2018 list of all 50 states that exempt (or don’t) all or a portion of military retirement pay. The laws differ depending on which of the 50 states you live in and some state tax laws are more complex than others. Depending on the state you may pay no income tax whatsoever, or you may find your military retirement pay is exempt from taxation up to a certain dollar amount.
Quick math: 9 states don’t have a personal income tax, 9 states fully tax military retirement pay, 20 states don’t tax retirement pay and 12 tax a portion.
9 States That Don’t Tax Personal Income
The following states don’t require military members to pay state income tax on military retirement pay because there is simply no state income tax collected:
- Alaska
- Florida
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (dividend and interest taxes only)
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (dividend and interest taxes only)
- Texas
- Washington
- Wyoming
9 States That Do Tax Military Retirement Pay
The following states have no specific state income tax exemption for military retirement pay:
- California
- Georgia
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
20 States Don’t Tax Military Retirement Pay (but do have state income tax)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia (beginning in 2018)
- Wisconsin
12 States With “Special Provisions” Or Other Consideration For Military Retirement Pay
- Arizona – Military retirement pay may be excluded from state taxation up to $2,500.
- Colorado – Depending on age, up to $24,000 of military retirement pay may be exempt from state taxes.
- Delaware – Taxpayers up to the age of 60 may exclude up to $2,000 of military retirement pay, military retirees aged 60 or older exclude up to $12,500.
- District of Colombia – Military retirement pay may be excluded from state taxation up to $3,000 for individuals 62 or older.
- Idaho – Retirement benefits to a retired member of the military 65 or older, or disabled and age 62 or older are excluded from state taxes. Such deductions must be reduced by retirement benefits paid under the Federal Social Security Act or the Tier 1 Federal Railroad Retirement Act. The total maximum deductions vary each year.
- Indiana – Military retirees may deduct the lesser of actual retirement pay or $5,000, whichever is less. Certain conditions may apply.
- Kentucky – All military retirement pay is exempt from state income tax for those who retired prior to 1997. For those who retired after 1997, military retirement pay is subject to state tax when the pay exceeds $41,110.
- Maryland – Military retirees don’t pay state income taxes on the first $5,000 of their retirement income. Those over age 65, or who are totally disabled, or who have a spouse who is totally disabled, receive additional state income tax breaks which may vary from year to year.
- Nebraska – Retirees must choose (within two years of the retirement date) a seven-year exemption option of 40% or a lifetime exemption option of 15% starting at age 67.
- North Carolina – Military retirement pay may not be taxed at all if it meets certain requirements including if the veteran was “vested in the retirement system” for five years as of August 12, 1989. Otherwise, tax exemptions may be applicable up to $4,000 for single returns and $8,000 for joint returns.
- Oklahoma – Military retirement pay is exempt either up to 75% or $10,000, whichever is greater, but cannot exceed federal adjusted gross income.
- Oregon – Military retirees may qualify for a “federal pension subtraction”. Those considered “special-case” Oregon residents will have their military retirement pay taxed as regular income.
- South Carolina – Military retirees with a minimum of 20 years of active duty may exempt up to $3,000 until age 65, after which an exemption of $10,000 applies.
Tax codes vary from state to state, and tax laws are subject to change due to a variety of factors. Always consult with a tax professional to learn the most recent updates to state tax code, especially if there are changes to your tax bracket, income status, or benefits.