Does Rhode Island tax Social Security?
Taxes Social Security for some people
Partly. Rhode Island removes taxable Social Security only if you have reached full retirement age and your federal adjusted gross income is under its limit: $107,000 (single, head of household or married filing separately) or $133,500 (joint) for 2025.
What the Rhode Island Division of Taxation says
We do not paraphrase the rule from memory. This is the state's own wording, copied from the page linked below it:
“For Tax Year 2025, the thresholds are: o single, head of household - $107,000 o married filing jointly or qualifying widow - $133,500 o married filing separately - $107,000”
“2) A taxpayer must have reached full retirement age in accordance with the Social Security Administration.”
Federal tax is a separate question
Whatever Rhode Island does, the IRS decides on its own how much of your benefit is taxable on your federal return. Whether it does depends on your other income. Our taxable Social Security calculator follows the IRS worksheet line by line, and this guide explains the rule.
You can ask Social Security to withhold federal tax from each payment. Withholding for Rhode Island state tax, if you need it, is arranged with the state, not with Social Security. State rules change with new laws, so check with the Rhode Island Division of Taxation before you file.
Other states where the answer is “taxes Social Security for some people”
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- Retirement Income Tax Guide (Publication 2026-01, for tax year 2025)Rhode Island Division of Taxation. Read on November 12, 2026.