🌸 COUNTRY A Ohio VS 🌴 COUNTRY B Florida

No. Ohio fully exempts Social Security benefits from state income tax. For retirees with income primarily from Social Security, Ohio and Florida are nearly equal on state tax. Ohio's income tax applies to pension distributions, traditional IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, and RMDs. After the $26,050 tax-free threshold, the state rate is 2.75% up to $100,000 and 3.5% above $100,000.

Yes, Ohio's city income taxes apply to retirement income just as they do to wage income. The rates: Columbus 2.5%, Cleveland 2.5%, Cincinnati 1.8%, Akron 2.5%, Toledo 2.25%, Dayton 2.25%. If you live in Columbus and have $100,000 in pension and IRA income, you pay approximately $2,035 in Ohio state tax plus $2,500 in Columbus city tax — a combined $4,535. Moving to a rural Ohio township without a city income tax reduces the burden to just the $2,035 state portion. Florida has neither state nor city income taxes.

At the state level only: approximately $660/year at $50K income, $1,348/year at $75K, and $2,035/year at $100K. If you currently live in a major Ohio city: add $900–$2,500 more in city taxes saved. A Columbus retiree at $100K saves $4,535/year total (state + city) by moving to Florida. However, Florida's property insurance costs $3,000–$6,000 more per year than Ohio. The net saving depends on where in Florida you live — high-risk coastal areas may neutralise the tax saving.

Yes. Ohio taxes pension income, including public employee pensions, private pensions, IRA withdrawals, and 401(k) distributions as ordinary income. After the $26,050 tax-free threshold, the 2.75% rate applies up to $100,000 and 3.5% above. There is no Ohio pension exclusion beyond that first threshold. Military pensions are also taxable in Ohio, unlike in some other states. Florida does not tax any of these income sources.

Ohio's average effective property tax rate is approximately 1.4–1.6% — higher than Florida's ~0.86%. On a $300,000 home, Ohio property tax runs $4,200–$4,800/year versus Florida's $2,580 before the Homestead Exemption (or $2,150 after the $50,000 exemption on a $300K home). Ohio seniors 65+ may qualify for the Homestead Exemption, which exempts the first $26,200 of a home's assessed value. On balance, Florida's property tax rate is lower, but Florida's insurance costs offset this difference substantially.

No. Ohio repealed its state estate tax in 2013. There is no Ohio inheritance tax either. Both Ohio and Florida follow only the federal estate tax threshold ($13.61 million per person in 2024). This makes both states equal for estate planning purposes — significantly better than states like Massachusetts (estate tax from $1M) or Pennsylvania (inheritance tax on most heirs).