Does Missouri tax Social Security?

No. As of the 2024 tax year, Missouri fully exempts Social Security benefits from state income tax for all taxpayers, regardless of income. The earlier income-based phaseout was repealed, so Social Security contributes nothing to your Missouri taxable income.

How does Missouri tax public pensions?

Public pensions from state, local, federal, and military service qualify for the Public Pension Exemption, which shelters a large amount (about $46,381 in 2024 and indexed yearly). Military retirement pay is fully exempt. Public pension income above the exemption is taxable at Missouri's rates.

Are private pensions and annuities taxed in Missouri?

Private pensions and annuities qualify for a Private Pension Exemption of up to $6,000 per taxpayer, subject to income limits. Amounts above the exemption, and most income for higher earners who phase out, are taxed as ordinary income at Missouri's graduated rates.

How are 401(k) and IRA withdrawals taxed in Missouri?

Distributions from traditional 401(k) and IRA accounts are generally taxed as ordinary income in Missouri, though some may count toward the private pension exemption within limits. This tool treats IRA and 401(k) withdrawals as fully taxable for a conservative estimate.

Why is this an estimate?

The pension exemptions phase out based on total income and filing status, and some IRA income can offset the private pension exemption. This tool applies the headline exemptions and the standard deduction to give a close estimate, not an exact Missouri return figure.

Missouri Retirement Income Tax Calculator

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The Missouri Retirement Income Tax Calculator shows how friendly (or not) Missouri is to retirees. The headline: Missouri fully exempts Social Security as of 2024, gives public pensions a large exemption (military pay is fully exempt), and shelters up to $6,000 of private pension income — while IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are generally taxable.

How it works

Each income stream gets its own treatment, then the remainder is taxed:

social security  -> 0% taxable (fully exempt in Missouri)
public pension    -> taxable above the ~$46,381 exemption (military exempt)
private pension   -> taxable above the $6,000 exemption
IRA / 401(k)      -> fully taxable as ordinary income

gross taxable = sum of the taxable portions
MO taxable    = gross taxable - standard deduction
MO tax        = graduated brackets on MO taxable (top 4.8%)

Because Social Security is untaxed and public pensions are heavily exempt, many Missouri retirees owe state tax mainly on their 401(k) and IRA withdrawals.

Example and notes

A single retiree with $24,000 Social Security, a $30,000 public pension, and $20,000 in 401(k) withdrawals:

social security: $24,000 -> $0 taxable
public pension: $30,000 -> $0 taxable (under the ~$46,381 exemption)
401(k): $20,000 -> $20,000 taxable
gross taxable: $20,000
standard deduction: $14,600
MO taxable: $5,400
MO tax: roughly $130

Social Security is fully exempt regardless of income (2024+).
Military retirement pay is fully exempt; other public pensions use the cap.
The pension exemptions phase out at higher incomes — not modeled here.
Estimate only — runs entirely in your browser.