I'm looking at my estimated balance due on my taxes for next year. Why would I have to pay so much just on retirement income? $4387 only for SS and military pension

[Critter-3]

 Depending on the pension & SS amounts paid out it is possible you have a tax bill  so  did you take into consideration any withholding on the pension payments?   Will you have enough withheld?  If not you can get that fixed. 

[mzfletch]

Hi Critter,

Thanks for your reply. I already claim 0 dependents on my Pension, so unless I pay quarterly's or something,  not much else I can do.  I just started taking out SS.  I don't think that's taxed except for the Medicare that is taken out.  I just found it frustrating that I made about the same amount when working and always got a refund.  Now, I'm to owe so much.  Plus, I live in Spain.  I haven't lived in USA for 6 years, so now I get doubled taxed on SS.  UGH!

[Critter-3]

When you worked you had withholding from the job but now you have 2 sources of income and not enough being withheld ... so you can have some withholding from the SS benefits (there are 4 options for that on the W-4V) or increase the pension withholding by adding an amount to line 4C of the W-4 P ...

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4p.pdf

https://www.ssa.gov/manage-benefits/request-withhold-taxes

SS benefits are up to 85% taxable depending on your other income and filing status.  

Social security only becomes taxable when added to sufficient other income. If you are otherwise required to file a tax return, you do need to enter it in Turbotax (TT). TT will determine the taxable portion.
Social security (including SSDI) becomes taxable when your income, including 1/2 your social security, reaches:
Married Filing Jointly(MFJ): $32,000
Single or head of household: $25,000
Married Filing Separately and lived with your spouse at any time during the tax year: $0