--- title: West Virginia Stopped Taxing Social Security. These 8 States Still Do description: The list of states taxing Social Security in 2026 has dwindled after West Virginia became the latest to axe its taxation of benefits. authors: - name: Pete Grieve role: Lead News Reporter url: https://money.com/author/pete-grieve/ bio: Pete Grieve is a personal finance reporter. In his time at Money, Pete has covered everything from car buying to credit cards to the housing market. education: University of Chicago, BA Political Science at_money_since: 2022 articles: 597 covers: - Retirement - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Debt - Economy and Politics - Education - Health and Wellness - Housing - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Loans - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Professional Services - Shopping - Taxes social: - https://twitter.com/pete_grieve - https://linkedin.com/in/pete-grieve-b5aa02138 - https://www.facebook.com/petegrieve4 editors: - name: Julia Glum role: Managing Editor url: https://money.com/author/julia-glum/ bio: Julia Glum joined Money in 2018 and specializes in covering financial trends that affect everyday Americans' wallets. She also writes Dollar Scholar, a weekly newsletter that teaches young adults how to navigate the messy world of money. education: University of Florida at_money_since: 2018 articles: 453 covers: - Retirement - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Debt - Economy and Politics - Education - Health and Wellness - Housing - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Loans - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Professional Services - Shopping - Taxes - Technology also_seen_in: - Newsweek - International Business Times - CBS News - Good Morning America - WUSA9 - Pix 11 - The New York Times - Mashable - The Washington Post - CNBC - Politico social: - https://x.com/superjulia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-glum published: '2026-01-14T16:15:38.000Z' modified: '2026-01-14T16:15:38.000Z' section: Retirement tags: - News word_count: 768 canonical: https://money.com/social-security-state-taxes-2026/ type: NewsArticle source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![Photo Illustration of a social security card with percentage signs in the background](https://img.money.com/2026/01/News-State-Eliminates-Social-Security-Tax.jpg) The list of states taxing Social Security has dwindled to eight after West Virginia became the latest to axe its taxation of benefits. On Jan. 1, the Mountain State's Social Security tax was fully terminated, capping off a three year phase-out process. The remaining eight states taxing the benefits continue to face pushback from residents and advocacy groups like AARP. In 2025, lawmakers in all of those states introduced legislation to end or limit the taxation of Social Security benefits. However, many of these efforts stalled out or failed to pass. In addition to West Virginia ending its tax, Vermont and Utah governors signed bills last year increasing their income thresholds for state Social Security taxes, shielding more taxpayers from having to pay. Here are the states still taxing Social Security benefits in 2026: ## Longbridge can help you protect your retirement with a Reverse Mortgage ### If you are over 62, work with a licensed LFinance of America (NMLS# 2285) representative in your state today. [SEE RATES](https://money.com/pr/x95a97c320f2?ap_referrer=%2Fsocial-security-state-taxes-2026%2F) ## Colorado Whether a beneficiary has to pay state taxes on their Social Security benefits in Colorado largely depends on their age and income level. Two state lawmakers introduced a [bill](https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-136) to reduce these taxes in February, but the effort quickly failed. For the 2026 tax year, Coloradans ages 55 to 64 with adjusted gross incomes up to $75,000 for single filers or $95,000 if filing jointly can deduct Social Security benefits on their state taxes. But higher earners in that age group — and some younger beneficiaries — must pay taxes on their benefits. ## Connecticut Taxpayers with incomes over $75,000 for single filers (or $100,000 for couples) face partial taxes on their Social Security benefits. No more than 25% of a taxpayer's benefits can be subject to taxes, though, limiting the burden. An [act](https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB6318) to eliminate the income thresholds to qualify for the Social Security tax exemption was introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly last January. It was referred to a committee and did not advance. ## Minnesota Residents are exempt from state taxes on benefits if their incomes are $108,320 or less for couples or $84,490 or less for single filers (as of tax year 2025). That still leaves about [29% of beneficiaries](https://www.house.mn.gov/hrd/issinfo/sstaxes.aspx) who must pay state taxes on benefits. Minnesota lawmakers introduced bills to end these Social Security taxes early last year. However, the state [estimated](https://www.winonapost.com/news/local-legislators-end-taxes-on-social-security/article_46913fae-da9b-11ef-8b26-7bbe709f2347.htm) it could cost nearly $400 million per year to fully end this taxation, and those bills did not advance out of tax committees. ## Montana In Montana, taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes over $32,000 for married couples or over $25,000 for individuals are subject to state taxes on Social Security benefits. Up to half of an individual's Social Security income is taxable if their adjusted gross income falls between $25,000 and $34,000. A state lawmaker's bill that aimed to repeal this tax [failed](https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1753187) in May. ## New Mexico New Mexico significantly reduced its taxes on Social Security benefits in 2022, but it stopped short of eliminating them. Single filers earning under $100,000 and married couples earning under $150,000 can fully deduct Social Security payments from their taxable income. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham stated in an August [news release](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/08/14/governor-marks-90th-anniversary-of-social-security/) that "approximately 86% of New Mexico seniors" do not pay taxes on benefits. Last February, [House Bill 293](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=293&year=25), which would have removed the income cap for the state's exemption, was postponed indefinitely despite reaching 15 sponsors. ## Rhode Island Social Security benefits are not taxed if residents have reached the full retirement age of 67 and earn less than the income threshold to qualify for the exemption, which was $107,000 for single filers as of tax year 2025. [Several](https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/S0183/2025) [bills](https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/S0245/2025) were introduced last year to end or phase out the state's taxation of benefits for higher earners, though none were successful. ## Vermont Lawmakers in Vermont expanded the state's exemption last year, with Gov. Phil Scott [signing](https://vtdigger.org/2025/06/25/gov-phil-scott-signs-13-5-million-tax-credit-package-benefiting-low-income-workers-families-retirees-and-veterans/) Senate Bill 51 in June. It raised the threshold for a complete exemption to $55,000 for single filers, an increase of $5,000. The bill also expanded eligibility for a partial exemption to individuals with incomes up to $70,000. ## Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed [Senate Bill 71](https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/SB0071.html) in March, revising state Social Security taxes in Utah. Residents are now fully exempt from tax on Social Security benefits if their adjusted income is under $54,000, which is an increase from $45,000 before. For married couples filing jointly, the threshold shifted from $75,000 to $90,000. The change helps "an estimated 90,000 Utah seniors keep more of their hard-earned income," according to a [release](https://governor.utah.gov/press/gov-cox-signs-100-bills-in-the-2025-general-legislative-session/) from Cox. ## A Reverse Mortgage can unlock the equity in your home for a more secure retirement ### Work with a licensed Finance of America (NMLS# 2285) representative today. [Get Started](https://money.com/pr/ucc329b181d0?ap_referrer=%2Fsocial-security-state-taxes-2026%2F) ![](https://s3.consumersadvocate.org/prd/image/image/39553/medium_d01d803f-1110-4310-8997-bada342c27e4.webp) Get the most out of your Reverse Mortgage with Finance of America (NMLS# 2285) [Learn More](https://money.com/pr/ed1a928f8683?ap_referrer=%2Fsocial-security-state-taxes-2026%2F) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://money.com/social-security-state-taxes-2026/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://money.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Retirement", "item": "https://money.com/retirement/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Social Security", "item": "https://money.com/social-security/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "West Virginia Stopped Taxing Social Security. 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