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How much of your Social Security is taxable?

Between none and 85% of your benefit can be taxed, depending on your other income. The income lines haven’t changed since 1993, so more people cross them every year.

Your details

How you file your taxes

The yearly total, box 5 of your SSA-1099. About $2,333 a month.

Pensions, IRA and 401(k) withdrawals, wages, taxable interest and dividends. Not Social Security.

Municipal bond interest. It isn’t taxed itself, but it counts here.

An extra IRA withdrawal or Roth conversion. See how much more of your benefit it makes taxable.

Your figures stay on this screen. Nothing is saved or sent.

Taxable part of your benefitUp to 85%
$13,00046% of your $28,000 benefit is added to your taxable income
Taxable $13,000Never taxed: at least $4,200 (15%)
Your “combined income”
$44,000
How it’s worked out
$30,000 + half of $28,000
The lines for single filers
$25,000 and $34,000

Right now, each extra $1,000 of income makes $850 more of your benefit taxable, so it is taxed like $1,850.

What about the new $6,000 senior deduction? For 2025 to 2028, people 65 and older can deduct up to $6,000 each, less at higher incomes. It lowers your taxable income, but it doesn’t change how much of your benefit is taxable. Social Security is not tax-free.

As your other income rises

The taxable part of your $28,000 benefit at each level of other income. It climbs slowly, then fast, then stops at 85%.

Taxable part of your benefit
85% · $23.8k50% · $14k$0
None
Up to 50%
Up to 85%
At the limit
You · $13k
$0$10k$20k$30k$40k$50k$60k
Your other income for the year

Federal tax only. Texas has no state income tax.

Ways to keep more of your benefit

TimingDraw from your IRA before claimingWithdrawals in the years before Social Security starts don’t make any benefit taxable, and they shrink later required withdrawals.Estimate my RMD →Roth moneyRoth withdrawals don’t countQualified Roth IRA withdrawals are left out of combined income entirely, unlike traditional IRA money.Guides →Medicare tooThe same income moves your premiumsThe taxable part of your benefit counts toward the income that sets your Medicare premiums.Check my Medicare premium →
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Uses the IRS combined-income rules: half your benefit plus other income and tax-free interest. Married filing separately assumes you lived with your spouse during the year. General information, not tax advice.