Are Your Social Security Benefits Taxable?

Millions rely on Social Security to make ends meet in retirement. But few know that you can actually have to pay tax on your Social Security benefits under certain circumstances.

In the following video, Dan Caplinger, The Motley Fool's director of investment planning, runs through the rules governing whether Social Security benefits are taxable. He notes that the first key is to calculate your investment income and taxable distributions from retirement plans, and then add in half your Social Security benefits. If the resulting figure is above $25,000 for single taxpayers or $32,000 for joint filers, then up to half of your benefits could be taxable. For singles above $34,000 or joint filers above $44,000, up to 85% of benefits can be taxable. Dan concludes by noting that investors in tax-free municipal bonds are often surprised to find that they must add in their income for purposes of the Social Security tax question, making investments in iShares AMT-Free National Muni and similar tax-free vehicles lose some of their appeal.

Make the most of Social Security
Taxable or not, Social Security benefits are essential, and you have to make sure you get every penny you're entitled to. In our brand-new free report, "Make Social Security Work Harder for You," our retirement experts give their insight on making the key decisions that will help ensure a more comfortable retirement for you and your family. Click here to get your copy today.

The article Are Your Social Security Benefits Taxable? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Dan Caplinger and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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