Austin, Albert Lea make list of tax-friendly MN cities

ah.01.18.aAustin and Albert Lea were included in a Top 10 list of the most tax-friendly places for retirees in Minnesota in a recent study.

Austin finished fifth in the study released by SmartAsset, a New York-based financial technology company.

The company said the study takes into account the effect local taxes would have on a retiree with a $50,000 income.

Albert Lea finished in 10th place. Under the scenario, $15,000 of the income would be from Social Security benefits, $10,000 from a private pension, $15,000 from retirement savings and $10,000 in wages.

The company said to calculate the expected income tax, the person would pay in each location it applied deductions and exemptions. It then calculated how much the person would pay in income tax at the federal, state, county and local levels.

The company said for each location it determined whether Social Security income was taxable. Using Census data, it identified the median property taxes paid by homeowners in each place and then ranked and indexed the cities by income tax paid and property tax paid.

An overall index was then created to capture the taxes that most affect retirees. Income tax was given the most weight, followed by Social Security income taxability, then property tax paid.

Austin was named fifth in the state in the study.

The study included 86 communities in Minnesota and more than 4,600 nationwide. According to SmartAsset, all cities for which the company had data were included.

Six of the Top 10 nationally-ranked cities on the list were in Texas. Each of the Top 10 cities nationwide had no Social Security taxes.

Albert Lea was listed as No.3 in a listing of Top 10 affordable small towns where people would actually want to live in a Realtor.com survey released last week.

 

SportsPlus

Mower County

Soil-health incentive deadlines coming up

News

Bird flu worries prompt changes to popular ‘Miracle of Birth Center’ at Minnesota State Fair

Agriculture

Youth showcase a year of 4-H learning at Mower County Fair

Mower County

Lawhead joines Smith office as press aid

Mower County

In your Community: Duplicate Bridge

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County Senior Center

Education

Education: Accolades

Columnists

Tim Penny: Open grants support welcoming communities

News

US economic growth increased last quarter to a healthy 2.8% annual rate

News

World War II sergeant whose plane was shot down over Germany honored with reburial

News

Gizmo the dog went missing in Las Vegas in 2015. He’s been found alive after 9 years

Blooming Prairie

Blooming Prairie man pleads guilty to federal charge of child pornography

Mower County

Westbound I-90 overnight detour at Hwy 105 scheduled July 29 in Austin

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Darin Douglas Finley, convicted in the death of Melissa Rack, in jail on probation violation

News

Arson attacks paralyze French high-speed rail network hours before start of Olympics

Business

Hormel named to Forbes List of America’s Best Employers for Women 2024

Agriculture

Strip-till farming focus of upcoming event

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Man gets 13 years in prison for criminal sexual conduct with a child

News

Biden delivers solemn call to defend democracy as he lays out his reasons for quitting race

News

In fiery speech to Congress, Netanyahu vows ‘total victory’ in Gaza and denounces U.S. protesters

Education

APS announces new cell phone, device rules for upcoming school year

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Minnesota appeals court upholds – in part – original Heggs conviction

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Austin teen injured in Tuesday night crash

Mower County

Gertrude Ellis travels the subject of next Lunchbox History event