Florida has had no state income tax since statehood, and the Florida Constitution prohibits the legislature from enacting one on wages or personal income. This means every dollar of salary, every pension check, and every Social Security payment is untouched by state income tax. Retirees moving from states like New York or Illinois typically recover $3,000-$15,000 per year in state income tax alone, depending on income level and income type.
Florida is one of nine no-income-tax states, alongside Texas, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, South Dakota, Tennessee, and New Hampshire. Unlike some of these states, Florida also has no estate tax, making it one of the broadest tax shelters for both working-age and retired residents. See the Texas Paycheck Calculator for a comparable no-income-tax state.
Florida has no state income tax, no state disability insurance (SDI), and no local income taxes. No Florida city or county charges a wage-based income tax. The only withholding items on a Florida paycheck stub are federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare.
Withholding is controlled by your federal W-4. Your filing status and any additional withholding elections on the W-4 are the only levers you have. If you earn income through a side business or freelance work in Florida, you also owe self-employment tax (15.3% on net self-employment income). Use the Self-Employment Tax Calculator to estimate that separately.
Single filing status, 2026 federal standard deduction of $14,600, no pre-tax benefit deductions. Federal taxable income is $45,400.
| Deduction | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $60,000 | $5,000 |
| Federal Income Tax | −$5,210 | −$434 |
| Florida State Tax | $0 (none) | $0 (none) |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$3,720 | −$310 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$870 | −$73 |
| Estimated Take-Home | $50,200 | $4,183 |
Estimates only. Actual withholding may vary based on W-4 elections, pre-tax deductions, and employer-specific items.
New York levies a progressive state income tax topping out at 6.85% for most earners, plus New York City residents face an additional 3.078-3.876% city tax. At $60,000, a Florida worker pays $0 in state income tax while a New York State worker pays approximately $2,600, before any city tax. The gap compounds significantly at higher salaries.
| Gross Salary | FL State Tax | NY State Tax | FL Advantage/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $0 | ~$2,600 | +$2,600 |
| $80,000 | $0 | ~$3,800 | +$3,800 |
| $100,000 | $0 | ~$5,000 | +$5,000 |
| $150,000 | $0 | ~$7,900 | +$7,900 |
| $200,000 | $0 | ~$10,900 | +$10,900 |
Single filer, 2026 federal brackets, standard deductions. NY figures use New York State brackets and $8,000 standard deduction. NYC city tax not included; NYC residents owe an additional $1,400-$5,000+ depending on salary. Take-home figures rounded.
Florida funds its state government through a 6% state sales tax, with county surtaxes bringing the combined rate to 8.5% in some areas. This is the primary trade-off for no income tax: everyday purchases cost more. However, unlike Texas, Florida property taxes are generally below the national average. Most Florida counties run effective property tax rates of 0.8-1.2% of assessed value, compared to 1.6-1.8% in Texas and 1.07% nationally.
Florida also offers a Homestead Exemption that reduces the assessed value of a primary residence by $25,000-$50,000 for property tax purposes, further lowering the burden for homeowners. Combined with the Save Our Homes cap that limits assessment increases to 3% per year, long-term Florida homeowners often pay significantly less in property tax than new buyers at the same market value.
For retirees living on fixed income, Florida is uniquely advantageous: no tax on Social Security, no tax on IRA withdrawals, no tax on pension income, lower property taxes than Texas, and no estate tax. Use the 401(k) Calculator to see how annual income-tax savings compound over a working career when reinvested.