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 » My son gets ssi disability and is required to pay his share on household expenses. Does the money he pays for his third considered taxable income on my husband and my tax return. Reply I am going to start social security benefits in November 2014. My husband still has an income. Should we file 2014 taxes separately to avoid being taxes on my social security benefits? or how does that work? Reply I have been playing with TT to determine what income makes my Social Security more taxable,, when I enter a 1099R (annuity or ira distribution) this doesn’t change my Social Security tax amount.. This seems to be contrary to everything I have read. Reply My wife passed away in 2014 and I received one final social security check of hers after she passed (SS said it did not need to be returned). Since it is greater than $600, do I have to file a form 1041 or can I include it in our form 1040 for 2014? Reply I received a ssi check every month but I worked with a apartment complex. I made $3.000 dollars for the whole year do I have to pay back taxes on the $3.000 Reply I received a ssi check every month but I worked for a apartment complex as self employed I made $3.000 for the whole year would I have to pay back taxes on the $3.000 . Reply I used to make 23000 a year, didn’t owe anything t and didn’t get any money back when I filled. I have no expenses. And now I’m gonna make 32500$ a year. Am I going to have to pay taxes now or get money back ? Reply I am 72 yrs old, receiving social security 20,000.00 a year and 8,000.00 distribution from IRA, total 28,000.00 Do I have fill up for incomtax return? Reply My only income is SS, which is $855. per month. Do I need to file taxes? Reply do you have an update for your article that applies to 2014? Reply My retirement age is 66 . If I draw a SS check I understand I will have to pay back 50 precent of what I make over 1,5480. Per year does the SS tax I will still be paying in count for anything? Reply I’m 62, starting early ss at 519 a month in oct. Now starting job for 35,000 a year. Should I stop SS payments and if so do they require it all back at once? What would I pay or bring home after they tax me. Trying to decide if job worth it. What if I find I can’t do job and they let me go, can I start ss back before 65? Also will I owe more when house sells in another state from divorce. I’m married I filed my taxes this year…married…my total income combined… Was 17,000.00…would I be taxed.on my social security… If I decided to collect st 62….. Reply I will be receiving a 22000 pension and 26000 in social security. I am filing single. How much of this is taxable Reply Was told allowed 15,700 before taxed. Think you will pay on 22000 minus 15700 Allowed. 6300 taxable. Think you have to pay 1.00 for ever 2.00 . If that’s true its. 3150.00 but maybe contributions can off set it. No one has posted that yet with ss . I need to know that too as I give 10 percent Reply « Older Comments Newer Comments » Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Latest News How the Social Security Fairness Act Boosts Benefits for Public Workers Latest News President Trump’s Tax Proposals: Overtime Tax, Taxes on Tips, and Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Extension and More Income Tax by State Mississippi State Income Tax in 2025: A Guide Income Tax by State Colorado State Income Tax in 2025: A Guide Income Tax by State North Carolina State Income Tax in 2025: A Guide Income Tax by State California State Income Tax in 2025: A Guide Income Tax by State Kansas State Income Tax in 2025: A Guide Income Tax by State Illinois State Income Tax in 2025: A Guide Income Tax by State Michigan State Income Tax in 2025: A Guide Income Tax by State New Jersey State Income Tax in 2025: A Guide
My son gets ssi disability and is required to pay his share on household expenses. Does the money he pays for his third considered taxable income on my husband and my tax return. Reply
I am going to start social security benefits in November 2014. My husband still has an income. Should we file 2014 taxes separately to avoid being taxes on my social security benefits? or how does that work? Reply
I have been playing with TT to determine what income makes my Social Security more taxable,, when I enter a 1099R (annuity or ira distribution) this doesn’t change my Social Security tax amount.. This seems to be contrary to everything I have read. Reply
My wife passed away in 2014 and I received one final social security check of hers after she passed (SS said it did not need to be returned). Since it is greater than $600, do I have to file a form 1041 or can I include it in our form 1040 for 2014? Reply
I received a ssi check every month but I worked with a apartment complex. I made $3.000 dollars for the whole year do I have to pay back taxes on the $3.000 Reply
I received a ssi check every month but I worked for a apartment complex as self employed I made $3.000 for the whole year would I have to pay back taxes on the $3.000 . Reply
I used to make 23000 a year, didn’t owe anything t and didn’t get any money back when I filled. I have no expenses. And now I’m gonna make 32500$ a year. Am I going to have to pay taxes now or get money back ? Reply
I am 72 yrs old, receiving social security 20,000.00 a year and 8,000.00 distribution from IRA, total 28,000.00 Do I have fill up for incomtax return? Reply
My retirement age is 66 . If I draw a SS check I understand I will have to pay back 50 precent of what I make over 1,5480. Per year does the SS tax I will still be paying in count for anything? Reply
I’m 62, starting early ss at 519 a month in oct. Now starting job for 35,000 a year. Should I stop SS payments and if so do they require it all back at once? What would I pay or bring home after they tax me. Trying to decide if job worth it. What if I find I can’t do job and they let me go, can I start ss back before 65? Also will I owe more when house sells in another state from divorce.
I’m married I filed my taxes this year…married…my total income combined… Was 17,000.00…would I be taxed.on my social security… If I decided to collect st 62….. Reply
I will be receiving a 22000 pension and 26000 in social security. I am filing single. How much of this is taxable Reply
Was told allowed 15,700 before taxed. Think you will pay on 22000 minus 15700 Allowed. 6300 taxable. Think you have to pay 1.00 for ever 2.00 . If that’s true its. 3150.00 but maybe contributions can off set it. No one has posted that yet with ss . I need to know that too as I give 10 percent Reply