Planning for retirement and trying to figure out where you can afford to live says you might want to stay put.
Federal taxes will be about the same no matter where you live, but state and local tax burdens can vary greatly, especially if you’re retired. has launched an interactive map to point you to which states will take the smallest—and biggest—bites out of your assets in retirement. And it has selected Washington state as one of the most tax-friendly states for retirees. For example, Washington is one of nine states with no broad-based personal income tax. Therefore, retirees don’t have to worry about paying taxes on their pensions, Social Security benefits or other retirement income. The state also offers a property-tax exemption for low-income seniors 61 and older, and it has a tax-deferral program that delays payment of taxes until the qualified homeowner dies, sells the home or moves. The state also offers a property-tax-exemption program for those whose household income is $35,000 or less. And food and prescription drugs are exempt from the state sales tax. This Week’s Highlights TUESDAY
Taste of the Market: 6 to 8 p.m., Olympia Farmers Market, 700 Capitol Way N., Olympia. This year’s event will offer tastes from 32 restaurants, two microbreweries and five wineries – as well as four raffles and a silent auction. Tickets are $60 per person and are available at the Olympia Farmers Market office or by calling 360-480-5858.