Since we’re in the midst of tax season, I wanted to answer some frequently asked questions on Social Security survivor benefits and taxes:
Are my Social Security survivor benefits taxable?
It depends on your other income, but there are two methods for figuring this out in advance of filing your taxes:
Method A:
The IRS has an online tool that will calculate the amount of your SS benefits that are taxable. It takes less than ten minutes to fill out, but you will need to input information such as your filing status, all your other income, and any IRA contributions.
Let’s look at an example:
Jane makes $30,000 per year at her job and receives $2,000 per month in SS benefits, totaling $24,000 per year.
I input these numbers into the IRS’s online calculator, and it calculated that $11,300 of her $24,000 in benefits are taxable.
Method B:
This method is a more general rule of thumb. Total the following:
- one-half of your Social Security survivor benefits
- all of your other income, including tax-exempt interest
If the total is greater than $25,000, then the SS benefits are taxable. If the total is less than $25,000, then the benefits are not taxable. ($25,000 is the base amount for this calculation for someone with a filing status of single, head of household, or qualifying surviving spouse per the first FAQ on the IRS website.)
Let’s look at the same earlier example:
Jane makes $30,000 per year at her job and receives $2,000 per month in SS benefits, totaling $24,000 per year.
Step 1: Take half of her annual SS benefits ($24,000 / 2)……………….$12,000
Step 2: Add that to all of her other income ($30,000 + $12,000)……$42,000
Step 3: Compare the total to $25,000. Since $42,000 is more than $25,000, some portion of Jane’s SS benefits will be taxable.
How much will I need to pay in taxes on my Social Security survivor benefits?
SS benefits are taxed the same way as your work income, so the rate depends on your tax bracket. Here are the federal income tax rates and brackets for 2024. Make sure to look at the correct table for your filing status.
What is my tax filing status?
Your filing status depends on when your spouse died. If you’re filing your taxes for the 2024 tax year, check the “Year Your Spouse Died” column to determine your filing status:
| Year Your Spouse Died | Tax Filing Status | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Married filing jointly | If your spouse passed away during the tax year that you are filing |
| 2022 or 2023 | Qualifying surviving spouse | If your spouse died during the previous 2 years and you have a dependent child |
| 2021 or earlier | Head of household | If your spouse died three or more years ago and you have a dependent child |
If your spouse died just earlier this year (2025), that does not impact your filing status for 2024. Read more detail on the tax filing statuses on the IRS website.
If my only income is Social Security survivor benefits, do I need to file taxes?
There are different income thresholds depending on your age and filing status. If you were under the age of 65 by the end of 2024, you would need to file taxes if your gross income (earned income plus unearned income) were higher than the below thresholds:
| Filing Status | Gross Income (Earned Income + Unearned Income) |
|---|---|
| Married filing jointly | $29,200 or more (both spouses under 65) $30,750 or more (one spouse under 65) |
| Qualifying surviving spouse | $29,200 or more |
| Head of household | $21,900 or more |
Even if you made less than the threshold, you may want to file a tax return because you may qualify for a refundable tax credit, such as the Child Tax Credit, which you can only receive if you file taxes. If you’re still not sure, the IRS has an online tool to help you figure out if you need to file taxes.
Read more detail on the criteria for filing a tax return on the IRS website.
Should I include my child’s Social Security survivor benefits on my tax return?
No, the benefits that your child receives are considered to be their income, not yours. Therefore, you would not include the benefits on your tax return.
Are my child’s Social Security survivor benefits taxable?
As with the first question in this list, it depends on your child’s other income. Follow Methods A or B described in that section to figure out the answer. That said, most children don’t make enough income for their SS benefits to be taxable. Read more info on the IRS website.
Does my child need to file a tax return for their Social Security survivor benefits?
It depends on their other income. If they only receive Social Security survivor benefits, they do not need to file a tax return. These are the scenarios in which they would need to file a tax return for the tax year 2024:
- If they made more than $14,600 in earned income (income from working where they received a W2, such as a part-time job or summer job), OR
- If they made more than $400 in self-employment income (income from working for themselves), OR
- If they made more than $1,300 in unearned income (such as dividends or interest), OR
- If an employer withheld taxes from your child’s paycheck… Filing a tax return is the only way to obtain a refund.
What tax form will I receive from the Social Security Administration?
You will receive a SSA-1099 form from the Social Security Administration for each person in your household who receives benefits. When filling out your tax return, you will input information from the form you received for your benefits.
Do states also tax Social Security benefits?
Most states do not tax Social Security benefits, but these states do: Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia. The criteria and formulas they all use differ from each other’s and from the federal government’s. Read more detail on when and how much they tax Social Security benefits in this Kiplinger article.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert in Social Security benefits or taxes and am merely passing along information based on my understanding of them. My sources of information are the websites for the IRS, AARP, Turbotax and Kiplinger.
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