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For tax year 2026, the eight states that may tax some Social Security benefits are Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont. Being a resident of one of these states does not automatically mean you will owe tax on your benefits: state rules can depend on income, filing status, age and the amount of benefits included in federal taxable income. West Virginia is not on the list because its exemption is complete beginning in 2026.
Which states may tax Social Security in 2026?
A July 2026 report from the Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research identifies these eight states as having some tax exposure for Social Security benefits in tax year 2026:
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- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Mexico
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
The list describes state tax rules, not a bill every beneficiary will receive. Several states exempt benefits for taxpayers below specified income limits, and other states provide a subtraction or credit. The applicable outcome depends on your own return. Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research, July 30, 2026.
What each state’s 2026 rules say
Colorado
Colorado provides a subtraction for qualified taxpayers under age 65, limited to the smaller of $20,000 or included taxable pension and annuity income, according to the Colorado Department of Revenue. Its guidance also says that if federally taxable Social Security exceeds $24,000, the full amount of those benefits can be subtracted on the Colorado return. Eligibility and the return calculation are tax-year-specific, so consult the applicable Colorado instructions. Colorado Department of Revenue guidance.
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Connecticut
Connecticut exempts Social Security benefits in full when federal adjusted gross income (AGI) is below $75,000 for single or married-filing-separately filers, or below $100,000 for joint or head-of-household filers. Above those cutoffs, a partial deduction may still apply. The state’s calculation compares the federally includable amount with the lesser of 25% of benefits received or the amount over the federal base amount. These are not blanket exemptions for all Connecticut retirees. Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research.
Minnesota
Minnesota’s full-exemption thresholds for 2026 are federal AGI of $84,490 or less for single or head-of-household filers, $108,320 or less for joint filers, and $54,160 or less for married-filing-separately filers. Above those amounts, a partial subtraction is available under alternative calculation methods. Minnesota generally starts with the same amount of benefits taxable federally, then applies its state subtraction. The 2026 thresholds; Minnesota Department of Revenue guidance.
For context, Minnesota House Research modeled tax year 2025 and estimated that 29.3% of Minnesota resident returns expected to report Social Security income would pay some Minnesota tax on it. The model estimated that 24.0% of benefits reported on those returns would be taxable in Minnesota. These are model estimates for 2025—not figures for tax year 2026 or counts from filed 2025 returns—and the benefit estimate may overstate the share for all recipients because some beneficiaries do not have a filing requirement. Minnesota House Research.
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Montana
Montana is the exception among the eight: the multistate report says it taxes the portion of Social Security benefits taxable for federal income-tax purposes rather than providing a state-specific Social Security exclusion like most of the other listed states. A complete 2026 Montana calculation is not established here; use the current Montana Department of Revenue instructions for your return.
New Mexico
New Mexico fully exempts federally taxable Social Security benefits when federal AGI is at or below $100,000 for single filers, $150,000 for joint or head-of-household filers, or $75,000 for married-filing-separately filers. Above the applicable limit, the report says no deduction applies. These thresholds determine the state exemption; they do not determine whether benefits are federally taxable. Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s full exemption requires both reaching full retirement age and having AGI below $107,000 for single, head-of-household or married-filing-separately filers, or below $133,750 for joint filers. Above the applicable income limit, the report says no exemption applies. Confirm the age qualification and income calculation in the state’s current return instructions. Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research.
Utah
Utah is included among the eight states, and the report describes its relief as limited rather than a universal exclusion. Minnesota House Research describes Utah as taxing federally taxable benefits while offering a Social Security credit, but its cited rate and phaseout figures are from a prior year and should not be treated as 2026 values. The available sources do not establish a complete verified 2026 calculation; check Utah’s current return instructions.
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Vermont is also on the 2026 list, but the available current authoritative material does not establish its complete 2026 thresholds and calculation. Do not rely on older threshold figures as if they were current; consult the Vermont Department of Taxes’ current return instructions.
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How state tax differs from federal tax
Federal taxability is a separate calculation from state tax. The draft 2026 IRS Publication 915 says that up to 85% of Social Security benefits may be included in federal taxable income when income conditions apply. For example, the draft identifies a threshold test involving one-half of benefits plus other income exceeding $34,000 for an individual or $44,000 for a joint return. The publication is marked draft, so verify the final publication and federal worksheet before filing. A state may use the federally taxable amount as a starting point but then apply its own exemption, subtraction or credit. Draft IRS Publication 915.
What to check before estimating your bill
A state name alone is not enough to determine whether your benefits will be taxed. Gather the figures and qualifications used by your state before estimating the result:
- Your state of residence and the tax year on the return.
- Your filing status and federal AGI, or the state’s specified income measure.
- Your age or whether you have reached full retirement age, if the state makes that relevant.
- Your total Social Security benefits and the amount, if any, included in federal taxable income.
- The state’s current return instructions and the rules for any subtraction, exemption or credit.
For help applying those rules, consult the current state instructions or a qualified tax professional. Tax-year rules and filing details can change; the 2026 figures above reflect the sources available as of October 11, 2026.
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