Kansas Retirement Tax Friendliness

Kansas Retirement Taxes

Planning for a Kansas retirement? As compared with other states, Kansas is moderately tax-friendly for retirees. It has a number of benefits that help seniors keep their tax bill low, like the Social Security exemption and the SAFE Senior property tax refund.

On the other hand, there are no such exemptions or deductions for other common forms of retirement income, including income from a 401(k) or an IRA. To help you decide if a Kansas retirement is the right choice for you, we’ve answered common questions about Kansas retirement taxes.

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Is Kansas tax-friendly for retirees?

Kansas is moderately tax-friendly for retirees. It exempts all Social Security income for seniors with Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $75,000 or less. Public pension income is also exempt, though other forms of retirement income are not. Property taxes in Kansas are above the national average and sales taxes are some of the highest in the country. Kansas does not have an estate or inheritance tax.

Is Social Security taxable in Kansas?

Social Security income is only taxable for taxpayers with an AGI over $75,000. Married and single taxpayers whose AGI exceeds that limit pay full Kansas state income taxes on Social Security.

Are other forms of retirement income taxable in Kansas?

Retirement income from a 401(k), pension or IRA is fully taxable at the regular Kansas income tax rates of 3.1% to 5.7%. One exception is public pension income, whether from federal, state or local government pension. Public pension income is fully exempt from the Kansas income tax.

How high are property taxes in Kansas?

The average effective property tax rate in Kansas is 1.33%, which is higher than the national average. However, when taking into account the relatively low property values in Kansas, taxes paid are not especially high. The typical Kansas homeowner pays less than $2,445 annually in property taxes. That is one reason why the average cost of housing in Kansas is lower than the national average.

What is the Kansas homestead refund?

Seniors who own and live in their home in Kansas may be eligible for a number of tax relief programs. The most common is the homestead refund. This is available to homeowners who are over 55 years old as of Jan. 1 of the year of application. The refund is worth up to $700.

The SAFESR program, also called Kansas Property Tax Relief for Low Income Seniors, refunds 75% of all property taxes paid. It is available to homeowners who are at least 65 years old for the entirety of the year and have a total household income and home value below preset limits.

How high are sales taxes in Kansas?

Sales taxes in Kansas are fairly high. The average rate, including the statewide rate of 6.50% and the average of all city and county rates, is 8.49%. That ranks among the 10 highest in the country.

Seniors should also note that Kansas taxes groceries at the full sales tax rate, one of just a handful of states to do so.

What other Kansas taxes should I be concerned about?

Seniors who are relying on investment income should be aware that capital gains are taxed as regular income in Kansas. Long-term and short-term gains from investments including real estate or stocks are subject to the state income tax rates.

Kansas does not have an estate or inheritance tax.