Will You Pay Taxes During Retirement?

Here is everything you need to figure it out

You might think you know how much you have saved for retirement and whether you will get money from Social Security or a pension. However, do you know how that money will be taxed? The sources of your retirement income and how much retirement income you draw each year will determine your taxes in retirement. Your taxes will also determine how much money you really have to live on.

It is imperative that you understand how your retirement income will be taxed. If you are still working, knowing this information will help you figure out how much you need to save before you can retire. If you are already retired, it will tell you whether you need to do some additional planning to avoid running out of money. Understanding how taxes will affect your retirement can help you pursue ways to minimize your tax bill and maximize your retirement income.

How Is Social Security Taxed in Retirement?

You might be wondering, “If I already paid Social Security taxes while I was working, why do I have to pay taxes on my Social Security benefits in retirement?” On the surface, it sounds crazy, but here is a closer look.

Let’s say your monthly pay as an employee is $5,000. The Social Security tax rate is 6.2%. That means your employer withholds $310 from your pay each month and sends it to the federal government. In addition, your employer contributes 6.2% on your behalf. Your employer pays no tax on that money. In total, $620 goes toward Social Security, and none of it is taxed. In the abstract, the government then hangs on to that $620 until you turn 62 or older and file a claim for Social Security retirement benefits. Then it gives you back your $620. No one has actually paid taxes on the $620 yet.

If it is your only income, you do not owe taxes on it: Your income will be too low to be taxable. If you are also drawing $3,000 from your IRA and $2,000 from a pension, then you might owe taxes on it.

In reality, there is no federal government Social Security account with your name on it, and you do not get back the same amount you pay in. In fact, many workers get back more. Still, it is true that the government does not actually collect taxes on that money during your working years. It merely holds onto it for you. That seems to be the logic, anyway. So how do you know if you will owe taxes on your Social Security retirement benefits?

Check out this chart:

Where It Gets Confusing

The “combined” in combined income is where things can get confusing. It consists of your adjusted gross income, your nontaxable interest income, and half of your Social Security benefits.

Adjusted gross income is your gross (total) income minus adjustments to that income. Common sources of gross income include wages, salaries, tips, interest, dividends, IRA/401(k) distributions, pensions, and annuities. Common adjustments to gross income include health savings account contributions, deductions for IRAs, student loan interest deduction, alimony paid, and contributions to self-employed retirement plans.

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How Much Can a Retiree Earn Without Paying Taxes?

Retired people often have income sources they did not have while they were working. These income sources may include retirement account distributions from 401(k) s and IRAs, Social Security benefits, pension payments, and annuity income. Some people may also continue to earn some income from work even though they are technically retired—maybe a bit of self-employment, consulting, or seasonal income.

This means the question to ask is not “How much can a retiree earn without paying taxes?” but rather “How much income can a retiree receive without paying taxes?”

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) differentiates between income types it classifies as earned and unearned. Even if you are receiving Social Security benefits, you will always have Social Security contributions withheld from your pay when you earn income through work. However, if your earned income is low enough, you will not owe federal income tax on it (see the tax bracket boxes, below).

Some types of income are “unearned,” but that does not mean they are not subject to tax. Distributions from 401(k) accounts are taxable, as are traditional IRA distributions. Roth 401(k) distributions are not taxable, nor are Roth IRA distributions. Social Security benefits may be taxable, as described in the last section.

Because seniors often have several types of taxable income, both earned and unearned, the tax bracket into which their taxable income falls determines whether they end up owing income taxes. You determine your tax bracket in retirement the same way you did while you were working:

Add up your sources of taxable income, subtract your standard or itemized deductions, apply any tax credits you are eligible for, and check the tax tables in the instructions to form 1040—or, more likely, put all this information into some tax software or give it to your accountant.

Standard Deductions for Retirees

The standard deduction for 2019 is $12,200 for single taxpayers and married taxpayers filing separately, $24,400 for married taxpayers filing jointly, and $18,350 for heads of household.

For 2020, these standard deduction amounts rise to $12,400, $24,800, and $18,650, respectively. The standard deductions for 2019 are used on tax returns filed in 2020; those for 2020 are used on tax returns filed in 2021.

In addition, taxpayers who are 65 or older are eligible for an extra standard deduction of $1,650 if they are single or head of household and an extra $1,300 per senior spouse if they are married filing jointly, married filing separately, or a qualified widow(er)—see the chart below.

If you itemize your deductions, you will not take the standard deduction, and these higher limits will not apply. However, these limits mean that the threshold where seniors benefit from itemizing is higher, which might affect your decisions about when to pay property taxes or make charitable donations. You may be able to benefit from itemizing in some years if you can lump large itemizable expenses together so they fall within a single tax year.

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If you earn less than these amounts, you will not owe any taxes. You will not even have to file a tax return (unless you are married filing separately), though you may want to anyway. Filing a return allows you to claim any credits for which you might be eligible, such as the tax credit for the elderly and disabled or the earned income credit. Filing a return also ensures that you receive any refund you may be owed.

Tax Brackets for 2019

For tax year 2019, the top rate is 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $510,300 ($612,350 for married couples filing jointly).

The other rates are:

• 35% for incomes over $204,100 ($408,200 for married couples filing jointly)

• 32% for incomes over $160,725 ($321,450 for married couples filing jointly)

• 24% for incomes over $84,200 ($168,400 for married couples filing jointly)

• 22% for incomes over $39,475 ($78,950 for married couples filing jointly)

• 12% for incomes over $9,700 ($19,400 for married couples filing jointly)

• 10% (the lowest rate) for incomes of single individuals with incomes of $9,700 or less ($19,400 for married couples filing jointly)

Tax Brackets for 2020

For tax year 2020, the top tax rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $518,400 ($622,050 for married couples filing jointly).

The other rates are:

• 35% for incomes over $207,350 ($414,700 for married couples filing jointly)

• 32% for incomes over $163,300 ($326,600 for married couples filing jointly)

• 24% for incomes over $85,525 ($171,050 for married couples filing jointly)

• 22% for incomes over $40,125 ($80,250 for married couples filing jointly)

• 12% for incomes over $9,875 ($19,750 for married couples filing jointly)

• 10% (the lowest rate) for incomes of single individuals with incomes of $9,875 or less ($19,750 for married couples filing jointly)

The Bottom Line

Will you pay taxes in retirement? Unless your taxable income falls below the tax threshold every year, you probably will. How much you will pay is another story. There are many ways to help retirees minimize their tax burden. Strategies include timing distributions, bunching income, bunching itemizable deductions, and doing retirement account conversions.

Save More for Retirement When You Hire a Pro

The right CPA/financial advisor can help you reach your long-term financial goals.

Litherland Tax & Accounting Services is legally bound to act in your best interests. If you are ready, schedule an appointment.