Retirement account withdrawals and earnings from a job may not be the only taxable income you have, either. The federal government taxes seniors' Social Security benefits if their income exceeds certain thresholds. If you live in one of the following nine states, you could owe some state Social Security benefit taxes as well.

COLA beneftis are often not enough for retirees to maintain a comfortable living standard, and the forecast for 2026 likely won't shift that.

Social Security benefits are a crucial income source for millions of American retirees. However, these benefits may be subject to taxes, depending on the state and federal rules. The good news is that most states do not tax Social Security benefits.

Unfortunately, retirees living in nine states could find out they don't get to keep all of their Social Security benefits. How are Social Security benefits taxed? Before we dive into how your state government might tax your Social Security checks,