Do I Need to Worry About Taxes in Retirement?

Darren, in Naples Florida, asks if he needs to worry about taxes in retirement since he is single.

How are my taxes calculated in retirement?

• Everyone’s situation is different, and their plan should be custom and unique to them.
• Depending on your specific tax bracket, none, some, or 85% of your social security could be taxable.
• The rate at which you are taxed can also depend on what you are distributing from your retirement plans.
• Each person’s plan should be reviewed by an accountant or tax attorney.

Is all income the same in retirement?

• No, some income or distributions will impact your tax rate and others will not.
• Provisional income could have a significant impact on your retirement.
• It is important to determine the best ways to take income or distributions in retirement before retiring, that way you have a plan to deal with taxes.

Does my social security get taxed?

• Your social security could be subject to tax depending on your income.
• There are ways to tax income from other assets in retirement that will not impact the taxation of your social security.
• The more costly the activities, the more you are dependent on your nest egg to produce reliable income.

On this addition of retirement my way Q and day Ryan receives an email from one of his listeners in Naples Florida, Darren. Darren asks, do I need to worry about taxes in retirement since I am single and collecting Social Security?

This is a very common question and concern for a lot of Ryan’s clients as they enter retirement and are in early retirement years. Ryan explains that not all income is the same in retirement, and that depending on your specific situation you will be taxed at different rates.

Some people’s Social Security isn’t taxed at all, some people will have 50% of their social security subject to taxes, and some people will have 85% of their social security subject to taxes. Ryan stresses to his clients the importance of knowing what strategies to use and how those strategies will impact an individual’s taxes in retirement.

There are certain tools that you can use that will not impact or increase your taxes whatsoever. These tools are ideal for someone who is attempting to minimize or reduce their tax liability as they prepare for retirement. It is also extremely important to know and understand how provisional income plays into an individual‘s retirement planning process.

It can be very confusing and difficult to comprehend all the working parts of your tax situation in retirement. That is why Ryan always has his client’s plans reviewed by an accountant to make sure that they are as efficient as possible. An accountant is able to look at an individual’s Social Security, pensions, retirement savings plans, and any other savings vehicles that they may have, and determine what is the most beneficial way to take out or distribute this money in retirement. Most people’s goals are to pay as little in taxes as possible, so that they can enjoy their hard- earned money during their golden years.