Montana
#45
retiree-friendly rank
- Social Security
- SS partially taxed
- Retirement income
- Retirement income taxed
- Death tax
- None
Prop 0.61% · Sales 0%
2026Montana vs Utah Retirement Taxes
Montana and Utah tie on this site's modeled retiree-friendliness score. 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
Montana and Utah are tied
Both states share the same modeled Social Security, retirement-income, and estate/inheritance score.
Side-by-side retirement tax scoreboard
Utah
#45
retiree-friendly rank
- Social Security
- SS partially taxed
- Retirement income
- Retirement income taxed
- Death tax
- None
Prop 0.48% · Sales 7.42%
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 | Montana | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Retiree-friendly rank | #45 | #45 |
| Social Security | SS partially taxed | SS partially taxed |
| Retirement income | Retirement income taxed | Retirement income taxed |
| Estate / inheritance | None | None |
| Estate exemption | — | — |
| Estate top rate | — | — |
| Effective property tax | 0.61% | 0.48% |
| Combined sales tax | 0% | 7.42% |
State rules explained
Why Montana and Utah 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.
Montana rules
Still taxes some Social Security; other retirement income generally taxable.
Partial SS taxation with AGI deductions/exclusions; confirm Montana Form 2 instructions.
Other retirement income generally taxed; SS partially taxed.
- Property
- 0.61%
- Sales
- 0%
Utah rules
May tax Social Security for higher-income households after the credit phases out; other retirement income generally taxable.
Utah uses a nonrefundable credit that can offset SS tax; the credit phases out above MAGI about $54,000 single / $90,000 joint.
Other retirement income generally taxed; SS credit may offset tax for lower MAGI households.
- Property
- 0.48%
- Sales
- 7.42%
Income mix matters
A household living mostly on Social Security may prefer different rules than one drawing large IRA RMDs. Compare Montana and Utah 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
Montana property 0.61% vs Utah 0.48%; sales 0% vs 7.42%.
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.
Montana vs Utah retirement tax FAQs
Montana and Utah tie on the modeled retiree-friendliness score. Also compare property tax (0.61% vs 0.48%) and combined sales tax (0% vs 7.42%).
Montana: ss partially taxed. Utah: ss partially taxed. Federal Social Security tax rules apply in both states.
Montana: retirement income taxed. Utah: retirement income taxed.
Montana: no estate tax. Utah: no estate tax.
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.
Related retirement tax comparisons
Educational comparison only. Confirm current state return instructions and estate planning rules before relocating.