States That Tax Social Security (2026 Update)
Only a handful of states tax Social Security benefits. See which ones, how much retirees pay, and the trend toward repeal.
Read article →Analysis · Updated April 2026
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Tax guides, bracket explainers, and state-by-state comparisons. Clear answers backed by actual IRS publications, state Department of Revenue data, and Tax Foundation analysis.
What This Blog Covers
The TaxCompare blog focuses on the questions readers ask during filing season and during major life events — buying a house, retiring, switching to freelance work, or moving across state lines. Each article opens with a short answer, walks through the underlying mechanics, links to the official IRS publication or state revenue authority page, and ends with a practical example.
State-level coverage is heavier than federal because state treatment of income, capital gains, Social Security, and inheritance varies more widely and is harder to find in a single source. The articles draw on the Tax Foundation's state tax data and on Congressional Research Service reports for legislative context.
Recent Articles
Capital Gains Tax by State: Where Investors Keep the Most (2026)
How all 50 states tax capital gains, from 9 no-tax states to California's 13.3%. Includes reduced-rate states and Washington's unique 7% tax.
Read article →Remote Work and State Taxes: What You Owe When You Work From Another State
Convenience-of-employer rules, reciprocity agreements, and strategies for remote workers navigating multi-state taxation.
Read article →2026 Federal Tax Brackets and Rates (With Calculator)
The complete 2026 federal income tax brackets for all filing statuses, with examples and a link to our calculator.
Read article →Best States for Retirees: A Tax-First Analysis (2026)
The most retirement-friendly states ranked by SS taxation, property tax, estate tax, and total burden.
Read article →Estate and Inheritance Tax by State: The Complete 2026 Map
12 states + DC have an estate tax. 6 states have an inheritance tax. Maryland has both. The complete map with exemptions and rates.
Read article →States With No Income Tax: The Full 2026 List
The 9 states with no income tax, plus a total tax burden comparison showing whether no-income-tax states are actually cheaper.
Read article →How Much Tax Do Freelancers Pay? Self-Employment Guide
Self-employment tax scenarios at different income levels, what freelancers actually owe in federal, SE, and state taxes.
Read article →Editorial Standards and Sources
Every dollar figure, bracket, and threshold cited in the articles traces to a primary source. Federal: IRS Revenue Procedures, Publication 17, and form instructions. State: each state's Department of Revenue, with Tax Foundation as a cross-reference. Legislative history and policy context: Congressional Research Service. Articles are revised when official sources update — typically in the fall (federal inflation adjustments) and around state legislative sessions.
The blog does not give tax advice. Articles describe how the tax system works and where the official rules live. For filing decisions, consult a qualified tax professional and the official IRS and state publications referenced in each article. Methodology is documented at /methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are TaxCompare blog articles considered tax advice?
No. The articles published here are informational explainers built from official IRS publications, state Department of Revenue documents, Tax Foundation analyses, and Congressional Research Service reports. They walk through how the tax system works and what specific provisions do, but they do not give personalized recommendations for an individual filer. For decisions about your own return, consult a qualified tax professional.
How often are the articles updated?
The articles are written for the current tax year (2025) and are revised when the IRS issues annual inflation adjustments through Revenue Procedure (typically released in the fall) or when state legislatures change rates or thresholds. Each article has a published date; major refreshes are noted within the article. The most recent site-wide refresh was April 2026.
What sources are used for the numbers in the articles?
Federal tax figures come directly from the IRS — Revenue Procedures, Publication 17, and form-specific instructions at irs.gov. State tax figures come from each state's Department of Revenue, cross-referenced against the Tax Foundation's annual state tax data at taxfoundation.org. Where articles cite legislative history or policy analysis, the original Congressional Research Service report or academic study is linked directly. We do not generate synthetic tax data — every number traces to an authoritative public source.
Why focus on state-level coverage?
Federal tax provisions are well-covered by major outlets and by the IRS itself, but state-level treatment varies substantially across the 50 states and is updated less consistently in the press. State income tax, state capital gains tax, state Social Security taxation, and state estate/inheritance tax all change on independent legislative schedules and rarely appear in a single comparison. The TaxCompare blog focuses on these comparisons because that is where readers most commonly hit gaps.
Can I republish or quote these articles?
The articles are published on TaxCompare and are not licensed for republication. Short quotations with attribution and a link back are welcomed for journalistic and educational use. The underlying data — IRS Revenue Procedures, state DOR publications, Tax Foundation reports, CRS papers — is publicly available; we encourage readers to consult those sources directly for primary citations.
Citation: Federal figures: IRS Revenue Procedures and Publication 17. State figures: state Departments of Revenue, cross-referenced against Tax Foundation. Legislative context: Congressional Research Service. Last site refresh: April 2026. Articles are informational only and are not tax advice; consult a qualified preparer for filing decisions.