Social security benefits include not only retirement benefits, but also monthly survivor and disability benefits. They do not include supplemental security incomewhich is not taxable.
Depending on your other income and your tax filing status, these payments may be entirely tax free or you may have to include up to 85% of the benefits in your gross income. Use the social security benefits worksheet to figure out the amount of your social security benefits that is taxable.
The taxable amount of your social security benefits, if any, depends on the amount of benefits you receive and your other income. Generally, as this total amount increases, a greater percentage of your benefits is subject to tax.
Line 20a of the tax form 1040 lists the social security benefits and line 20b lists the taxable amount of your social security benefits.
Social security benefits are reported to you and to the IRS on Form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement.
