If I am 68 years old why did I get taxed on half my social security earnings?

[charlett]

I thought I could make as much as I wanted and not get taxed on social security earnings.

[BobinCT]

You are confusing two things.  If you earn more than a certain amount when you are younger Social Security reduces what they pay you.  But the part of Social Secuirty that is taxable depends on your Socail Security income and your other income and whether you are married, but it doesn't depend on age.  As income increases, the percentage of the Social Security benefit which is taxable goes from zero to 85%, depending on income.

[xmasbaby0]

TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY

Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be taxable.  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 2017 that limit is $16,920)  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.

To see how much of your Social Security was taxable, look at line 14b of your 1040A, or line 20b of your 1040

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899144-is-my-social-security-income-taxable