Things You'll Need:
- IRS Forms
- Financial Calculator
- Paper And Pencils
-
Step 1
Add up your adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest and one-half of your Social Security benefits. This total is your combined income.
-
Step 2
Determine the base amount for your filing status. If you are married and filing jointly, the base amount is $32,000. If you are married and filing separately and have lived with your spouse at any time during the year, your base amount is $0. For anyone else, the base amount is $25,000.
-
Step 3
Compare your base amount and your combined income. If the base amount is larger than the combined income, your Social Security benefits are not taxable.
-
Step 4
Use the IRS worksheet to determine the tax on your Social Security benefits if your combined income is equal to or larger than your base amount.








Comments
RonL said
on 2/13/2008 why does this have to be so hard on old folks?
My only income is SS at 16,000 a year. Do I or do I not have to pay taxes??????? My God If I can find a straight answer. Cant do the book work because of stroke and the internet is 1 key at a time :-) I have invested 23 minutes in this post