Once you get to a certain age, you’ll probably make the decision to retire, and with that decision comes a lot of thought. One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make when you’re retiring is where you’re going to do so, and it’s not a decision that should be taken lightly. After all, you’ll probably end up spending the rest of your life there! Florida is a great place to go for retirement, and most likely your first choice. Here are five reasons to retire in sunny Florida.
1. No state income tax
One of the top selling points for retirees, or folks of any age, is the fact that Florida is one of seven states (along with Washington, Alaska, Nevada, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Texas) that has no state income tax. For retirees without a lot of money saved but are still in good health and plan to keep working, Florida is a smart destination for avoiding in-state income taxes. The state does have a 6% levied sales tax rate and an average combined tax rate of 6.8%, but this isn’t particularly high relative to the rest of the country.
2. Retirement income is exempt (including Social Security)
Because Florida has no state income tax, this also means that retirement income is exempt from state taxation. Any money you receive from Individual Retirement Accounts, private and public pensions, 401(k)s, and Social Security, is completely free of in-state taxation. Florida is one of 37 states that currently does not tax Social Security benefits.
A word to the wise: You may still have federal income-tax liability on some of these forms of retirement income, even if Florida isn’t taking a red cent.
3. Cost-of-living right around the national average
Another reason to consider Florida is that it’s not particularly costly to live there. Using median household income from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey in 2015 and adjusting those figures to account for regional price parity based on calculations from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Money found that Florida had a regional price parity index of 99.5. With 100 being the mark of parity, this suggests that Florida residents are paying an average of 0.5% less than the national average for goods and services. When combined with no state income tax, it’s easy to see how retirees can make a dollar stretch in Florida.
4. The homestead exemption
In terms of property tax rates, Florida ranks toward the middle of the country. However, there’s a sizable deduction available for lower-income seniors over the age of 65 who’ve resided in the state for a considerable amount of time. As noted by Kiplinger, Florida residents with household income not exceeding $28,841 (as of 2017), and who’ve maintained permanent residence at an in-state location for at least 25 years, may qualify for an extra homestead exemption of up to $50,000 from some city and county governments. Also, any widow or widower who’s a Florida resident can claim an additional $500 exemption.
5. The weather (obviously!)
Lastly, retirees choose Florida because of its temperate climate. After all, it’s called The Sunshine State for a reason. With very mild winters and generally warm summers, Florida presents with a climate that most senior citizens can appreciate.
