I have reached full retirement age why are my social security benefits being taxed

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

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 2016 that limit was $15,720)  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.

[josephinewjones]

I reached full retirement age in May, 2020, so why were my social security benefits taxed?

[DoninGA]

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@josephinewjones wrote:

I reached full retirement age in May, 2020, so why were my social security benefits taxed?

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Social Security benefits paid can be taxed regardless of your age.

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

[josephinewjones]

The SSA said it would not be taxed after full retirement age no matter how much you work.

[DoninGA]

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@josephinewjones wrote:

The SSA said it would not be taxed after full retirement age no matter how much you work.

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You are confusing how much you can earn and have your benefits reduced which is based on your age versus the taxability of benefits on a tax return which has no age limit.

SSA website - https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html