If you receive spousal Social Security benefits, they may be subject to federal income tax, depending on your total household income for the year. Most people who receive Social Security benefits pay income tax on some portion of them.

To determine whether or not you owe tax, you first have to calculate your total income base and then add half of your annual Social Security benefit to that figure. The tax on your 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:spousal Social Security benefits is in addition to any tax you owe on other income, such as wages from employment, the interest or 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:dividends you earned on investments, and distributions you received from a traditional 401(k) plan or 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:individual retirement acc💞ount (ITA).

Individual Income Threshold

It's possible to collect spousal benefits based on the Social🦩 Security work record of an ✨ex-spouse, as long as you haven't remarried and satisfy certain other requirements. In this case, you would check the box for "Single" filing status on your Form 1040 income tax return, and your benefits would be taxed as foll🎃ows, based on your total income:

• If your total income is less than $25,000, you would pay no tax on your Social Security benefits.
• If your total income is between $25,000 and $34,000, up to 50% of your benefits would be subject to tax.
• If your income is over $34,000, you could be taxed on up to 85% of your benefits.

Married Income Threshold

If you are married and filing jointly, you have to include your spouse’s total income in your calculations—even if your spouse has deferred collecting their own Social Security benefits in order to accrue 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:delayed retirement credits. In this instan♛ce, here is how yo🃏ur benefits would be taxed:

• If your combined taxable income is less than $32,000, you won't have to pay taxes on your spousal benefits.
• If your income is between $32,000 and $44,000, you would have to pay taxes on up to 50% of your benefits.
• If your 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:household income is greater than $44,000, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxed.
  

The Bottom Line

Social Security benefits that you get based on your spouse's record (or, in some cases, on your ex-spouse's record) may be taxed at the federal level, depending on your household income. Some states also tax Social Security benefits.