Personal Taxes: Social Security Income FAQs

• What types of social security benefits may be taxed as income?
• How do I know if my social security benefits are taxable?
• What's the base amount for my filing status?
• Some of my social security benefits are taxable. Where do I put this information on my tax return?
• My child receives survivor benefits. Is this money taxable income?
• Is there any way to request income tax to be withheld from my social security benefits?

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Q: What types of social security benefits may be taxed as income?

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• Benefits such as monthly retirement, disability and survivor may all be taxed as income. However, supplemental security income (SSI) isn't taxable.

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Q: How do I know if my social security benefits are taxable?

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• A: Any taxable amount depends on your total income and benefits for the year. You must compare one-half of your benefits, plus all of your other income, to the base amount for your filing status to determine whether your benefits are taxable. Use Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits, to help you determine the taxable amount.

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Q: What's the base amount for my filing status?

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• A:

  The base amount is set by the IRS and can be found in Publication 915. Currently, the base amount is $25,000 if you're single and $32,000 if you're married and filing jointly. The base amount drops to zero if you're married filing separately, unless you lived apart for the entire year.

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Q: Some of my social security benefits are taxable. Where do I put this information on my tax return?

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• A: You must enter your net benefits and the taxable part on either Form 1040 or Form 1040A. You can't use Form 1040EZ.

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Q: My child receives survivor benefits. Is this money taxable income?

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• Survivor benefits can be taxable income just like retirement benefits and are calculated the same way. You would use the total income of the person who has the legal right to the survivor benefits for the calculation. If only your child has a legal right to the benefits, only his income is used in the calculation.

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Q: Is there any way to request income tax to be withheld from my social security benefits?

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• A: You can request federal tax income to be withheld by filing Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request.