Montana Retirement Tax Friendliness

Montana Retirement Taxes

Montana has the third-lowest population density of any state in the country, but it’s crowded with breathtaking scenery. From Glacier National Park to the headwaters of the Missouri River, Montana is the perfect place for seniors who want to spend their golden years surrounded by natural splendor.

Unlike its landscape, Montana’s tax system may disappoint some seniors. That’s because it heavily taxes most forms of retirement income, while taxing a portion of Social Security benefits for retirees above a certain income level.

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Is Montana tax-friendly for retirees?

Montana is moderately tax-friendly for retirees. Depending on your specific financial circumstances, you may find it very friendly or very unfriendly. For starters, the state has no sales tax, which lowers living costs for everyone. It also has relatively low property taxes.

On the other hand, many retirees pay taxes on Social Security retirement benefits, which is fully exempt in most other states. Likewise, Montana provides very limited exemptions for retirement income from pensions or retirement accounts.

Is Social Security taxable in Montana?

Social Security is taxable in Montana, but there is a deduction available for taxpayers below a certain income level. For single filers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $25,000 and joint filers with an AGI of less $32,000, all Social Security retirement income is deductible.

For taxpayers above those limits, but below $34,000 for single filers or $44,000 for joint filers, half of Social Security retirement income is deductible. Above these secondary limits, only 15% is deductible.

Are other forms of retirement income taxable in Montana?

Income from a pension or retirement account, like a 401(k) or IRA, is treated as regular income and taxed at Montana’s state income tax rates. There is, however, an exemption available for these taxes if you're a single filer with a federal AGI below $40,980 or a joint filer with a federal AGI below $43,300. If your AGI comes in below your respective requirement, then up to $4,400 of your retirement account income is exempt from state taxes.

How high are property taxes in Montana?

Property taxes in Montana are fairly low. The state provides an exemption on all residential property that greatly reduces the property tax burden of residential homeowners.

The average effective property tax rate paid by homeowners is 0.74% across the state. That’s equal to $740 in property taxes for every $100,000 in home value. It’s important to note, however, that this will vary based on where in the state you live.

What is the Montana elderly homeowner tax credit?

Montana homeowners who are at least 62 years old can apply for a tax credit on their property taxes. To be eligible, they must pay the property taxes for a home they occupy or rent. Total household income must be less than $45,000 to receive the full credit amount.

The Elderly Homeowner Credit is worth a maximum of $1,000. The credit may also be less than $1,000 if your property taxes paid were below a certain level.

How high are sales taxes in Montana?

There is no sales tax in Montana. In other words, retirees can do all of their Montana shopping tax-free.

What other Montana taxes should I be concerned about?

Capital gains are taxed as income in Montana, though taxpayers are allowed to receive a credit of 2% of net capital gains. If you have investments with which you plan to supplement your income in retirement, keep in mind that you will pay state income taxes when you sell those investments.