Pension FAQs

• Tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024:
  Eligible taxpayers can subtract public retirement benefits up to the maximum social security benefit amount, as long as those benefits are included in federal adjusted gross income.
  Note: If you also claim the social security or social security disability deduction, your public pension exemption will be reduced by that amount.
• Tax years 2023 and prior:
  Eligible taxpayers can subtract public retirement benefits up to the maximum social security benefit amount.
  To qualify for the full deduction, your Missouri adjusted gross income must be within these limits:
• $85,000 – Single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er)
• $100,000 – Married filing combined
• $85,000 – Married filing separately

If your income exceeds the limit, you may qualify for a partial exemption, which is reduced by the amount your income exceeds the limit.

See the public pension exemption eligibility chart or complete the calculation on Form MO-A to determine eligibility.

The maximum exemption for private pension income is $6,000.
To qualify for the full exemption, your Missouri adjusted gross income must be within these limits:

• $25,000 – Single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er)
• $32,000 – Married filing combined
• $16,000 – Married filing separately

If your income exceeds the limit, you may qualify for a partial exemption, which is reduced by the amount your income exceeds the limitation.

See the private pension exemption eligibility chart or complete the calculation on Form MO-A to determine eligibility.

• Tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024:
  Missouri does not tax 100% of social security benefits for individuals age 62 or older, and 100% of social security disability benefits, as long as these benefits are included in federal adjusted gross income under IRC §86.
• Tax years 2023 and prior:
  Missouri does not tax 100% of social security benefits for individuals age 62 or older, and 100% of social security disability benefits. However, to qualify for the full deduction, your Missouri adjusted gross income must be within these limits:
• $85,000 – Single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er)
• $100,000 – Married filing combined
• $85,000 – Married filing separately

If your income exceeds the limit, you may qualify for a partial exemption, which is reduced by the amount your income exceeds the limitation.

See the  social security/social security disability deduction eligibility chart  or complete the calculation on Form MO-A to determine eligibility.

• Tax years 2021 and forward:
  The taxable military pension is subtracted from federal adjusted gross income on Form MO-A, Part 1, Line 10.
• Tax years prior to 2021:
  The taxable military pension is claimed as an exemption on Form MO-A, Part 3, Section D.

The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is a program offered by the U.S. government to provide an annuity to a designated beneficiary (usually the surviving spouse) after the death of a retired servicemember, as a replacement for the military retirement pension.

Although the SBP annuity does not qualify for the military retirement subtraction, it does qualify for the public pension exemption.

The Department of Revenue does not accept physical gold, silver, or privately minted precious metal coins for payment. An exception is for coins officially minted as currency by the U.S. federal government. Pursuant to Missouri statute (Section 408.010.2, RSMo), if you attempt to pay with an electronic representation of gold or silver through a custody agent or other entity, the attempted payment must be converted to U.S. dollars by the custody agent or other entity that received the payment request before being sent to the Department.