Here is a list of six different types of retirement income and how each is taxed.  See details on the list in this post from Kiplinger by Sandra Block:

http://www.kiplinger.com/article/taxes/T055-C000-S002-how-6-types-of-retirement-income-are-taxed.html

I think a key here is that there is only one income vehicle that is totally tax free and that is the Roth IRA (although some qualified plans have a Roth component in them) – you forgo an upfront tax deduction to get tax free income if you hold the account until you are 59 1/2 and have it for at least five years.  Just think; you never pay any income tax on this account!  Now that is an awesome deal.

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