I need to know if our social security totals can be taxed & how do i do that?

[psgarcia]

Why does turbo want me to revisit this?

[xmasbaby0]

Be careful of this:

USER ERROR WITH SOCIAL SECURITY ENTRY

We have seen a lot of people who made a user error with the entry of their SSA1099.   The screen right after you enter the SSA1099 asks you if you lived in certain foreign countries in 2025.   If you skipped past that screen or answered incorrectly, your Social Security was not taxed correctly.   Look at your Form 1040 and see if line 6b was left blank due to that mistake.  The IRS is catching those mistakes and correcting them by reducing your refund or increasing your tax due.   It is really so important to read every screen slowly and carefully from top to bottom as you prepare your tax return to avoid errors.

Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be taxable on your federal tax return.  There is no age limit for having to pay taxes on Social Security benefits if you have other sources of income along with the SS benefits.  When you have other income such as earnings from continuing to work, investment income, pensions, etc. up to 85% of your SS can be taxable. 

 What confuses people about this is that before you reach full retirement age, if you continue working while drawing SS, your benefits can be reduced if you earn over a certain limit. (For 2021 it was  $18,960.  For 2022 it was  $19,560  —  for 2023 $21,240)  For 2024, $22,320.  For 2025 it will be $23,400; 2026   $24,480

After full retirement age, no matter how much you continue to earn, your benefits are not reduced by your earnings; your employer will still have to withhold for Social Security and Medicare.  If you work as an independent contractor then you will pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare.

To see how much of your Social Security was taxable, look at lines 6a and 6b of your 2025 Form 1040

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/are-my-social-security-or-railroad-retirement-tier-i-benefits-taxable

You need to file a federal return if half your Social Security plus your other income is

Single or Head of Household      $25,000

Married Filing Jointly                  $32,000

Married Filing Separately            $0

[DoninGA]

Up to 85% of Social Security Retirement/Disability/Survivors benefits becomes taxable when all your other income plus 1/2 your social security reaches:

• Married Filing Jointly - $32,000
• Single or Head of Household - $25,000
• Married Filing Separately - 0

The Social Security benefits total is on Form 1040 Line 6a and the taxable amount is on Line 6b

You can view your Form 1040 plus Schedules 1, 2 and 3 at any time using the online editions. Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.