Does Virginia tax Social Security?
Does not tax Social Security
No. Virginia exempts Social Security; you subtract any amount that was in your federal adjusted gross income.
What Virginia Tax says
We do not paraphrase the rule from memory. This is the state's own wording, copied from the page linked below it:
“Virginia law exempts Social Security and Tier 1 Railroad Retirement benefits from taxation.”
Federal tax is a separate question
Even though Virginia does not tax it, the IRS can still tax part of your Social Security 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 Virginia state tax, if you need it, is arranged with the state, not with Social Security. State rules change with new laws, so check with Virginia Tax before you file.
Other states where the answer is “does not tax Social Security”
Check our work
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- SubtractionsVirginia Tax. Read on November 12, 2026.