Retirement tax questions

It doesn't.  It calculates the taxable amount of Social Security based on your other income.  

 

If the IRS says more of your SS is taxable it might be because they changed and increased some other income on your return.  Read the letter again.  A common change is they increased the taxable amount of any 1099R you got for Pensions, and 401k or IRA withdrawals or conversions.