Wyoming
#1
retiree-friendly rank
- Social Security
- No state income tax
- Retirement income
- No state income tax
- Death tax
- None
Prop 0.53% · Sales 5.39%
2026Wyoming vs Montana Retirement Taxes
Wyoming ranks more retiree-friendly than Montana 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
Wyoming ranks ahead
Wyoming ranks #1 vs #45 for Montana. Score gap: 5.00 (lower score = more friendly).
Side-by-side retirement tax scoreboard
Montana
#45
retiree-friendly rank
- Social Security
- SS partially taxed
- Retirement income
- Retirement income taxed
- Death tax
- None
Prop 0.61% · Sales 0%
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 | Wyoming | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Retiree-friendly rank | #1 | #45 |
| Social Security | No state income tax | SS partially taxed |
| Retirement income | No state income tax | Retirement income taxed |
| Estate / inheritance | None | None |
| Estate exemption | — | — |
| Estate top rate | — | — |
| Effective property tax | 0.53% | 0.61% |
| Combined sales tax | 5.39% | 0% |
State rules explained
Why Wyoming and Montana 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.
Wyoming rules
No state income tax on retirement income; no state estate or inheritance tax.
Wyoming has no broad state income tax, so Social Security is not taxed at the state level. Federal tax rules still apply.
Wyoming does not levy a broad state income tax on pensions or retirement-account withdrawals.
- Property
- 0.53%
- Sales
- 5.39%
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%
Income mix matters
A household living mostly on Social Security may prefer different rules than one drawing large IRA RMDs. Compare Wyoming and Montana 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
Wyoming property 0.53% vs Montana 0.61%; sales 5.39% vs 0%.
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.
Wyoming vs Montana retirement tax FAQs
Wyoming ranks more retiree-friendly on this site's Social Security, retirement-income, and estate/inheritance score. Also compare property tax (0.53% vs 0.61%) and combined sales tax (5.39% vs 0%).
Wyoming: no state income tax. Montana: ss partially taxed. Federal Social Security tax rules apply in both states.
Wyoming: no state income tax. Montana: retirement income taxed.
Wyoming: no estate tax. Montana: 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.
Educational comparison only. Confirm current state return instructions and estate planning rules before relocating.