Taxes

Sources of government revenue include charges, fees and earnings, fines, seignorage and debt, regulatory taxes and general taxes.

• Charges, Fees and Earnings.
• Charges and fees are levied for publicly provided commodities (i.e. goods and services) which are not (pure or nearly pure) public goods.

The largest sources of revenues are individual income taxes and payroll taxes followed by corporate income taxes.

The third-largest source of federal tax revenue, as shown in Figure 16.5 is the corporate income tax.

The governments in the US collect about $4.3 trillion a year in income and payroll taxes. Income tax is where governments collect the most tax: in federal, state, and local income tax they will collect about $2.5 trillion in 2021.

The federal individual income tax has seven tax rates ranging from 10 percent to 37 percent (table 1). The rates apply to taxable income—adjusted gross income minus either the standard deduction or allowable itemized deductions.

Taxes on one million dollars of earned income will fall within the highest income bracket mandated by the federal government. For the 2020 tax year, this is a 37% tax rate.

The minimum income amount depends on your filing status and age. In 2020, for example, the minimum for single filing status if under age 65 is $12,400. If your income is below that threshold, you generally do not need to file a federal tax return.

At 65 to 67, depending on the year of your birth, you are at full retirement age and can get full Social Security retirement benefits tax-free. However, if you’re still working, part of your benefits might be subject to taxation.

As a very general rule of thumb, if your only income is from Social Security benefits, they won’t be taxable, and you don’t need to file a return. But if you have income from other sources as well, there may be taxes on the total amount.

Earned income does not include amounts such as pensions and annuities, welfare benefits, unemployment compensation, worker’s compensation benefits, or social security benefits.

65

Social Security benefits do not count as gross income. However, the IRS does count them in your combined income for the purpose of determining if you must pay taxes on your benefits.

Individual taxpayers with AGI of $80,000 or more aren’t eligible. The new stimulus check will begin to phase out after $75,000, per the new “targeted” stimulus plan. If your adjusted gross income, or AGI, is $80,000 or more, you won’t be eligible for a third payment of any amount.

Since many of those who are age 70 and older earn below the income minimums, it’s common to generalize and say seniors aren’t required to file. No matter what age you are, you may not have to file or pay income taxes, especially if you don’t earn a dollar of income during the tax year.

If you’re over age 65 and a recipient of Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, you were eligible for a first and second stimulus check, and will be eligible for a third. This also includes many VA recipients and Retired Railroad Workers.

In 2020, the yearly limit is $18,240. During the year in which you reach full retirement age, the SSA will deduct $1 for every $3 you earn above the annual limit. For 2020, the limit is $48,600. The good news is only the earnings before the month in which you reach your full retirement age will be counted.

If you file as an individual with a total income that’s less than $25,000, you won’t have to pay taxes on your social security benefits in 2020, according to the Social Security Administration.

$12,400

Here are five smart ways to have the most tax-free income in retirement.

1. Roth IRA.
2. Municipal Bonds and Funds.
3. Health Savings Account (HSA)
4. Cash Value Life Insurance.

If you are younger than full retirement age and earn more than the yearly earnings limit, we may reduce your benefit amount. If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2021, that limit is $18,960.

In general, the income limit for SSI is the federal benefit rate (FBR), which is $794 per month for an individual and $1,191 per month for a couple in 2021. Remember, though, that not all income is countable, and so you can earn more than $794 per month and still qualify for SSI (more on this below).

A couple can get SSI if they have unearned income of less than $1,211 a month in 2021. Because a larger portion of earned income isn’t counted, a person who gets SSI can earn up to $1,673 a month ($2,467 for a couple) and still get SSI.

Here’s why: Every dollar you earn over the 85% threshold amount will result in 85 cents of your benefits being taxed, plus you’ll have to pay tax on the extra income. After age 70, there is no longer any increase, so you should claim your benefits then even if they will be partly subject to income tax.

$25,000

Once you have turned your full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn while collecting Social Security payments. Your full retirement age is based on the year you were born. The full retirement age for anyone born between 1943 and 1954 is 66 years old.

The federal government taxes up to 85% of Social Security payments for seniors who earn more than a specific threshold, but never taxes the full benefit. Individuals with a combined income between $25,000 and $34,000 are taxed on 50% of their Social Security benefit.

Here’s how to reduce or avoid taxes on your Social Security benefit:

1. Stay below the taxable thresholds.
2. Manage your other retirement income sources.
3. Consider taking IRA withdrawals before signing up for Social Security.
4. Save in a Roth IRA.
5. Factor in state taxes.
6. Set up Social Security tax withholding.

A surviving spouse can collect 100 percent of the late spouse’s benefit if the survivor has reached full retirement age, but the amount will be lower if the deceased spouse claimed benefits before he or she reached full retirement age.

Under age 65. Single. Don’t have any special circumstances that require you to file (like self-employment income) Earn less than $12,400 (which is the 2020 standard deduction for a single taxpayer)