There are currently seven states in which individual income is not subject to tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire*, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming do not tax income.
1. Alaska. Alaska is the most tax-friendly state for retirees because it has no state income tax or tax on Social Security. And its sales tax rate is the fourth lowest on our list – fifth lowest in the U.S. But keep this in mind: The cost of living in Alaska is higher than in most states.
Let's start with the eight states that have no income tax whatsoever: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. A ninth state, New Hampshire, also has no income tax, so it doesn't tax retirement distributions.
Distributions in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. No taxes on qualified distributions in retirement. Withdrawals of contributions and earnings are taxed. Distributions may be penalized if taken before age 59½, unless you meet one of the IRS exceptions.
Deferring Social Security payments, rolling over old 401(k)s, setting up IRAs to avoid the mandatory 20% federal income tax, and keeping your capital gains taxes low are among the best strategies for reducing taxes on your 401(k) withdrawal.
The IRS allows penalty-free withdrawals from retirement accounts after age 59½ and requires withdrawals after age 72. (These are called required minimum distributions, or RMDs). There are some exceptions to these rules for 401(k) plans and other qualified plans.
Take Out a 401(k) Loan
Your 401(k) plan may permit you to take out a 401(k) loan and forgo the income taxes and penalty associated with an early withdrawal. While you'll be required to repay the loan with interest within five years, you'll be repaying yourself.
If you live in a state with a state income tax, you should also plan to pay state tax on the amount distributed from your 401(k) account. Some states have mandatory state tax withholding similar to the required 20% federal tax withholding, but most do not.
A recent analysis from retirement experts for GOBankingRates found some people are rethinking the Sunshine State as the go-to retirement destination. The cost of housing in Florida has skyrocketed, with a median home value of nearly $393,000, according to Zillow.
Iowa ranks as the number one state to retire to.
Since health care is a top priority for retirees looking to move, Iowa may be a good choice as it ranks well for medical care and access. Iowa also holds lower crime rates for senior citizens.
The top five best states to retire to in 2024 are New Hampshire (1), Utah (2), Minnesota (3), Connecticut (4), and Colorado (5). The bottom five worst states to retire to in 2024 are Louisiana (50), Kansas (49), West Virginia (48), Arkansas (47), and Mississippi (46).
There aren't any states with property taxes lower than 65. The state's total revenue is still mostly derived from property taxes. States having no property taxes for seniors 65 years of age and older are Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and South Dakota.
The easiest way to borrow from your 401(k) without owing any taxes is to roll over the funds into a new retirement account. You may do this when, for instance, you leave a job and are moving funds from your former employer's 401(k) plan into one sponsored by your new employer.
While you may have heard at some point that Social Security is no longer taxable after 70 or some other age, this isn't the case. In reality, Social Security is taxed at any age if your income exceeds a certain level.
The best state to retire in 2023 isn't Florida. In fact, it isn't even in the Southeast. Iowa ranks as this year's No. 1 state to retire, according to a recent Bankrate study.
Do you pay taxes twice on 401(k) withdrawals? We see this question on occasion and understand why it may seem this way. But, no, you don't pay taxes twice on 401(k) withdrawals. With the 20% withholding on your distribution, you're essentially paying part of your taxes upfront.
If you withdraw money from your 401(k) before you're 59 ½, the IRS usually assesses a 10% tax as an early distribution penalty. That could mean giving the government $1,000, or 10% of a $10,000 withdrawal, in addition to paying ordinary income tax on that money.
An early withdrawal from a 401(k) plan typically counts as taxable income. You'll also have to pay a 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn if you're under the age of 59½.
If you cash out the entirety of your 401(k) you will get whatever is left over after taxes (and penalties if you are younger than age 59.5).
Follow the 3% Rule for an Average Retirement
If you are fairly confident you won't run out of money, begin by withdrawing 3% of your portfolio annually. Adjust based on inflation but keep an eye on the market, as well.
You can rollover your 401(k) account into a CD without any penalties or taxes. But you need to make sure you're rolling over into an IRA CD, specifically. And always ensure to roll over into a like-kind account, whether a traditional or Roth retirement account, or you might get hit with a surprise tax bill.
You can withdraw your contributions (that's the original money you put into the account) tax- and penalty-free. But you'll owe ordinary income tax and a 10% penalty if you withdraw earnings (i.e. gains and dividends your investments made inside the account) from your Roth 401(k) prior to age 59 1/2.
By age 50, retirement-plan provider Fidelity recommends having at least six times your salary in savings in order to retire comfortably at age 67. By age 55, it recommends having seven times your salary.