Pennsylvania vs Florida Taxes: 2026 Take-Home Comparison
Comparing pennsylvania vs florida taxes for 2026: state income tax, Philly wage tax, retiree rules, property tax breaks, and inheritance tax — with a by-income take-home table.
The $100K Verdict: Florida Taxes vs Pennsylvania Taxes
For a $100K single filer in 2026, federal tax is $13,170 and FICA is $7,650 regardless of state. Pennsylvania then takes 3.07% x $100K = $3,070, leaving take-home pay of $76,110. Florida takes $0 in state income tax, leaving take-home pay of $79,180. The difference is about $3,070 per year (about $255.83 per month) kept in Florida.
So is it cheaper to live in Florida or Pennsylvania? On income tax alone, Florida wins at every income level — but Florida homeowners insurance, HOA fees, and housing costs can narrow the gap, so compare full budgets, not just income tax, before moving. PA taxes compared to other states look moderate at 3.07% flat, yet the flat rate means even middle earners feel it on every dollar.
By-Income Table: Extra Kept in Florida (Single Filer, 2026)
Formula: PA tax = 3.07% x gross (flat, no standard-deduction offset). FL state tax = $0. Federal + FICA are identical in both states, so the FL advantage equals the PA tax exactly.
| Gross | PA state tax | FL state tax | Extra kept in FL / yr | Extra kept in FL / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,535.00 | $0 | $1,535.00 | $127.92 |
| $75,000 | $2,302.50 | $0 | $2,302.50 | $191.88 |
| $100,000 | $3,070.00 | $0 | $3,070.00 | $255.83 |
| $150,000 | $4,605.00 | $0 | $4,605.00 | $383.75 |
| $250,000 | $7,675.00 | $0 | $7,675.00 | $639.58 |
$100K take-home check: PA $76,110 vs FL $79,180 → diff $3,070 (about $3,070/yr). Run your own salary through our Pennsylvania paycheck calculator and Florida paycheck calculator to confirm your exact numbers.
Retiree Exodus: PA Exempts Retirement Income, FL Taxes Zero at Every Age
Pennsylvania is one of only four income-tax states that fully exempt qualified retirement income — consistent with our retirees-pack finding ("3.07% flat tax that fully exempts qualified retirement income"): at retirement age, qualified pension, 401(k), and IRA income plus Social Security face $0 state tax. Florida also taxes $0 on all retirement income at every age with no exemption paperwork. Frame it honestly: middle-income retirees lose little by staying in PA; large-distribution retirees and anyone valuing no-questions-asked zero tax still gains by moving to Florida.
Bottom line for the "is pennsylvania tax friendly for retirees" question: yes — is pennsylvania a tax friendly state for retirees holds up well, since what retirement income is taxable in PA at retirement age is effectively nothing for qualified plans. Florida matches that with zero paperwork, which is why the retiree corridor stays busy in both directions.
Philly Wage Tax vs FL Zero: the Corridor That Doubles the Saving
Philadelphia residents pay a city wage/earnings tax of 3.735% on top of the 3.07% state tax, and nonresidents working in the city pay 3.425% (City of Philadelphia, effective July 1, 2026) — so a $100K Philly resident earner loses roughly $6,805 to state + city before federal, versus $0 in Miami. Miami levies no city or state wage tax at all. The Philly-to-Miami mover story is therefore much bigger than the statewide $3,070 average: lead the page's mover section with it.
This is the corridor behind searches like moving from philly to florida and cost of living philly vs miami: a Philly resident on $100K pays a combined 6.805% to state + city, more than double the statewide Pennsylvania rate, while the Miami paycheck loses nothing to state or city. Anyone moving from pennsylvania to florida from Philadelphia should model the wage-tax escape, not just the state-tax saving.
Local Layers: PA LST/PSD Codes vs FL Homestead + Save Our Homes
Pennsylvania stacks local taxes most movers underestimate: a $52-per-year Local Services Tax (LST) with low-income exemption procedures, plus school-district/municipal earned income tax tracked through PSD codes on every W-2. Florida has no local income tax at all and instead subsidizes owners: homestead exemption up to $50,000 off assessed value for primary residences plus Save Our Homes (SOH), capping annual assessed-value growth at 3%. Renters feel the PA local bite with no offset; buyers must net FL's homestead/SOH against higher insurance and HOA costs.
What does pennsylvania not tax is a common question — the answer surprises newcomers: retirement income at retirement age, yes, but not wages, which face state tax plus LST plus PSD-code earned income tax. Florida counters with no local income tax of any kind, though is florida more expensive than pennsylvania on property insurance is the right follow-up question before buying.
Inheritance: PA 4.5–15% vs FL None
Pennsylvania inheritance tax rates (PA Department of Revenue, current 2026): 0% to a surviving spouse (and parent from a child 21 or younger), 4.5% to direct descendants/lineal heirs, 12% to siblings, 15% to other heirs. Florida has no estate or inheritance tax at all. Estate planners moving parents to Florida, or adult children inheriting PA-sited property while Florida-resident, must model this: a $500K bequest to children costs about $22,500 in PA tax versus $0 in Florida.
How inheritance tax is calculated in pennsylvania depends entirely on the heir class, and who pays pennsylvania inheritance tax is the beneficiary — so pennsylvania inheritance tax rates deserve a line item in every PA-to-FL estate plan alongside the income-tax comparison.
Moving From Pennsylvania to Florida: Tax Checklist
Taxes in pennsylvania vs florida favor Florida on paper, but keep the full move honest with this checklist:
- Run both paychecks. Confirm your exact saving with our Pennsylvania paycheck calculator and Florida paycheck calculator before giving notice.
- Price the whole budget. Get county-level Florida homeowners insurance and HOA quotes — they can erase part of the $3,070 yearly edge.
- Close out PA local taxes. File final LST and PSD-code earned income tax returns with your school district and municipality so no local bill follows you.
- Establish Florida domicile. File for homestead exemption (up to $50,000) promptly to start the Save Our Homes 3% cap clock.
- Update your estate plan. Review wills, trusts, and beneficiary deeds against PA inheritance tax (4.5% descendants, 12% siblings, 15% others) versus $0 in Florida.
- Check your refund timing. If you move mid-year, use our tax refund calculator to plan part-year PA filing and withholding.
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home
State averages are a starting point — your paycheck depends on your salary, filing status, and deductions. Calculate your exact take-home with our Pennsylvania paycheck calculator and Florida paycheck calculator, compare salary scenarios in our paycheck calculator, or browse every matchup in the state tax comparison hub.
This Pennsylvania vs Florida comparison has been verified against the PA Department of Revenue (3.07% flat income tax; 4.5%/12%/15% inheritance tax classes), the Florida Department of Revenue (no state income, estate, or inheritance tax), and the City of Philadelphia (3.735% resident / 3.425% nonresident wage tax, effective July 1, 2026). Federal figures use official IRS 2026 brackets and FICA rates. All computations shown were recomputed in PowerShell before publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes for most earners: Florida levies no state income tax, so a $100K single filer keeps $79,180 versus $76,110 in Pennsylvania — a $3,070 yearly edge. But Florida homeowners insurance, HOA fees, and housing costs can narrow the gap, so compare full budgets, not just income tax, before moving.
Pennsylvania is unusually generous: at retirement age it fully exempts qualified pension, 401(k), and IRA income plus Social Security, consistent with our retirees-pack finding that PA is one of four income-tax states with $0 retirement-income tax. Florida also taxes $0 on all retirement income at every age, so both states suit retirees.
Philadelphia residents pay a city wage tax of 3.735% on top of Pennsylvania state tax of 3.07% (nonresidents working in the city pay 3.425%), so a $100K Philly earner loses far more than $3,070 a year. Miami levies no city or state wage tax at all, making the Philly-to-Miami paycheck jump much larger than the statewide average.
Pennsylvania adds local layers: most workers pay a $52 yearly Local Services Tax plus school-district earned income tax tracked by PSD codes, on top of the 3.07% state rate. Florida has no local income tax and instead offers homestead exemption up to $50,000 plus Save Our Homes, capping assessed-value growth at 3% yearly.
Pennsylvania taxes inheritances at 4.5% for direct descendants, 12% for siblings, and 15% for other heirs (spouses pay 0%), per the PA Department of Revenue. Florida has no estate or inheritance tax at all. Families passing businesses, homes, or portfolios to children keep significantly more in Florida than in Pennsylvania.
Taxes alone rarely decide it: the move saves $1,535 a year at $50K and $3,070 at $100K single, plus more for Philly earners escaping wage tax. Weigh that against moving costs, Florida insurance and HOA bills, and job fit. Move for work, housing, and lifestyle; treat the roughly $256 monthly $100K saving as a bonus.