$101,533 difference over 30 yearsFor one couple (both 60, $2M, 60/40, $80,000 a year to spend after tax), QuantCalc's 51-state planner study found a median 30-year income-tax bill (federal + state + IRMAA) of $293,936 in Maryland and $192,403 in Virginia — Virginia is the cheaper state by $101,533.
Maryland vs Virginia at a glance
| Factor | Maryland | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 6.50% top | 5.75% top |
| Taxes Social Security | No | No |
| Taxes 401(k)/IRA | Yes | Yes |
| State estate/inheritance tax | Yes | No |
| Tax on $100k withdrawal | $4,774/yr | $4,028/yr |
| Retirement-friendliness | high tax | moderate |
| 30-yr median income tax, federal + state + IRMAA (MC) | $293,936 | $192,403 |
| 30-yr state income tax (MC) | $130,740 | $77,730 |
| 30-yr success rate (MC) | 80.98% | 83.64% |
| Median balance at 90 (MC) | $1,835,682 | $2,148,799 |
The income-tax difference, year by year
The simplest way to see the gap: take a married couple, both 65, whose only income is a $100,000 IRA withdrawal split evenly between them. On that withdrawal Maryland collects $4,774 in state income tax and Virginia collects $4,028 — a difference of $746 every year. Both figures are QuantCalc's state tax engine run on the couple's whole 2026 return in each state, so each state's own brackets, deductions, retirement-income exclusions and credits apply. The Indiana and Maryland figures include the county income tax at the engine's default county rate (Indiana 1.75%, Maryland 3.12%); other local income taxes (city and school-district taxes, and county taxes in other states) are not included. County income tax adds 2.25-3.30% on top of the state rate, plus a $5M estate and $1M inheritance tax. An age deduction from 65 that phases out at $75K AGI.
Over a 30-year retirement, QuantCalc's 51-state planner study (one couple, identical portfolio and after-tax spending in both states, only the state changes; every year priced by the planner's federal and state tax engines) puts the median income-tax difference at $101,533.
Beyond income tax
State income tax is only part of the retirement-cost picture. When comparing Maryland and Virginia, also weigh:
- Property tax — a tax-free-income state can still have high property tax; factor your home value.
- Sales tax — affects every dollar you spend, not just income.
- Estate / inheritance tax — Maryland: has one; Virginia: none. Matters for larger estates.
- Roth conversion cost — converting in the lower-income-tax state of the two cuts the state tax on each converted dollar. See conversion-tax scenarios.
See Maryland vs Virginia on your full plan
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Compare other states
Deep-dive either state: Maryland retirement tax guide · Virginia retirement tax guide. Or see the full 50-state comparison and the 51-state Monte Carlo study.
FAQ
Is Maryland or Virginia better for retirement taxes?
On income tax, Virginia is the lighter-tax state. In QuantCalc's 51-state planner study, one couple (both 60, $2M, $80,000 a year to spend after tax) pays a median $192,403 of federal and state income tax and IRMAA over 30 years in Virginia versus $293,936 in the other — a $101,533 difference on identical income and spending.
Does Maryland tax Social Security and 401(k) withdrawals?
Maryland does not tax Social Security benefits and taxes 401(k)/traditional IRA distributions at the state level. County income tax adds 2.25-3.30% on top of the state rate, plus a $5M estate and $1M inheritance tax.
Does Virginia tax Social Security and 401(k) withdrawals?
Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits and taxes 401(k)/traditional IRA distributions at the state level. An age deduction from 65 that phases out at $75K AGI.
How much would moving from Maryland to Virginia save on retirement taxes?
For a married couple, both 65, whose only income is a $100,000 IRA withdrawal split evenly between them, the state income tax is $4,774 in Maryland versus $4,028 in Virginia — $746 per year of difference. Over 30 years, the planner study's median income-tax gap was $101,533. Don't forget property tax, sales tax, and estate tax also differ — see the table above.
Last updated 2026-10-28. State tax data 2026 (Tax Foundation + state DoR); the withdrawal figures are QuantCalc's state tax engine. Monte Carlo figures from the QuantCalc 51-state planner study (v2026.3, re-run 2026-10-12, CC-BY-4.0): one couple, both 60, $2M, 60/40, $80,000 a year to spend after tax, in each state. Educational only, not tax advice.