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Are Your Social Security Benefits Taxable?

Some people must pay taxes on part of their Social Security benefits.  Others find that their benefits aren’t taxable.  If you get Social Security, the IRS can help you determine if some of your benefits are taxable.

Here are seven tips about how Social Security affects your taxes:

1.  If you received these benefits in 2013, you should have received a Form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, showing the amount.

2.  If Social Security was your only source of income in 2013, your benefits may not be taxable.  You also may not need to file a federal income tax return.

3.  If you get income from other sources, then you may have to pay taxes on some of your benefits.

4.  Your income and filing status affect whether you must pay taxes on your Social Security.

5.  The best, and free, way to find out if your benefits are taxable is to use IRS Free File to prepare and e-file your tax return.  If you made $58,000 or less, you can use Free File tax software.  The software will figure the taxable benefits for you.  If your income was more than $58,000 and you feel comfortable doing your own taxes, use Free File Fillable Forms.  Free File is available only at IRS.gov/freefile.

6.  If you file a paper return, visit IRS.gov and use the Interactive Tax Assistant tool to see if any of your benefits are taxable.

7.  A quick way to find out if any of your benefits may be taxable is to add one-half of your Social Security benefits to all your other income, including any tax-exempt interest.  Next, compare this total to the base amounts below.  If your total is more than the base amount for your filing status, then some of your benefits may be taxable.  The three base amounts are:

  • $25,000 - for single, head of household, qualifying widow or widower with a dependent child or married individuals filing separately who did not live with their spouse at any time during the year


  • $32,000 - for married couples filing jointly


  • $0 - for married persons filing separately who lived together at any time during the year
  • Home
  • About
    • Book An Appointment
  • Accounting
    • Dashboard
    • Xero+Accountency
    • Xero Intro
    • AutoMagical Accounting
    • QuickBooks >
      • QuickBooks Updates
    • Store
  • Payroll
  • Taxes
    • Dashboard
    • Individuals
    • Businesses
    • Tax Stuff >
      • Individuals >
        • Income >
          • Debt Forgiveness
          • Foreign Income
          • Gambling Income
          • Unemployment
          • Other Income
        • Deductions & Credits >
          • Adoption
          • Charitable Contributions
          • Earned Income Tax Credit
          • Educational Expenses
          • Energy Tax Credits
          • Employee Business Expenses
          • Other Deductions and Credits
        • Affordable Care Act - Individuals
        • Children and Dependents
        • Death
        • Disabled Taxpayers
        • Educators
        • Health Care
        • Identify Theft
        • Marriage and Divorce
        • Military
        • Real Estate
        • Retirement Savings
        • Seniors
        • State Taxes
        • Record Keeping
        • Who Must File
        • Other Topics
      • Businesses >
        • Affordable Care Act - Businesses
        • Year-end Reporting Obligations >
          • 1099's
          • Health Insurance Premiums
          • Depreciation
          • Reimbursed Employee Business Expenses
          • Company Automobiles
        • Employment Tax Credits
        • Independent Contractors
        • Tax Credits and Deductions for Businesses
        • Other Business Topics
        • Required Business Posters
      • Amended Returns
      • IRS Notices and Problems
      • Tax Plan >
        • All About the Earned Income Tax Credit
        • 5 IRS Audit Red Flags
        • Retirement Plans for Sole Proprietors
        • Are You Claiming All of Your Tax-Deductable Business Expenses for 2015?
        • All About Past Due Tax Returns
        • Do You Need to File Form 1099s?
        • How to File an Appeal with the IRS
        • Why You Might Get a Letter from the IRS, and What to Do
        • How to File an Amended Tax Return
        • Should You Claim the Home Office Deduction?
        • How to Avoid -- And Deal with -- Identify Theft
        • Q & A: IRS Audits
        • Are You Using the Right Business Structure?
        • Starting Planning for 2015 Income Taxes Now: 5 Tips
        • What You Need to Know About Estimated Taxes
        • Contractor or Employee? How the Income Tax Obligations Differ
        • The New Form 1095-A: Reporting Health Insurance Coverage
        • Are Your Social Security Payments Taxable?
        • Do You Qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit?
        • Are You Eligible for Health Insurance Tax Credits
        • Employee Retirement Plans - Tax Advantages and Other Benefits
        • 5 Business Tax Credits You May Be Missing
        • New Business in 2012
        • Is it a Bad Debt or a Simple Revenue Loss? Telling the Difference
        • Business Taxes Add Complexity: How Will This Affect You?
      • Tax Scams