$29,806 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 $192,403 in Virginia and $162,597 in Florida — Florida is the cheaper state by $29,806.
Virginia vs Florida at a glance
| Factor | Virginia | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 5.75% top | None |
| Taxes Social Security | No | No |
| Taxes 401(k)/IRA | Yes | No |
| State estate/inheritance tax | No | No |
| Tax on $100k withdrawal | $4,028/yr | $0/yr |
| Retirement-friendliness | moderate | tax free |
| 30-yr median income tax, federal + state + IRMAA (MC) | $192,403 | $162,597 |
| 30-yr state income tax (MC) | $77,730 | $0 |
| 30-yr success rate (MC) | 83.64% | 84.05% |
| Median balance at 90 (MC) | $2,148,799 | $2,153,150 |
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 Virginia collects $4,028 in state income tax and Florida collects $0 — a difference of $4,028 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. An age deduction from 65 that phases out at $75K AGI. No state income tax, no estate tax, a primary FIRE destination.
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 $29,806.
Beyond income tax
State income tax is only part of the retirement-cost picture. When comparing Virginia and Florida, 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 — Virginia: none; Florida: 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.
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Deep-dive either state: Virginia retirement tax guide · Florida retirement tax guide. Or see the full 50-state comparison and the 51-state Monte Carlo study.
FAQ
Is Virginia or Florida better for retirement taxes?
On income tax, Florida 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 $162,597 of federal and state income tax and IRMAA over 30 years in Florida versus $192,403 in the other — a $29,806 difference on identical income and spending.
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.
Does Florida tax Social Security and 401(k) withdrawals?
Florida does not tax Social Security benefits and exempts 401(k)/traditional IRA distributions at the state level. No state income tax, no estate tax, a primary FIRE destination.
How much would moving from Virginia to Florida 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 $4,028 in Virginia versus $0 in Florida — $4,028 per year of difference. Over 30 years, the planner study's median income-tax gap was $29,806. Don't forget property tax, sales tax, and estate tax also differ — see the table above.
Last updated 2026-10-12. 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.