State retirement taxes · 2026
Does Kansas tax retirement income?
Short answer: Partly. Kansas does not tax Social Security benefits. Public pensions are fully exempt; private pensions and IRAs get no exclusion.
What’s taxed in Kansas
2026 rules.
- Social SecurityNot taxed
- Kansas does not tax Social Security benefits.
- PensionsPartly taxed
- Public pensions (federal, military, KPERS and other Kansas systems) are exempt; private pensions are taxed.
- IRA & 401(k) withdrawalsTaxed
- IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are fully taxable.
- Military retirement payNot taxed
- Military retirement pay (including the Thrift Savings Plan) is fully exempt.
- Income tax rate5.58% top
- Two brackets since 2024: 5.2% on the first $23,000 of taxable income ($46,000 joint) and 5.58% above.
Does Kansas tax Social Security?
Kansas does not tax Social Security benefits.
Since 2024 Social Security is fully exempt for everyone; the old $75,000 AGI limit was removed (SB 1, 2024 special session).
Your federal return is a separate question — see how much of your benefit the IRS taxes with the taxable Social Security calculator.
Are pensions taxed in Kansas?
Public pensions (federal, military, KPERS and other Kansas systems) are exempt; private pensions are taxed.
Fully exempt: federal civil service and other federal retirement, military retirement and the Thrift Savings Plan, KPERS, KP&F, Kansas teachers, Highway Patrol, Justices and Judges, Railroad Retirement, Regents and Washburn plans and certain city pensions. Private-employer pensions are fully taxable.
Public vs. private pensions: Public pensions exempt; private pensions fully taxable.
Are IRA and 401(k) withdrawals taxed in Kansas?
IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are fully taxable.
Kansas has no general retirement exclusion. A narrow subtraction applies only to KPERS lump sums rolled into a qualified account.
Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, so the same rules apply. Estimate your RMD.
Is military retirement pay taxed in Kansas?
Military retirement pay (including the Thrift Savings Plan) is fully exempt.
What is Kansas’ income tax rate?
2 brackets, topping out at 5.58%.
Two brackets since 2024: 5.2% on the first $23,000 of taxable income ($46,000 joint) and 5.58% above. The automatic cuts in SB 269 (2025) were not triggered for 2026 or 2027.
2026 brackets. Each rate applies to taxable income above the amount shown.
| Single | Married, joint | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $0 | 5.2% |
| $23,000 | $46,000 | 5.58% |
Standard deduction and exemptions
Standard deduction: $3,605 single, $8,240 joint, $6,180 head of household, $4,120 married filing separately. At 65+ or blind it rises — $4,455 single with one box; $8,940 joint with one box, $9,640 with two. Personal exemption: $9,160 single, head of household or separate; $18,320 joint; plus $2,320 per dependent.
What tax breaks do seniors get in Kansas?
The higher standard deduction at 65+. The Homestead refund pays up to $700 toward property tax, and there is a property tax refund for seniors 65+ (and disabled veterans).
What changed for 2026?
SB 269 (2025) cuts rates automatically when revenue beats an inflation-adjusted target and reserves are at least 15%; Notice 26-11 (October 15, 2026) confirms no cut for 2027. The Department’s 2026 legislative summary lists no retiree income-tax changes.
Rates are official for 2026; no automatic rate cut applies for 2026 or 2027.
How Kansas compares with its neighbors
Thinking of moving across the line? Here’s how each bordering state treats retirement income in 2026.
- KansasThis pageFriendlySocial Security Not taxedTop rate: 5.58% top
- ColoradoVery friendlySocial Security Partly taxedTop rate: 4.4% flat
- MissouriFriendlySocial Security Partly taxedTop rate: 4.7% top
- NebraskaFriendlySocial Security Not taxedTop rate: 4.55% top
- OklahomaFriendlySocial Security Not taxedTop rate: 4.5% top
State tax is half the picture — check the federal side
Kansas retirement tax questions
Is Kansas tax-friendly for retirees?
We rate Kansas “Friendly” for 2026. Kansas does not tax Social Security benefits. Public pensions are fully exempt; private pensions and IRAs get no exclusion. The top income tax rate is 5.58%.
Are required minimum distributions (RMDs) taxed in Kansas?
RMDs are withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)-type plans, so they follow Kansas’ rules for those accounts. IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are fully taxable.
Is military retirement pay taxed in Kansas?
No. Military retirement pay (including the Thrift Savings Plan) is fully exempt.
What is Kansas’ income tax rate for 2026?
Two brackets since 2024: 5.2% on the first $23,000 of taxable income ($46,000 joint) and 5.58% above. The automatic cuts in SB 269 (2025) were not triggered for 2026 or 2027.
Sources for Kansas
Primary sources only. We re-check them whenever an agency publishes new figures.
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