income

Social Security is not always taxable.  It depends on how much other income you have.  If you are Married Filing Jointly and have less than $32,000 of combined income, then your social security would not be at all taxable.  You will see it on line 6a of your form 1040 which means it is not included in your taxable income. 

If you fall into the following, 85% of your social security is taxable income

• Single with income above $34,000
• Married Filing Jointly with income above $44,000
• Married Filing Separate regardless of income

If you fall into the following, 50% of your social security is taxable income

• Single with combined income between $25,000-$34,000
• Married Filing Jointly with combined income between $32,000 and $44,000

Your combined income is calculated by adding your

• AGI plus
• Nontaxable Interest plus
• 1/2 of your social security Benefits

Social Security Benefits Taxes

Did you enter a SSA-1099 on your tax return?  Do you have other taxable income to enter on the tax return?

To enter Social Security benefits reported on form SSA-1099

Click on Federal Taxes (Personal using Home and Business)
Click on Wages and Income (Personal Income using Home and Business)
Click on I'll choose what I work on (if shown)
Scroll down to Retirement Plans and Social Security
On Social Security (SSA-1099, RRB-1099), click the start or update button

Or enter ssa-1099 in the Search box located in the upper right of the program screen. Click on Jump to ssa-1099

Up to 85% of Social Security Retirement/Disability/Survivors benefits becomes taxable when all your other income plus 1/2 your social security reaches:

• Married Filing Jointly - $32,000
• Single or Head of Household - $25,000
• Married Filing Separately - 0