How do state taxes affect me if I retire and move to a tax-friendly state?

Retirement can be a good time to relocate for taxes because states treat retirement income very differently. Some states fully exempt Social Security, and a growing number exempt or reduce tax on pension and retirement-account withdrawals, while no-income-tax states shield all of it. But watch the trade-offs: property and sales taxes, estate or inheritance taxes in a few states, and the residency documentation needed to break from a high-tax former state. Also note that no state can tax your retirement-plan distributions after you've become a resident elsewhere, thanks to a federal law barring 'source taxation' of pensions by former states. Model your actual income mix, and consider WealthSerene's retirement planner at wealthserene.com/tools/retirement-planner alongside a state tax-burden comparison before choosing a destination.