Taxing Social Security Benefits
One of the more complex forms of income that can be subject to taxation is social security benefits. It can be complex in that in order for the benefits to be taxable it is dependent on the amount of taxpayer’s other income that is received. In addition, the amount of taxable social security benefits that are taxable is also dependent upon the taxpayer’s filing status. Plus there are different income thresholds that have to be exceeded in order for the benefits to be taxable. When you add all of this together what you have is a complicated formula to tax social security benefits.
How the benefits are taxed – Single Filer
When calculating taxable social security benefits you have to start with filing status. You then to take into account all of the taxpayer’s other income that is not social security benefits. In order to calculate taxable social security benefits for a single filer you will add all income including tax exempt interest income to one-half of taxpayer’s social security benefits (which is considered modified adjusted gross income). In order for any of the benefits to be taxable that total has to exceed a $25,000 threshold. Once the amount does exceed that threshold then to calculate the taxable benefits you will report the lesser of one-half of social security benefits or the modified adjusted gross income that exceeds the $25,000 threshold. For taxpayer’s whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds the $34,000 threshold then there is a different formula. With this increased threshold the amount of taxable social security benefits can be taxed up to 85%. Those who exceed the higher threshold amount must include in income the lesser of: (1) 85 percent of social security benefits or (2) 85 percent of the excess of modified adjusted gross income over the threshold amount, plus the smaller of: (a) the amount that would otherwise be includible if the second threshold did not apply or (b) $4,500.
How the benefits are taxed – Married Filing Joint
The same methodology applies in determining taxable social security benefits for the filing status of married filing joint. However, there is a difference in that the thresholds are increased. For the first threshold under married filing joint the threshold is increased to $32,000. For the second threshold the threshold is increased to $44,000. Again for the first threshold you will add all income including tax exempt interest income to one-half of taxpayer’s social security benefits. In order for any of the benefits to be taxable that total has to exceed a $32,000 threshold. Once the amount does exceed that threshold then to calculate the taxable benefits you will report the lesser of one-half of social security benefits or the modified adjusted gross income that exceeds the $32,000 threshold. Again if the taxpayer’s whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds the $44,000 threshold then there is a different formula. With this increased threshold the amount of taxable social security benefits can be taxed up to 85%. Those who exceed the higher threshold amount must include in income the lesser of: (1) 85 percent of social security benefits or (2) 85 percent of the excess of modified adjusted gross income over the threshold amount, plus the smaller of: (a) the amount that would otherwise be includible if the second threshold did not apply or (b) $6,000.