Are My Social Security Payouts Taxed?

Maybe, depending on how much other income (such as pension or IRA distributions or salary) you receive in retirement.

Your benefits generally are not taxable if half of your benefits, plus all your other income, is less than $25,000 if you are single ($32,000 if you are married filing jointly). If half of your benefits, plus all of your other income, is more than $34,000 (for singles) or $44,000 (married filing jointly), then 85% of your benefits are subject to income tax. If you fall somewhere between the lower and upper limits, then the percentage of your taxable benefits varies between 0% and 85%.

To figure out if and how much of your benefits may be taxed, go to this IRS worksheet.