The federal government taxes the Social Security benefits of some retirees if their provisional income exceeds thresholds for their marital status.

Tax season is almost here. If you receive Social Security benefits, you'll need your benefit statement to find out if you need to file taxes this year.

The good news is that in most cases, Social Security is not taxable at the state level. 41 states do not tax Social Security income whatsoever. Not only that, but most of the states that do tax Social Security use far looser rules than the federal government.

Discover which nine states will tax Social Security benefits in 2025 and learn about the exemptions designed to ease the burden for retirees.

The average Social Security payment will rise by more than $50 per month starting in January, thanks to the federal government’s 3.2% annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. A 3.2% increase in the average Social Security check—about $1,

The age you file for Social Security is perhaps the most important decision affecting your benefit amount. You can begin taking benefits as early as 62, but waiting up to age 70 will earn you larger payments each month.

You can continue to work as long as you want, and you can still collect Social Security benefits. However, you should be aware that continuing to work after claiming Social Security benefits