Social Security
SS exempt from state tax
Federal rules still apply
SS exempt from state tax · partial retirement exclusions · property 0.78% · sales 5.77%. Plan RMDs, Roth conversions, and estate tax before retiring in Virginia.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Exempts Social Security with an age-based deduction for other income. Rank #14 on this site's retiree-friendliness score (#1 is most favorable).
Social Security
SS exempt from state tax
Federal rules still apply
Retirement income
Partial retirement exclusions
Pensions / IRA / 401(k)
Estate / inheritance
No state estate/inheritance tax
Federal exempt ~$15M
Retiree rank
#14
Lower score = more friendly
Compare any two states
Social Security, pensions/IRA, estate taxes, and supporting property/sales rates.
SS exempt from state tax
Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level. Federal tax rules still apply.
Federally, up to 85% of Social Security can be taxable based on combined income. State treatment is a separate layer on top of IRS rules.
Partial retirement exclusions
Social Security exempt. Age deduction up to about $12,000 (age 65+) may reduce taxable income—confirm Form 760 instructions.
Federal income tax on Social Security and retirement distributions can apply regardless of state rules.
No state estate/inheritance tax
Virginia does not currently levy a state inheritance tax.
Federal estate tax may still apply above about $15M for 2026, regardless of state rules.
Income-tax savings can be offset by higher housing or consumption taxes. These are statewide benchmarks—not the exact levy on a specific home or shopping basket.
0.78%
Owner-occupied housing benchmark
Virginia property tax profile →5.77%
State + average local combined rate
Virginia sales tax profile →Living in Virginia does not remove federal tax on taxable Social Security, traditional IRA/401(k) withdrawals, capital gains, or a taxable estate above the federal exemption. Virginia rules sit on top of IRS rules.
Up to 85% of benefits may be taxable based on combined income—same framework in every state.
SS exempt from state tax
Partial retirement exclusions
No state estate/inheritance tax
Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level. Federal tax rules still apply.
Social Security exempt. Age deduction up to about $12,000 (age 65+) may reduce taxable income—confirm Form 760 instructions.
Statewide effective property tax is about 0.78%. Check local homestead or senior relief.
Combined average sales tax is about 5.77%. Necessities may be taxed differently.
Virginia currently has no state estate or inheritance tax; federal estate tax may still apply.
Conversions can raise Virginia taxable income and, where relevant, Social Security state-tax thresholds.
#14 on this site’s Social Security, retirement-income, and estate/inheritance score (#1 is most favorable).
A planning label—not a guarantee for every AGI level or filing status.
Statewide benchmarks for cash-flow planning; your locality may differ.
Every local income tax, circuit breaker, homestead credit, or private pension nuance.
Rank #14 · SS exempt from state tax · Partial retirement exclusions
Compare Virginia vs Alabama →Rank #14 · SS exempt from state tax · Partial retirement exclusions
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Compare Virginia vs South Carolina →Confirm current Virginia return instructions and local rules. Rankings are educational planning aids.