WASHINGTON RETIREMENT INCOME TAX · TAX YEAR 2026
Does Washington tax Social Security and retirement income?
Washington has no personal income tax, so it does not tax Social Security, pensions or 401(k) and IRA withdrawals. A single 67-year-old with $24,000 of Social Security, a $20,000 private pension and $10,000 of IRA withdrawals pays no Washington income tax for 2026. Federal income tax on the same income is $1,810.
Your estimate
- Washington income tax
- $0.00
- Federal income tax
- $1,810.00
- Total income tax
- $1,810.00
Federal tax on Washington retirees at different incomes
Federal income tax is the only income tax a Washington retiree pays. These are 2026 federal figures for a single 67-year-old with $24,000 of Social Security, and for a married couple, both 67, with $20,000 each. Half the pension and IRA income is a private pension and half IRA withdrawals.
| Pension and IRA income | Single | Married |
|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $0 | $0 |
| $40,000 | $4,030 | $1,210 |
| $60,000 | $7,158 | $5,084 |
| $100,000 | $16,486 | $9,884 |
| $150,000 | $29,072 | $20,352 |
Does Washington tax Social Security?
No. Washington has no personal income tax, so it does not tax Social Security benefits. Up to 85% of benefits can still be taxed on the federal return.
Of the single 67-year-old's $24,000 in benefits, $11,300 is federally taxable and Washington taxes none of it. Of the couple's $40,000, $28,100 is federally taxable and Washington taxes none of it.
Does Washington tax pensions?
No. Washington does not tax private pensions, government pensions or military retirement pay, at any age. They are still taxed on the federal return.
With $24,000 of Social Security and a $40,000 pension, a single 67-year-old pays no Washington income tax for 2026. Federal income tax on that income is $4,030.
Does Washington tax IRA and 401(k) withdrawals?
No. Washington does not tax traditional IRA or 401(k) withdrawals at any age. They are still taxed on the federal return; qualified Roth IRA withdrawals are not.
Washington's capital gains tax does not apply to assets held in IRAs, 401(k)s and other retirement accounts, and the income tax enacted by Senate Bill 6346 does not start until January 1, 2028.
Does Washington have property tax breaks for seniors?
Homeowners 61 and older with income under their county's limit get a partial property tax exemption and a freeze on their home's taxable value, and those 60 and older can defer property tax at 5% simple interest until the home is sold. From 2027 the exemption grows: the most generous tier exempts regular levies on the greater of $80,000 or 80% of the home's value, and King County's highest income limit becomes $101,000.
Does Washington have an estate or inheritance tax?
Yes. Washington taxes estates over $3,000,000 for deaths from July 1, 2026, and over $3,076,000 earlier in 2026. It has no inheritance tax, so heirs owe nothing on what they receive.
What the calculator leaves out
Washington property and sales taxes are not included.
Federal tax uses the 2026 brackets, the standard deduction with the extra amount at 65, and the $6,000 senior deduction. Estimates assume no other deductions, credits or local taxes except as noted.
Sources
- IRS Publication 915, Social Security benefits
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32
- IRS: deductions for seniors under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Washington Department of Revenue: income tax
- RCW 82.87.050: capital gains tax exemptions
- Washington Department of Revenue: estate tax
- Washington Department of Revenue: property tax exemptions and deferrals
- Washington ESSB 6162 final bill report (2026)
- Washington Department of Revenue: income thresholds for tax years 2027 to 2029