Colorado (CO) • 2026 Tax Year

Does Colorado Tax Social Security?

Colorado taxes Social Security only for younger or higher-income recipients: residents 65+ deduct 100% of federally taxed benefits, and 55–64-year-olds can too if AGI is $75,000 or less ($95,000 married filing jointly).

Colorado is one of only 8 states that tax Social Security benefits in 2026.

State Tax Rate

4.40% flat

Who's Exempt

Fully deductible at 65+; 55–64 within income limits

Who is exempt from Colorado's Social Security tax?

Available Exemptions & Deductions

  • Age 65+: deduct 100% of Social Security benefits included in federal taxable income — no income limit.
  • Age 55–64: deduct 100% of benefits if federal AGI is $75,000 or less (single) / $95,000 or less (married filing jointly).
  • Age 55–64 above those income limits: benefits count toward the $20,000 pension/annuity subtraction cap.

Key facts about Colorado and Social Security

Colorado applies a flat 4.40% income tax rate to taxable income.

Most Colorado retirees 65+ pay no state tax on Social Security at all.

The 55–64 full deduction (within AGI limits) is recent — many one-year-old guides still show the old $20,000 cap for everyone under 65.

Expert Strategy

Tax-smart strategy for Colorado residents

If you are 55–64 and near the AGI cliff, the timing of IRA withdrawals and capital gains can decide whether your entire Social Security benefit is state-tax-free. Modeling claiming age and withdrawal order together matters more here than in almost any other state.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About Colorado Social Security tax

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