Free tool · Retirement
Social Security Tax Torpedo Calculator
As your other retirement income rises, a bigger slice of your Social Security benefits becomes taxable — until 85% of them are taxed. See where you land.
Of your benefits, taxable
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Taxable benefits
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Provisional income
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50% threshold
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85% threshold
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Show my work
Provisional income = other income + 50% of SS—
Lower threshold (50% tier begins)—
Upper threshold (85% tier begins)—
Taxed in the 50% tier—
Taxed in the 85% tier—
Total taxable benefits—
This follows the IRS Pub. 915 two-tier worksheet (IRC §86). Below the lower threshold, none of your benefits are taxed. Between the thresholds, up to 50% of the excess (capped at half your benefit) is taxable. Above the upper threshold, up to 85% of benefits become taxable — the "torpedo." These thresholds are fixed in law and not indexed to inflation, so more retirees cross them every year.
One slice of the picture
See how to fill income in the gaps without triggering the torpedo — modeled across your whole retirement income plan in ClearAxisCFO.