Should i have taxes withheld from my social security

Free step-by-step webinar September 19

IR-2019-155, September 13, 2019

WASHINGTON — The new Tax Withholding Estimator, launched last month on IRS.gov, includes user-friendly features designed to help retirees quickly and easily figure the right amount of tax to be taken out of their pension payments.

The mobile-friendly Tax Withholding Estimator replaces the Withholding Calculator. The tool has features specially tailored to the unique needs of retirees receiving pension payments and Social Security benefits.

The new tool offers retirees, as well as employees and self-employed individuals, a more user-friendly way to check their withholding. Whether they receive wages or pension payments, it helps taxpayers estimate if the right amount is being withheld from their income to cover their tax liability. The tool uses a simple, six-step question-and-answer format using information like marital or filing status, income, withholding, adjustments, deductions and credits.

To help people use the tool most effectively, the IRS is holding a free two-hour webinar on Thursday, September 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Among other things, the webinar will feature step-by-step instructions on how to use the new Tax Withholding Estimator and a live question-and-answer session. To sign up, visit the webinar page on IRS.gov.

Special help for retirees

A retiree can use the Tax Withholding Estimator to enter any pension income or Social Security benefits they or their spouse receive. The tool then automatically calculates the taxable portion and incorporates it into an overall estimate of their projected tax liability and withholding for the year. If a withholding change is needed, the retiree can choose a tax due of close to zero or a refund amount. The tool will then link to Form W-4P, Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments, and give the retiree a specific withholding recommendation based on the option chosen. It also gives instructions on how to fill in each line of the form.

Enhancements for everyone

The enhancements for retirees are just a few of the many new features offered by the Tax Withholding Estimator. Others include:

• Plain language to improve taxpayer understanding.
• Mobile-friendly design.
• A new progress tracker to help taxpayers know how much more information they need to enter.
• The ability to go back and forth through the steps, correct previous entries and skip questions that don't apply.
• Tips and links to help users quickly determine if they qualify for various tax credits and deductions.
• Automatic calculation of taxes on self-employment income.

The IRS urges both pension recipients and wage-earners to do a Paycheck Checkup now and review their withholding for 2019. This is especially important for anyone who faced an unexpected tax bill or penalty when they filed earlier this year. It's also a critical step for those who made withholding adjustments in 2018 or had a major life change, such as marriage, the birth of a child, adoption or buying a home.

People most at risk of having too little tax withheld include those who itemized in the past, but now take the increased standard deduction. They also include households with two wage earners, employees with non-wage sources of income and those with complex tax situations.

Also, anyone who changes their withholding in the middle or latter part of this year should do another Paycheck Checkup in January. That will help ensure that they have the right amount of tax withheld for all of 2020.

Most employers must withhold Social Security tax from your wages. Certain government employers (some federal, state and local governments) don't have to withhold Social Security tax.

If you work for a railroad employer, your employer must withhold Tier 1 Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) tax and Tier 2 RRTA tax. Tier 1 RRTA provides Social Security and Medicare equivalent benefits, and Tier 2 RRTA provides a private pension benefit.

Employer's error - If any one employer withheld too much Social Security, Tier 1 RRTA tax, or Tier 2 RRTA tax, you can't claim the excess as a credit against your income tax. Your employer should adjust the excess for you. If the employer doesn't adjust the overcollection, you can use Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement to claim a refund.

Two or more employers - If you had more than one employer during the taxable year and your total wages and compensation were over the wage base limit for the year, the total Social Security tax or Social Security equivalent Tier 1 RRTA tax withheld may have exceeded the maximum amount due for the tax year. If you had more than one railroad employer, and your total compensation was over the maximum amount of wages subject to Tier 2 RRTA, the total Tier 2 RRTA tax withheld may have exceeded the maximum due for the tax year.

• If you had more than one employer and too much Social Security tax or Tier 1 RRTA tax withheld, you may be able to claim the excess as a credit against your income tax on your income tax return. Refer to “Excess Social Security and Tier 1 RRTA Tax Withheld” in the Instructions for Form 1040 (and Form 1040-SR) for more information.
• You may be entitled to a refund if you paid excess Tier 1 RRTA tax over the Tier 1 RRTA compensation base or if you paid excess Social Security tax over the Social Security wage base. The RRTA compensation base and Social Security wage base limits are separate and stand alone.
• If you had more than one employer and too much Tier 2 RRTA tax withheld, you may request a refund of the excess Tier 2 RRTA tax using Form 843PDF. Attach copies of your Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement for the year to Form 843. 

Joint returns - If you're filing a joint return, you and your spouse must figure any excess Social Security tax or Tier 1 RRTA tax separately.