Does Georgia tax my Social Security?

No. Georgia fully exempts Social Security benefits. You'll only owe state tax on other retirement income above the exclusion described below.

How much retirement income can I exclude in Georgia?

Up to $65,000 per person — about $130,000 for a married couple where both qualify. It covers pension and IRA/401(k) income; see the state note above for the age requirement and exactly what counts. Income above the exclusion is taxed at about 5.19%.

What's the effective state tax rate on my retirement income in Georgia?

Much lower than the headline rate for most retirees. On $90,000 of income (with $30,000 of it Social Security), a single filer would owe roughly $0 — an effective rate of about 0.00% — because Social Security is exempt and the first $65,000 of other retirement income is excluded. A retiree whose withdrawals stay under the exclusion owes $0.

Should I relocate to Georgia for retirement?

It depends on the size of your retirement income, the destination state, and your moving costs — the state-tax differential alone is rarely decisive for normal-income retirees. Georgia's exclusion already zeroes out state income tax for many retirees, so property and sales taxes are usually the numbers that actually differ between states.

Does this apply to property tax too?

No — this page covers state INCOME tax only. Property and sales taxes vary widely and property tax is set locally; check your county assessor for your own number.

State retirement tax · Georgia

Retirement tax rules for Georgia residents (2026 guide)

Georgia's effective income-tax rate at retirement-bracket income is approximately 5.19%. Here's what it taxes, what it exempts, and how the worked numbers shake out.

Last reviewed July 17, 2026

Editorial review pending — see editorial process

Rate on retirement income

~0%*

Taxes Social Security?

Approx. tax on $90k retirement income

Pension carve-outs

Yes

*Effective rate for a single filer with $90k of income ($30k of it Social Security), after Georgia exempts Social Security and excludes the first $65,000 of retirement income per person. A retiree whose withdrawals stay under the exclusion owes about $0; a married couple excludes roughly twice as much. See the note below for the age rules.

Georgia's headline income-tax rate is about 5.19%, but retirees rarely pay it on their full income. Georgia excludes the first $65,000 of retirement income per person, and Social Security is fully exempt — so a retiree whose withdrawals stay under that exclusion owes close to $0, and one above it pays the rate only on the excess. A married couple can exclude roughly twice as much. The state note below has the age rules and exactly what qualifies.

What Georgia taxes (and what it doesn’t)

Georgia taxes 401(k)/IRA withdrawals and pension income at the state's rate — but only AFTER excluding the first $65,000 of retirement income per person, and Social Security is fully exempt. So a retiree whose taxable withdrawals fall under the exclusion pays $0 in state income tax; above it, the roughly 5.19% rate applies to the excess. Taxable brokerage, rental, and wage income don't qualify for the exclusion. See the state note for the age requirement and specifics.

State-specific note

Flat 5.19% (2025; dropping toward 4.99%). Georgia excludes up to $65,000 of retirement income PER PERSON at 65+ ($35,000 at 62-64) — and the exclusion covers pension, IRA/401(k), and even interest/dividends/capital gains — so a typical 65+ retiree (or a couple up to $130k) owes about $0. Social Security is separately exempt. Income above the per-person cap is taxed at 5.19%.

A worked example

Worked example. A Georgia retiree with $60,000 of pension and IRA withdrawals plus $30,000 of Social Security owes about $0 in Georgia income tax: Social Security is exempt, and the $60,000 of withdrawals falls under the $65,000-per-person retirement exclusion.

Should you relocate?

Whether to relocate from Georgia for tax reasons depends on the size of your retirement income and the destination state. The math typically favors staying put unless you're at $1M+ household income or planning a 20+ year retirement that amortises the move costs.

See how Georgia state tax shapes your retirement plan

The calculator's Taxes tab uses the 5.19% effective rate above and the SS-exemption flag automatically. Run your specific numbers and see the year-by-year tax forecast.

Run my numbers

Frequently asked

Does Georgia tax my Social Security?
No. Georgia fully exempts Social Security benefits. You'll only owe state tax on other retirement income above the exclusion described below.
How much retirement income can I exclude in Georgia?
Up to $65,000 per person — about $130,000 for a married couple where both qualify. It covers pension and IRA/401(k) income; see the state note above for the age requirement and exactly what counts. Income above the exclusion is taxed at about 5.19%.
What's the effective state tax rate on my retirement income in Georgia?
Much lower than the headline rate for most retirees. On $90,000 of income (with $30,000 of it Social Security), a single filer would owe roughly $0 — an effective rate of about 0.00% — because Social Security is exempt and the first $65,000 of other retirement income is excluded. A retiree whose withdrawals stay under the exclusion owes $0.
Should I relocate to Georgia for retirement?
It depends on the size of your retirement income, the destination state, and your moving costs — the state-tax differential alone is rarely decisive for normal-income retirees. Georgia's exclusion already zeroes out state income tax for many retirees, so property and sales taxes are usually the numbers that actually differ between states.
Does this apply to property tax too?
No — this page covers state INCOME tax only. Property and sales taxes vary widely and property tax is set locally; check your county assessor for your own number.

Primary sources

Georgia-specific rules are sourced from the state revenue department's own publications (listed first); the rate table below is cross-checked against the national roundups. We re-verify annually.

What Georgia taxes (and what it doesn’t)

A worked example

Should you relocate?

Frequently asked

Primary sources

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