topic How was the number on line 6b of form 1040-sr determined on my 2021 tax return? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

How was the number on line 6b of form 1040-sr determined on my 2021 tax return?

lscontracting119 — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:21:33 GMT

if ss income = 38,594 on line 6a of form 1040-sr form, how is line 6b determined

Re: How was the number on line 6b of form 1040-sr determined on my 2021 tax return?

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:55:51 GMT

When you have other income besides the Social Security, then up to 85% of your SS can be taxable. We do not know how much other income you entered, but some of your SS was taxable, as shown on line 6b.

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 2019 it was $17,640— for 2020 it was $18,240; for 2021 it was $18,960. For 2022 it was $19,560 — for 2023 $21,240)

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 lines 6a and 6b of your 2021 Form 1040

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

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 $25,000 when filing single or head of household, or $32,000 when filing married filing jointly, $0 if you are filing married filing separately.

Some additional information: There are 13 states that tax Social Security—Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. These states offer varying degrees of income exemptions, but four mirror the federal tax schedule: MN, ND,VT, and WV

Re: How was the number on line 6b of form 1040-sr determined on my 2021 tax return?

VolvoGirl — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 16:47:44 GMT

Up to 85% of Social Security 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

It can be tricky to figure out. To see the Social Security Benefits Calculation Worksheet in Turbo Tax Online version you would have to save your return with all the worksheets to your computer. Or if you are using the Desktop CD/Download Software you can switch to Forms Mode (click Forms in the upper right) and click on SS in the list on the right side.

Re: How was the number on line 6b of form 1040-sr determined on my 2021 tax return?

Ejsantarelli — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:05:27 GMT

It doesn’t answer my questions

Re: How was the number on line 6b of form 1040-sr determined on my 2021 tax return?

MarilynG1 — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:45:21 GMT

To find how Line 6b on Form 1040 is calculated for your particular return, look at the Social Security Benefits Worksheet. If you're using TurboTax Online, you will need to pay for your return, then save a PDF copy 'with all forms and worksheets' to view this worksheet.

In TurboTax Desktop, in FORMS, you can open the form to view it. Anywhere from 0 to 85% of your Social Security benefit can be taxable, depending on what other income you have. Make sure you've entered all your income.

Here's more info on Is My Social Security Taxable?

@Ejsantarelli

Re: How was the number on line 6b of form 1040-sr determined on my 2021 tax return?

VolvoGirl — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:01:43 GMT

And if you check that worksheet, look up at the top check boxes. If the Foreign box is checked it won’t calculate a taxable amount. People have been skipping that question or answering it wrong. Right after you enter the SSA-1099 the next screen asks if you lived in a Foreign country.