Posts Tagged ‘Tax Burden’

Finding The Best Retirement States

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

The majority of seniors prefer the warm climate and leisure activities of states such as Florida and Texas for retirement-solutions.com/">nationwide retirement solutions however they are not necessarily the best where income is concerned.A lot of people considering retiring will appraise the acceptability of a state based simply on whether or not it has an income tax.  This is an oversimplified way to judge the tax burden of a state  Some of the states that have no income tax more than make up for it in other forms of tax.

Retirees naturally seek to preserve as much of their money each year as possible, and many are drawn to states like Pennsylvania that do not charge a dime on retirement income.  Although this is an understandable reaction, failure to look closer can cost these seniors dearly every year.  Ironically, Pennsylvania is actually one of the least affordable places in the United States to live.  The average property tax in Harrisburg, PA, amounted to  an incredible $6,551.  Combine that with $840 on average in sales tax, and Pennsylvania residents are actually paying approximately $7,391 in taxes per year.  

Surprisingly, states like Arkansas and Delaware offer the best deal for seniors.  Living in Dover, DE, costs on average around 3 per year in taxes.  Kentucky is great option for seniors, with residents of Frankfort paying around $1,114 per year.  This is a steal when compared to than supposedly tax friendly states such as Pennsylvania and Florida.People living in Florida pay nearly 00 per year.  

Although income tax is a major component of overall tax burden, it is very important to take other factors into account.Make certain that you review the cost of houses, as well as general cost of living.  In areas with high property values, property tax can eat up a great deal of income each year.  Look out for potential money sinks by researching state tax laws before making a move.  The general livability of a state is also important.  

Online sources such as Kiplinger and Taxsites.com can help greatly in the search for the best retirement states.  Finding the best retirement states is all about finding states that offer both affordable taxes and great livability.  Just because a state has the lowest taxes doesn’t mean you should move there, but don’t neglect to check out a state’s tax laws before moving.  Some states, such as Pennsylvania, can make your retirement dream unaffordable if you are not careful.