Income and Investments Are Social Security Benefits Taxable? Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by Elle Martinez Published Aug 14, 2017 - [Updated Nov 17, 2020] 1 min read When you’re planning your retirement, you have look at all of your income streams during retirement and the living expenses you’ll be expecting. You should also be checking on the taxes you’re expected to pay, specifically taxes on your Social Security income. Not everyone has to pay taxes on their Social Security benefits. To see if your Social Security will be taxed, you have to look at your combined income and your marital status. “Combined income” in relation to social security income is Adjusted Gross Income plus nontaxable interest plus 1/2 of social security benefits. If you’re single and your total combined income for the year is between $25,000 and $34,000, then up to 50% of your benefits can be taxed. If you’re single and your total combined income for the year is greater than $34,000, then up to 85% of your benefits can be taxed. If you’re married filing jointly and your total combined income for the year is between $32,000 and $44,000, then up to 50% of your benefits can be taxed. If you’re married filing jointly and your total combined income for the year is greater than $44,000, then up to 85% of your benefits can be taxed. SSA-1099: You’ll Need It If you’re already receiving Social Security benefits, you can use your SSA-1099 form (Social Security Benefit Statement) to determine how much of your benefits are taxable. You should receive it in January and should have the information required for the previous year. When you file taxes, you’ll need this form, so keep it in a safe place! But don’t worry about figuring how much of your social security income is taxable. TurboTax asks you simple questions and makes the behind the scenes calculations to figure out if your social security income is taxable based on your income entries. Previous Post 7 Ways to Save When Your Family Goes to the… Next Post What is a Qualified Joint Venture? Written by Elle Martinez Elle helps families at Couple Money achieve financial freedom by sharing tips for reducing debt, increase income, and building net worth. Learn how to live on one income and have fun with the second. More from Elle Martinez Visit the website of Elle Martinez. Follow Elle Martinez on Facebook. Follow Elle Martinez on Twitter. 72 responses to “Are Social Security Benefits Taxable?” « Older Comments Newer Comments » I was told I could take my ss in april instead of July and the only difference would be 15$ a month. Nothing would be different if I made 40,000 a year or 100,000 Reply I will start drawing social security in August. I am 62, my husband is still working. He makes around $49,000 a year. If i understand correctly that means I will have to pay taxes on 85% of what I draw if we file jointly. Should we file separately now, or would that be worse on us? No other income. Reply Not really, in very general terms, take 1/2 of your social security add it to your husbands 49,000. Anything above 32,000 up to 44,000 you pay taxes on 50% on that amount,(6000) Any amount over 44,000 you pay taxes on 85% up to certain amount. This is for filing jointly. We took 1/2 of my SS, (10,400) added it to my part time job (5,500) then added my IRA distributions (31,000) I had to take out extra to buy a car. But I made sure the IRA distributions took off 12% for taxes and I still got 1,800 refunded back. Good Luck. Reply Is SSDI considered Gross income. Trying to claim my daughter as a dependent and she only receives ssdi. she passes all the other tests as my dependent Reply Next year I will be receiving retirement of approximately $10,000 and SSI 0f $22,000. My wife is not eligible for SSI, however she will be receiving approximately $48,000 per year in retirement benefits. Any way I can save paying taxes on my SSI if I file separately? What if we legally divorce and just co-habitate? Reply in 2012 I was taxed on $2,000 of SS income. For 2013 I’m taxed on 22,000 of income. I’m 72 years old so my benefit is nominally the same. What happened? Does Obamacare require taxing more of my SS? Reply That $22,000 is Social Security income. Reply I have just started my SSD award and the SSA gave me $1668.00 per month my spouse started her job and is receiving $29,000 annually, I also have 3 children that I will claim for SSD. Should I file joint retune or single? Reply Is there a percentage number for reducing the income derived from pensions and annuities Reply i am 64 i have a 13 yr. old daughter. She and i are going to start drawing my ss.will she have to file taxes on hers next tax season.Or will her age keep her from having to file. Reply Hello I have lots of questions! I’m a mother of 2 boys (9months & 4yrs old) I only work for a couple months and grossed almost $1200 for the year because I had my youngest. My 4yr olds father passed away in June 2013 and he now gets $620?? A month for ssi.. I dnt think it gets taxed when it’s deposited into an acc to save… I think maybe $150 goes out for bills a month the rest saved. So for taxes what do I have to do? Does his ssi get taxed? Do I need the 1099 form? How do I get that if so? All this is very new to me and I have no idea what to do. Reply I have two daughters whose mother passed away may 2013. We were divorced, but my daughters receive social security every month. They received around $3900.00 each last year. 80 0/0 goes to savings. The rest to bills. Will I have to pay taxes on it? Just dont want a surprise when I go to do my taxes. Their ages are 15 & 12. I have an income of $41,000.00. And I got the tax form from s.s. Thanks. 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I was told I could take my ss in april instead of July and the only difference would be 15$ a month. Nothing would be different if I made 40,000 a year or 100,000 Reply
I will start drawing social security in August. I am 62, my husband is still working. He makes around $49,000 a year. If i understand correctly that means I will have to pay taxes on 85% of what I draw if we file jointly. Should we file separately now, or would that be worse on us? No other income. Reply
Not really, in very general terms, take 1/2 of your social security add it to your husbands 49,000. Anything above 32,000 up to 44,000 you pay taxes on 50% on that amount,(6000) Any amount over 44,000 you pay taxes on 85% up to certain amount. This is for filing jointly. We took 1/2 of my SS, (10,400) added it to my part time job (5,500) then added my IRA distributions (31,000) I had to take out extra to buy a car. But I made sure the IRA distributions took off 12% for taxes and I still got 1,800 refunded back. Good Luck. Reply
Is SSDI considered Gross income. Trying to claim my daughter as a dependent and she only receives ssdi. she passes all the other tests as my dependent Reply
Next year I will be receiving retirement of approximately $10,000 and SSI 0f $22,000. My wife is not eligible for SSI, however she will be receiving approximately $48,000 per year in retirement benefits. Any way I can save paying taxes on my SSI if I file separately? What if we legally divorce and just co-habitate? Reply
in 2012 I was taxed on $2,000 of SS income. For 2013 I’m taxed on 22,000 of income. I’m 72 years old so my benefit is nominally the same. What happened? Does Obamacare require taxing more of my SS? Reply
I have just started my SSD award and the SSA gave me $1668.00 per month my spouse started her job and is receiving $29,000 annually, I also have 3 children that I will claim for SSD. Should I file joint retune or single? Reply
i am 64 i have a 13 yr. old daughter. She and i are going to start drawing my ss.will she have to file taxes on hers next tax season.Or will her age keep her from having to file. Reply
Hello I have lots of questions! I’m a mother of 2 boys (9months & 4yrs old) I only work for a couple months and grossed almost $1200 for the year because I had my youngest. My 4yr olds father passed away in June 2013 and he now gets $620?? A month for ssi.. I dnt think it gets taxed when it’s deposited into an acc to save… I think maybe $150 goes out for bills a month the rest saved. So for taxes what do I have to do? Does his ssi get taxed? Do I need the 1099 form? How do I get that if so? All this is very new to me and I have no idea what to do. Reply
I have two daughters whose mother passed away may 2013. We were divorced, but my daughters receive social security every month. They received around $3900.00 each last year. 80 0/0 goes to savings. The rest to bills. Will I have to pay taxes on it? Just dont want a surprise when I go to do my taxes. Their ages are 15 & 12. I have an income of $41,000.00. And I got the tax form from s.s. Thanks. Reply