Question

Social Security

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
April 15, 2020
1 reply
0 views

Taxable Social Security. This year $777, 2018 $0. Why? Did I make a mistake somewhere?

Other

No, you probably didn't make a mistake. You total income must have been slightly higher in 2019, and a portion of your Social Security got taxed. In 2018, you didn't "exceed the base amount" for having your Social Security taxed.

Social security only becomes taxable when your income exceeds a certain level.

When one-half of your social security income plus your other income exceeds the "base amount" for your filing status, the social security income starts being taxed. The maximum amount of your social security that can be taxed is 85%. The base amounts are:

$25,000 if you are single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er);
$25,000 if you are married filing separately and lived apart from your spouse for all of 2019;
$32,000 if you are married filing jointly; or
$0 if you are married filing separately and lived with your spouse at any time during 2019.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"