Tennessee tax tidbit: no wage tax

March 29, 2010

Tennessee flag You might have seen Tennessee in the list of states that don't collect an income tax.

That's correct … to a point.

The Volunteer State doesn't tax wage income, but it certainly wants its residents to hand over 6 percent of the interest they earn from bonds and notes and from dividends from stock.

This tax has been around since 1929. It originally was called the Hall income tax for the
senator who sponsored the legislation. 

The state does, however, offer a break for its senior citizens.

If you're older than 65 with total income less than $16,200 as a single taxpayer or are a married couple filing jointly with less than $27,000 income, then you're exempt from the tax.

The rest of you Tennessee taxpayers with taxable unearned income, get your returns into the state by April 15.

Tax trip around the United
States:
This post is part of our series highlighting tax
information from the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
You can read other state tax blurbs at our Complete menu of tasty state tax tidbits.

The State Tax Departments page provides links to
official state
and District of Columbia revenue Web sites so that you can find out more
about
your home's tax laws and filing requirements.

As
we work
through the 2010 tax season, a different state will be featured each day
as
noted in Don't forget your state taxes! Check back to see
what tax
tidbit we share about your home.

Related posts:

Want to tell your friends about this
blog post? Click the Tweet
This
or Digg This
buttons below or use the
Share
This
icon to spread the word via e-mail,
Facebook and other popular applications. Thanks!

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

Latest Posts
Earnings statement detailing total earnings, deductions, and year-to-date amounts. Key figures include current earnings of $4,389.30.
IRS revises online withholding tool to account for new tax laws

March 12, 2026

Getting your paycheck tax withholding amount just right pays off at tax-filing time and throughout…

Read More
Hello Tax Season 2026

Happy New Tax Year! Are you ready to file your 2025 tax return? I know, too early to ask. But Tax Day 2026 will be here before we realize it. The Internal Revenue Service deadline to file and pay any tax we owe is the regular April 15 date this year. It’s also Tax Day for most of the states that collect income taxes from their residents, which is most of the states! If that seems too far away right now, don’t worry. As is the case every tax season, the ol’ blog’s tips and other tax reminders should help all of us meet our state and federal responsibilities. Procrastinators also will want to keep an eye on the countdown clock just below. It tracks how much time we have until April’s Tax Day, just in case we put off our annual tax task until the absolutely final hours and decide we need to instead get an extension request into the IRS by that date. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Comments
  • CG, thanks for the elaboration on the interest/dividends tax. Glad to see that some investment income is tax free.
    Kay

  • Your article about Tennessee income tax is correct…to a point. The first $1250 of interest from bonds, notes, or dividends is exempt from the income tax. I live in TN and haven’t yet hit that number, so have never had to file income taxes with the state.

  • Here in Ohio, unfortunately, we do have such a tax. And with the looming healthcare changes, it is bound to increase.
    There has to be a better way.

Leave your comment