Are Social Security Benefits Taxable?

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If you’re approaching retirement or already collecting Social Security, you may be surprised to learn that your benefits might be taxable. While Social Security income was once completely tax-free, that changed decades ago — and today, many retirees owe federal taxes on a portion of their benefits. Whether you’ll pay taxes depends on your total income, including things like wages, retirement account withdrawals, and investment earnings. Here’s what you need to know about when and how Social Security benefits are taxed.

When Social Security Benefits Are Taxed

For many retirees, a portion of Social Security income is subject to federal taxes, but it depends on how much you earn from all sources. The IRS uses something called “combined income” to determine whether your benefits are taxable. Combined income includes your adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest, and half of your Social Security benefits.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• If you’re single and your combined income is more than $25,000, you may pay taxes on up to 85% of your benefits.
• If you’re married filing jointly and your combined income exceeds $32,000, you could also owe taxes on up to 85% of your benefits.

However, if Social Security is your only source of income, there’s a good chance you won’t owe any federal taxes at all.

What Counts as Income for Social Security Taxes?

Here is what counts as income for Social Security taxes: 

• Wages 
• Self-employment income
• Interest 
• Dividends
• Pension
• Withdrawal from retirement accounts
• Half of your Social Security benefits 

How to Calculate If Your Social Security Benefits Are Taxable

To find out whether your Social Security benefits are taxable, the IRS uses something called your combined income. This isn’t a number you’ll see on your tax return, but you can calculate it yourself using this formula:

Combined Income Formula

Adjusted Gross Income + Nontaxable Interest + Half of Your Social Security

Here’s what each component means:

• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI): This includes all taxable income sources, such as wages, self-employment earnings, dividends, and retirement account withdrawals.
• Nontaxable Interest: This typically comes from municipal bonds or similar investments that aren’t subject to federal income tax.
• Half of Your Social Security Benefits: Take the total amount you received in Social Security during the year and divide it by two.

How to Know If You’ll Owe Taxes on Social Security

Once you calculate your combined income, compare it to the IRS thresholds:

• Single filers: If your combined income is between $25,000 and $34,000, up to 50% of your benefits may be taxed. Above $34,000, up to 85% may be taxable.
• Married filing jointly: If your combined income is between $32,000 and $44,000, up to 50% may be taxed. Above $44,000, up to 85% may be taxable.

If your only income is from Social Security, your combined income will likely fall below the threshold and your benefits will probably not be taxed.

The IRS also offers an online tool to help you determine your taxability based on your income. 

IRS Taxable Income Thresholds

Do You Pay Taxes on Social Security Alone?

If you’re receiving Social Security as your only income, you likely do not have to pay any taxes. That’s because your combined income, used to determine taxability, would fall below the IRS threshold for taxation.

If you have no other income to report (such as wages, pension distributions, or investment earnings), you likely don’t need to file a tax return at all. However, it’s still wise to double-check by using the IRS worksheet to make the calculation. 

How to Lower or Manage Taxes on Social Security

There are strategic moves you can make to lower or manage your taxes on Social Security benefits: 

1. Wait as long as you can to withdraw from your retirement accounts. 
2. Consider withdrawing from your Roth account.
3. Take withdrawals over a longer period of time to stay below thresholds.
4. Employ tax deductions and credits to lower your taxable income. 

Examples of How Taxes Work on Benefits

To see how Social Security taxation plays out in real life, the chart below offers a few examples based on filing status and income levels. It shows how combined income affects the percentage of benefits that may be taxed and how much of your Social Security could be added to your taxable income as a result. These are simplified estimates meant to illustrate how the IRS rules apply in different situations.

While Social Security benefits were once tax-free, many retirees today find that a portion of their benefits is subject to federal taxes, especially if they have other sources of income. By understanding how combined income works and what triggers taxation, you can better plan for the tax impact in retirement.

If you’re unsure how your income affects your benefits, take advantage of IRS tools or speak with a tax professional. A little planning can go a long way in helping you keep more of your Social Security benefits and avoid surprises at tax time.

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