People receiving Social Security benefits may have to pay federal income tax on a portion of those benefits. Social Security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. They don't include supplemental security income payments, which aren't taxable.
The portion of benefits that are taxable depends on income and filing status.
To find out if their benefits are taxable, take take half of the Social Security money collected during the year and add it to other income. Other income includes pensions, wages, interest, dividends, and capital gains.
If people are single and that total comes to more than $25,000, then part of their Social Security benefits may be taxable.
If they are married filing jointly, they should take half of their Social Security, plus half of their spouse's Social Security, and add that to all their combined income. If that total is more than $32,000, then part of their Social Security may be taxable.
Fifty percent of a social security benefits may be taxable if people are:
Filing single, single, head of household or qualifying widow or widower with $25,000 to $34,000 income.
Married filing separately and lived apart from their spouse for all of 2020 with $25,000 to $34,000 income.
Married filing jointly with $32,000 to $44,000 income.
Up to 85% of a social security benefits may be taxable if they are:
Filing single, head of household or qualifying widow or widower with more than $34,000 income.
Married filing jointly with more than $44,000 income.
Married filing separately and lived apart from their spouse for all of 2020 with more than $34,000 income.
Married filing separately and lived with their spouse at any time during 2020.
Resources:
The Interactive Tax Assistant: Are My Social Security or Railroad Retirement Tier I Benefits Taxable? Social Security Income FAQS Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits