Customized Financial Strategies

At Senior Financial Services we help our clients by designing a customized financial strategy that often combines more than one product. Each part of the strategy will often dovetail with the others to produce a comprehensive plan addressing asset protection and growth, income that meets or exceeds the client’s needs, efficient tax strategies as well as efficient methods of passing assets to your heirs. Contact Fred Orentlich at 800-679-2858

Maximize Your Retirement with Senior Financial Services Inc New Legislation and its Effects on Retirement Planning Part 5 (Married Senior Couple earning $100,000.00)

At Senior Financial Services we don’t take shortcuts. Hard work and research are hallmarks of our practice.

For help with your retirement planning needs, contact Fred Orentlich of Senior Financial Services at 800-679-2858

 

Income Components (Example)

Source

Annual Amount

Social Security benefits

$50,000

401(k)/IRA withdrawals

$40,000

Dividends/interest

$10,000

Total

$100,000

Assumes both spouses receive Social Security and retirement account income.


 Standard Deduction & Senior Deduction

Step 1: Standard Deduction

  • Married filing jointly (2025): $31,500
  • Additional senior deduction: $6,000 per spouse → $12,000 total
  • Total deduction: $31,500 + 12,000 = $43,500

This reduces taxable income:



 Taxable Social Security

  • Combined income formula: MAGI + 50% of Social Security
  • MAGI = 40,000 (IRA) + 10,000 (dividends) = 50,000
  • 50% of Social Security = 25,000
  • Combined income = 50,000 + 25,000 = 75,000

Step 2: Determine taxable portion of Social Security

  • For married joint filers, up to 85% of Social Security can be taxed if combined income > $44,000
  • Here combined income = $75,000 → 85% of $50,000 = 42,500

 Taxable Income Calculation


  • Other income: 50,000
  • Taxable Social Security: 42,500 → 92,500
  • Subtract total deductions: 43,500 → $49,000 taxable income

 Federal Tax Estimate (2025 Brackets, Married Filing Jointly)

Approximate brackets:

Bracket

Rate

Up to 22,000

10%

22,001–89,450

12%

89,451–190,750

22%

  • Apply rates roughly:
  1. First 22,000 × 10% = 2,200
  2. Remaining 27,000 (49,000–22,000) × 12% = 3,240

Total federal income tax ≈ 5,440

Without the senior deduction ($12,000), taxable income would be 61,000 → tax ≈ 6,320
Senior deduction saves ≈ $880, plus higher standard deduction helps too.


 Bottom Line for This Married Senior Couple

Item

Amount

Total income

$100,000

Standard + senior deduction

$43,500

Taxable income

$49,000

Estimated federal tax

$5,440

Tax savings from senior deduction

~$880

Key points:

  • Federal tax is very low relative to income, thanks to high standard deduction and senior-specific deduction.
  • Social Security remains partially taxable, but the deduction reduces overall tax owed.
  • Married seniors benefit more than singles due to doubling of the senior deduction.

 

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