topic I am 73 and getting social security income. Do I still have to report part-time inceom? in Retirement tax questions

I am 73 and getting social security income. Do I still have to report part-time inceom?

drmario70 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:54:34 GMT

Re: I am 73 and getting social security income. Do I still have to report part-time inceom?

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:11:05 GMT

Maybe---depending on how much "part-time" income you are receiving.

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.

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) For 2024, $22,320.

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 2023 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

Some additional information: There are 11 states that tax Social Security—Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont These states offer varying degrees of income exemptions, but two mirror the federal tax schedule: MN and VT.

The tax laws for 2024 will change——for tax year 2024 Missouri and Nebraska will no longer tax SS

Re: I am 73 and getting social security income. Do I still have to report part-time inceom?

Vanessa A — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:13:06 GMT

Yes, if you are filing a tax return, you must include ALL taxable income from ALL sources on your return. The tax break seniors specifically get is a higher standard deduction. So, if you are single your standard deduction is $15,350 instead of $13,850.

Also, if you are collecting social security, your benefits are not fully taxable.

If you fall into the following, 85% of your social security is taxable income

Single with income above $34,000
Married Filing Jointly with income above $44,000
Married Filing Separate regardless of income

If you fall into the following, 50% of your social security is taxable income

Single with combined income between $25,000-$34,000
Married Filing Jointly with combined income between $32,000 and $44,000

Your combined income is calculated by adding your

AGI plus
Nontaxable Interest plus
1/2 of your social security Benefits

Social Security Benefits Taxes

If your taxable SS benefits and your other income is less than $15,350, then you would not need to file a return as you would have no taxable income.