Hawaii
#21
retiree-friendly rank
- Social Security
- SS exempt from state tax
- Retirement income
- Partial retirement exclusions
- Death tax
- Estate tax
Prop 0.29% · Sales 4.5%
2026Hawaii vs Kentucky Retirement Taxes
Kentucky ranks more retiree-friendly than Hawaii on Social Security, retirement-income, and estate/inheritance treatment. Compare Social Security, pensions and IRA withdrawals, estate/inheritance taxes, and supporting property and sales rates.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
More retiree-friendly on this model
Kentucky ranks ahead
Kentucky ranks #19 vs #21 for Hawaii. Score gap: 0.25 (lower score = more friendly).
Side-by-side retirement tax scoreboard
Kentucky
#19
retiree-friendly rank
- Social Security
- SS exempt from state tax
- Retirement income
- Partial retirement exclusions
- Death tax
- Inheritance tax
Prop 0.74% · Sales 6%
Retirement tax metric comparison
Rankings emphasize income and death taxes. Property and sales rates matter for cash flow but do not drive the retiree-friendliness score.
| Metric | Hawaii | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Retiree-friendly rank | #21 | #19 |
| Social Security | SS exempt from state tax | SS exempt from state tax |
| Retirement income | Partial retirement exclusions | Partial retirement exclusions |
| Estate / inheritance | Estate tax | Inheritance tax |
| Estate exemption | $5.49M | — |
| Estate top rate | 20% | — |
| Effective property tax | 0.29% | 0.74% |
| Combined sales tax | 4.5% | 6% |
State rules explained
Why Hawaii and Kentucky differ for retirees
The gap is rarely one rule. Social Security thresholds, pension exclusions, and estate taxes can each flip which state looks better for a given household.
Hawaii rules
Exempts Social Security and many employer pensions; other retirement income may be taxed.
Hawaii does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level. Federal tax rules still apply.
Employer-funded pension distributions are generally exempt; employee contributions/gains and many IRA/401(k) rules differ—confirm Hawaii Form N-11 instructions.
Estate tax: exemption about $5.49M, top rate about 20%.
- Property
- 0.29%
- Sales
- 4.5%
Kentucky rules
Exempts Social Security with a sizable retirement-income exclusion; levies an inheritance tax.
Kentucky does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level. Federal tax rules still apply.
Retirement income exclusion up to about $31,110 on qualifying pension/IRA/401(k) income—confirm current Form 740 instructions.
Kentucky inheritance tax rates and exemptions depend on the heir's relationship to the decedent.
- Property
- 0.74%
- Sales
- 6%
Income mix matters
A household living mostly on Social Security may prefer different rules than one drawing large IRA RMDs. Compare Hawaii and Kentucky against your actual income mix.
Death taxes are separate
Federal estate tax can still apply above about $15M. State estate or inheritance tax is an extra layer in some states.
Property & sales still count
Hawaii property 0.29% vs Kentucky 0.74%; sales 4.5% vs 6%.
Compare a different pair
Compare any two states
Social Security, pensions/IRA, estate taxes, and supporting property/sales rates.
Related tools
Estimate federal retirement figures
Use Social Security and RMD tools, then apply each state's rules from this comparison.
Hawaii vs Kentucky retirement tax FAQs
Kentucky ranks more retiree-friendly on this site's Social Security, retirement-income, and estate/inheritance score. Also compare property tax (0.29% vs 0.74%) and combined sales tax (4.5% vs 6%).
Hawaii: ss exempt from state tax. Kentucky: ss exempt from state tax. Federal Social Security tax rules apply in both states.
Hawaii: partial retirement exclusions. Kentucky: partial retirement exclusions.
Hawaii: estate tax (exemption about $5.49M). Kentucky: no estate tax; inheritance tax applies.
Not always. Property taxes, sales taxes, and estate taxes can offset income-tax savings. Compare total household exposure, not income tax alone.
Federal income tax, Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and the federal estate tax framework do not depend on the state of residence in the same way state income tax does. State rules sit on top of federal rules.
Educational comparison only. Confirm current state return instructions and estate planning rules before relocating.