Do you pay federal taxes on social security disability

There is a saying that the only two things in life that are certain are death and taxes. As United States citizens, we are well aware of the fact that we pay taxes on the income we receive. In fact, a part of those taxes is what makes it possible for disabled workers to obtain Social Security Disability benefits. The question is, do Social Security Disability beneficiaries have to file taxes when receiving disability benefits and do they have to pay taxes on the Social Security Disability benefits that they receive?

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SSDI and Federal Taxes
SSDI and State Taxes
Have You Or A Loved One Been Denied Social Security Disability Benefits?

Whether or not you actually have to file taxes when receiving Social Security Disability depends on how much income you receive and whether or not your spouse receives an income. If Social Security Disability benefits are your only source of income and you are single, you do not necessarily have to file taxes. Doing so, however, may be in your best interests – such as the case with stimulus payments that you may not receive if you do not file taxes.

The general rule of thumb to follow is that you will have to pay federal taxes on your Social Security Disability benefits if you file a federal tax return as an individual and your total income is more than $25,000. If you file a joint return, you will have to pay taxes if you and your spouse have a total combined income that exceeds $32,000.

The good news is that you will not have to pay taxes on all of the Social Security Disability benefits that you receive if you do fall within one of the above tax brackets. If you file a federal tax return as an individual and earn between $25,000 and $34,000 for the year, you may be responsible for paying income tax on 50 percent of the amount you received from the Social Security Administration (SSA). If your income is more than $34,000, then you may have to pay taxes on up to 85 percent of your Social Security Disability benefits.

If you file jointly with your spouse, you may have to pay taxes on 50 percent of your Social Security Disability benefits if you and your spouse have a combined income of between $32,000 and $44,000. If you and your spouse have a combined income of more than $44,000, then up to 85 percent of your Social Security Disability income may be taxed. The good news is that you will never have to pay taxes on more than 85 percent of your Social Security Disability earnings.

It is in your best interests to file jointly with your spouse. If you file as married filing separately, you will likely have to pay taxes on some portion of your Social Security Disability payments.

The SSA is not obligated to withhold taxes from your Social Security Disability payments. If, however, you feel that you are going to owe taxes on your Social Security Disability benefits you can contact the SSA and ask them to withhold taxes for you if you prefer your tax situation be handled through tax withholding. In order to do this, you will need to contact your local Social Security Office in order to set up tax withholding arrangements.

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If you’re thinking of applying for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, you may be wondering if these benefits are considered taxable income. Your tax liability will depend on your total household income. However, only about one-third of all SSDI recipients owe taxes on their benefits.

SSDI and Federal Taxes

As of 2020, SSDI payments are considered taxable for individuals who have over $25,000 in yearly income or married couples with over $32,000 in yearly income. (Your income is one-half of your SSDI benefit plus the full amount of any other sources of household income.) If you are single and have no other sources of income or married with a spouse who either works in a low-paying position or does not work full time, you will likely owe no taxes for your SSDI benefits.

If your household income is high enough to owe taxes, only a percentage of your SSDI benefits will be subject to tax. Benefits are either 50% or 85% taxable, depending on your total household income. If your benefits are taxable, they are taxed at your marginal tax rate—not the 50% or 85%. Marginal tax rates are based on your income but are typically between 15% and 25%.

While your monthly benefit may not be taxed, it’s important to consider that a large back pay award will bump up your yearly income. This means, you could owe taxes for the year when you are first approved for benefits, then have your tax liability eliminated in the following years.

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, it’s a smart move to speak to a qualified accountant who can review your personal finances and help you take any steps that are recommended to minimize your tax liability.

SSDI and State Taxes

Virginia, like most states, does not tax SSDI payments. SSDI is considered a form of early retirement, and Social Security retirement benefits are also provided free of tax liability.

If you or a loved on has been denied Social Security Disability Benefits you need to speak with an experienced SSD attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Virginia Beach office directly at 757.490.3500 to schedule your free consultation. We have offices throughout Virginia including Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk and Suffolk.

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