are SS benefits taxable?

[mumof2]

We live in Australia, we get SS payments from the US but they don't take any taxes out of the payment...I know the rules have changed about how much of the SS is taxable but can't find the amounts anywhere can anybody help or point me in the right direction? I have looked on the irs site but haven't found it yet...thanks

[Like2Plan]

We live in Australia, we get SS payments from the US but they don't take any taxes out of the payment...I know the rules have changed about how much of the SS is taxable but can't find the amounts anywhere can anybody help or point me in the right direction? I have looked on the irs site but haven't found it yet...thanks

Yes, if you have other income-up to 85% of your SS could be taxable. Here is a link: https://www.ssa.gov/planners/taxes.html

[mumof2]

thanks will look into it...it differes for living overseas...and the irs website doesn't give clear instructions and they have changed so much...so still trying to figure it out

[Mjenn]

You need to speak to an Australian/USA tax expert. If your tax home is Australian you will probably need to pay the tax on social security there and then deduct that amount from your US taxes. It is also dependent on what type of totalization agreement the Us and Australia have. US tax experts in the US notoriously give wrong info to those of us who live abroad because it is so complex and varies country to country.

[mumof2]

thats the issue we are having we don't have any in our state, our system is different over here we pay into our super which we can access when we are 70 (unless your a politician) and that is usually taken from your wages....but since my hubby is retired he is not paying taxes over here and he only pays federal ones in the US but with the new rules its like no-one can give us a straight answer as how to do it..and most of the US tax stuff is not for people abroad...I told my hubby to just put in what he thinks and they will change it and send us either a refund or bill