Tax Tip 2020-76: Don’t forget, Social Security benefits may be taxable

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent this bulletin at 06/25/2020 11:20 AM EDT

IRS Tax Tips

June 25, 2020

Issue Number: Tax Tip 2020-76

Don’t forget, Social Security benefits may be taxable

Taxpayers receiving Social Security benefits may have to pay federal income tax on a portion of those benefits.

Social Security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor and disability benefits. They don't include supplemental security income payments, which aren't taxable.

The portion of benefits that are taxable depends on the taxpayer’s income and filing status.

To find out if their benefits are taxable, taxpayers should:

Take one half of the Social Security money they collected during the year and add it to their other income. Other income includes pensions, wages, interest, dividends and capital gains.
- If they are single and that total comes to more than $25,000, then part of their Social Security benefits may be taxable.
- If they are married filing jointly, they should take half of their Social Security, plus half of their spouse's Social Security, and add that to all their combined income. If that total is more than $32,000, then part of their Social Security may be taxable.

Fifty percent of a taxpayer’s benefits may be taxable if they are:

Filing single, single, head of household or qualifying widow or widower with $25,000 to $34,000 income.
Married filing separately and lived apart from their spouse for all of 2019 with $25,000 to $34,000 income.
Married filing jointly with $32,000 to $44,000 income.

Up to 85% of a taxpayer’s benefits may be taxable if they are:

Filing single, head of household or qualifying widow or widower with more than $34,000 income.
Married filing jointly with more than $44,000 income.
Married filing separately and lived apart from their spouse for all of 2019 with more than $34,000 income.
Married filing separately and lived with their spouse at any time during 2019.

The Interactive Tax Assistant on IRS.gov can help taxpayers answer the question Are My Social Security or Railroad Retirement Tier I Benefits Taxable?

The tax filing deadline has been postponed to Wednesday, July 15, 2020. The IRS is processing tax returns, issuing refunds and accepting payments. Taxpayers who mailed a tax return will experience a longer wait. There is no need to mail a second tax return or call the IRS.

More information:
Social Security Income
Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits

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Tax Tip 2020-76: Don’t forget, Social Security benefits may be taxable

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Issue Number: Tax Tip 2020-76