social Security in 2025

Colorado
Connecticut
Minnesota

Montana
New Mexico
Rhode Island

Utah
Vermont
West Virginia

Kansas is no longer part of this list, and West Virginia is phasing out Social Security taxes, with no state income taxes on Social Security starting in 2026.

“Each state has tax provisions that could provide deductions for individuals below certain thresholds or ages, making each state unique,” Kuhn said.

Most States Won’t Tax Social Security in 2025

Most states, 41 in total plus Washington, D.C., won’t tax your Social Security benefits in 2025, based on current laws.

These states are:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan

Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio

Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Washington, D.C.
Wyoming

How Much Do Retirees Save on Social Security Taxes in These States?

Kuhn pointed out that you can calculate how much you’re saving on taxes — assuming you live in a state that does not tax Social Security benefits — by looking up the effective rate of tax you paid to your state for all taxed income sources and applying that to your total Social Security benefits.

“So, for example, if your effective rate in your state was 5%, and you received $30,000 in Social Security benefits, that would be a savings of $1,500,” Kuhn said.

However, this does not apply to all situations. Not everyone who lives in the states that tax Social Security income face the full tax. For example, in Colorado, residents ages 65 and older have been able to fully deduct federally taxed Social Security benefits on their state income tax returns since tax year 2022. For 2025, that full exemption will expand to include those ages 55 to 64 with an adjusted gross income equal to or less than $75,000 for individuals or $95,000 for couples filing jointly.

So, it’s important to look at the specific rules of your state and at your own tax situation.

Still, from a big-picture perspective, the amount saved among retirees whose benefits aren’t taxed is quite impressive.

“In Missouri, for instance, retirees are looking at a collective annual saving of around $309 million,” said Jeff Rose, CFP, founder of Good Financial Cents. “Over in Nebraska, it’s about $17 million. That’s a lot of money that retirees get to keep in their pockets instead of it being drained away by state taxes.”

Jake Safane contributed to the reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 41 States That Won’t Tax Social Security Benefits in 2025

Theo Edwards 12/13/24 Theo Edwards 12/13/24

How Much Money You’ll Need To Supplement Your Social Security in Every State

Most retirees understand Social Security isn’t recommended as their sole form of income in their golden years. It’s important to start saving early for retirement in accounts like a Roth IRA and 401(k) plan. For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed every state to find how much money you’ll need to supplement your Social Security Income.

Heather Taylor | Fri, December 13, 2024 at 8:00 AM EST

Heather Taylor | Fri, December 13, 2024 at 8:00 AM EST - 11 min read

If you didn’t get a chance to save early and consistently for retirement, you’ll want to know how much money after Social Security benefits you’ll need to cover monthly expenses. The answer depends on your location.

Find Out: How Long You Could Last on Nothing but Social Security in 50 Major Cities

Read More: 4 Low-Risk Ways To Build Your Retirement Savings in 2025

To find out how much money you’ll need to supplement your Social Security income, GOBankingRates analyzed all 50 states by finding the average cost of living indexes across multiple expenditures and multiplying them by the national average expenditure costs for ages 65 and over for each expenditure category.

This revealed the monthly total cost of expenditures with overall rent cost added in to provide the average total cost of living in each state. Social Security’s Monthly Statistical Supplement for January 2024 was sourced to use the average Social Security benefit amounts for retired workers — $1,860.23 — and to calculate the total monthly cost of living after Social Security benefits.

In alphabetical order, here’s how much money you’ll need in each U.S. state to supplement your Social Security monthly.

Alabama

Rent average cost: $980
Expenditure average cost: $2,423.62
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,403.62
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,543.39

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Alaska

Rent average cost: $1,701
Expenditure average cost: $3,744.20
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,445.20
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,584.97

Discover More: 3 Things Retirees Should Sell To Build Their Retirement Savings

Arizona

Rent average cost: $1,373
Expenditure average cost: $3,062.33
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,435.33
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,575.10

Arkansas

Rent average cost: $915
Expenditure average cost: $2,426.81
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,341.81
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,481.58

California

Rent average cost: $1,827
Expenditure average cost: $4,118.48
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,945.48
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $4,085.25

Colorado

Rent average cost: $1,433
Expenditure average cost: $2,980.23
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,413.23
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,553

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SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Connecticut

Rent average cost: $1,310
Expenditure average cost: $3,244
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,554
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,693.77

Delaware

Rent average cost: $1,210
Expenditure average cost: $2,849.56
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,059.56
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,199.33

District of Columbia (DC)

Rent average cost: $2,105
Expenditure average cost: $4,345.11
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $6,450.11
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $4,589.88

Florida

Rent average cost: $1,302
Expenditure average cost: $2,869.64
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,171.64
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,311.41

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Georgia

Rent average cost: $1,234
Expenditure average cost: $2,547.72
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,781.72
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,921.49

Hawaii

Rent average cost: $1,692
Expenditure average cost: $5,480.44
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $7,172.44
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $5,312.21

Jennifer_Sharp / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Idaho

Rent average cost: $808
Expenditure average cost: $2,775.76
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,583.76
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,723.53

Illinois

Rent average cost: $1,180
Expenditure average cost: $2,579.29
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,759.29
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,899.06

Read Next: America’s 50 Most Expensive Retirement Towns

Indiana

Rent average cost: $895
Expenditure average cost: $2,581.81
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,476.81
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,616.58

Iowa

Rent average cost: $772
Expenditure average cost: $2,551.33
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,323.33
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,463.10

Kansas

Rent average cost: $837
Expenditure average cost: $2,473.69
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,310.69
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,450.46

Kentucky

Rent average cost: $816
Expenditure average cost: $2,476.05
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,292.05
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,431.82

Discover More: I’m a Gen X Retiree — 6 Things I’m Doing Financially Until I Can Receive Social Security

Louisiana

Rent average cost: $887
Expenditure average cost: $2,561.95
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,448.95
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,588.72

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Maine

Rent average cost: $1,950
Expenditure average cost: $3,108.90
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,058.90
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,198.67

Maryland

Rent average cost: $1,479
Expenditure average cost: $3,342.66
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,821.66
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,961.43

Massachusetts

Rent average cost: $1,503
Expenditure average cost: $4,311.47
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,814.47
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,954.24

Check Out: 8 States To Move to If You Don’t Want To Pay Taxes on Social Security

Michigan

Rent average cost: $882
Expenditure average cost: $2,560.77
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,442.77
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,582.54

Minnesota

Rent average cost: $1,126
Expenditure average cost: $2,686.90
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,812.90
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,952.67

Mississippi

Rent average cost: $813
Expenditure average cost: $2,435.16
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,248.16
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,387.93

Missouri

Rent average cost: $903
Expenditure average cost: $2,490.46
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,393.46
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,533.23

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Montana

Rent average cost: $833
Expenditure average cost: $2,893.13
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,726.13
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,865.90

Nebraska

Rent average cost: $944
Expenditure average cost: $2,554.12
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,498.12
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,637.89

Nevada

Rent average cost: $1,154
Expenditure average cost: $2,936.06
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,090.06
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,229.83

New Hampshire

Rent average cost: $1,143
Expenditure average cost: $3,195.50
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,338.50
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,478.27

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New Jersey

Rent average cost: $1,596
Expenditure average cost: $3,254.96
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,850.96
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,990.73

New Mexico

Rent average cost: $866
Expenditure average cost: $2,655.55
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,521.55
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,661.32

New York

Rent average cost: $1,722
Expenditure average cost: $3,681.99
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,403.99
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,543.76

North Carolina

Rent average cost: $1,124
Expenditure average cost: $2,738.89
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,862.89
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,002.66

North Dakota

Rent average cost: $883
Expenditure average cost: $2,725.03
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,608.03
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,747.80

Ohio

Rent average cost: $839
Expenditure average cost: $2,653.57
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,492.57
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,632.34

Oklahoma

Rent average cost: $794
Expenditure average cost: $2,426.45
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,220.45
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,360.22

Oregon

Rent average cost: $1,216
Expenditure average cost: $3,325.84
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,541.84
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,681.61

Pennsylvania

Rent average cost: $1,052
Expenditure average cost: $2,680.03
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,732.03
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,871.80

Rhode Island

Rent average cost: $1,071
Expenditure average cost: $3,089.68
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,160.68
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,300.45

South Carolina

Rent average cost: $1,120
Expenditure average cost: $2,661.28
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,781.28
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,921.05

South Dakota

Rent average cost: $698
Expenditure average cost: $2,635.25
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,333.25
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,473.02

Tennessee

Rent average cost: $1,011
Expenditure average cost: $2,513.01
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,524.01
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,663.78

Texas

Rent average cost: $1,137
Expenditure average cost: $2,603.25
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,740.25
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,880.02

Utah

Rent average cost: $1,112
Expenditure average cost: $2,895.32
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,007.32
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,147.09

Vermont

Rent average cost: $1,950
Expenditure average cost: $3,333.05
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $5,283.05
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $3,422.82

Virginia

Rent average cost: $1,540
Expenditure average cost: $2,912.22
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,452.22
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,591.99

Washington

Rent average cost: $1,486
Expenditure average cost: $3,369.88
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $4,855.88
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $2,995.65

West Virginia

Rent average cost: $672
Expenditure average cost: $2,451.83
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,123.83
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,263.60

Wisconsin

Rent average cost: $949
Expenditure average cost: $2,767.61
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,716.61
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,856.38

Wyoming

Rent average cost: $790
Expenditure average cost: $2,592.46
Monthly total cost (rent + expenditure): $3,382.46
Leftover monthly costs after Social Security benefits: $1,522.23

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed every state to find how much money you’ll need to supplement your Social Security Income. GOBankingRates started by finding the [1] average cost of living indexes across multiple expenditures as sourced from the Missouri Economic and Research Information Center and multiplied them by the [2] national average expenditure costs for ages 65 and over for each expenditure category to find the monthly total cost of expenditures.

Adding the expenditure cost to the [3] overall rent cost, as sourced from ApartmentList, gives the average total cost of living in each state. Using the [4] average Social Security Benefits amounts for retired workers as sourced from the Social Security’s Monthly Statistical Supplement for January 2024, the total monthly cost of living after Social Security Benefits can be calculated.

The remaining amount is how much you will need to supplement your Social Security in every state. The [5] median household income was sourced from the U.S. Census’s American Community Survey and the leftover savings after cost of living costs was calculated for supplemental information. The states were sorted to show the lowest to highest leftover cost after Social Security Benefits pay for cost of living costs. All data was collected and is up to date as of Jun. 12, 2024.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much Money You’ll Need To Supplement Your Social Security in Every State.

Theo Edwards 9/14/24 Theo Edwards 9/14/24

Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince Dies Aged 29

A war orphan from Sierra Leone, Michaela Mabinty DePrince dies aged 29. DePrince moved to the US and ended up performing with Beyonce`. Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us. She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty, and greatness can rise from the darkest of places. DePrince started her life at an orphanage in Sierra Leone. After being adopted by a New Jersey family, she began to take dance classes and went on to the prestigious Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.

Rest in Power

Theo Edwards for YAME

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A war orphan from Sierra Leone, Michaela Mabinty DePrince dies aged 29. DePrince moved to the US and ended up performing with Beyonce`. Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us. She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty, and greatness can rise from the darkest of places. DePrince started her life at an orphanage in Sierra Leone. After being adopted by a New Jersey family, she began to take dance classes and went on to the prestigious Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.

DePrince started her life at an orphanage in war-torn Sierra Leone. After being adopted by a New Jersey family, she began to take dance classes and went on to the prestigious Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School

Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, who has performed with Beyoncé and was seen by many as a trailblazer, has passed away at the age of 29. A spokesperson announced her death on her personal Instagram page, and in a statement, her family said she was an "unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story." The cause of her death has not been disclosed.

DePrince captivated audiences in "First Position," a compelling 2011 documentary that chronicles the journeys of six young dancers. She also released two inspiring books about her life: "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina" and "Ballerina Dreams."

Michaela DePrince performing 'Giselle' with the English National Ballet in 2017

Despite being told that "the world wasn't ready for black ballerinas" or that "black ballerinas weren't worth investing in," she persevered with determination and focus, achieving remarkable success in her career.

Michaela DePrince as Kitri in a South African Mzansi Ballet production of Don Quixote, 2013

Recipient of numerous accolades in the world of international dance, Michaela DePrince also appeared in Beyoncé's "Freedom" music video.

Beyoncé's "Freedom" is currently being used as a campaign anthem by Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the presidency.

Her spokesperson wrote that her artistry "touched countless hearts" and her spirit had "inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond".

Click Here to Read More on Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince on her Instagram page.

Wikipedia — Michaela DePrince Bio

Rest in Power, Michaela Mabinty DePrince

Theo Edwards for YAME