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Tax Impact Estimator
Most retirees don't overpay because they're careless — they overpay because no one showed them the stack.
Educational only. This content is general retirement education — not personalized financial, tax, or legal advice. Every situation is different; if you'd like Ebby to look at yours, use Talk With Ebby.
The stack: how retirement income gets taxed
- Pensions & annuity payments — ordinary income, usually fully taxable.
- IRA / 401(k) withdrawals & RMDs — ordinary income, every dollar.
- Social Security — up to 85% becomes taxable once your other income crosses IRS thresholds.
- Brokerage account — long-term capital gains at 0%, 15%, or 20%.
- Roth IRA — tax-free (after age 59½ and 5 years).
Three quiet leaks
- The Social Security tax cliff. A small extra withdrawal can pull more of your Social Security into taxable territory — you pay tax on the withdrawal and on more of your check.
- IRMAA. One high-income year can raise your Medicare Part B and D premiums two years later. Big Roth conversion in 2026? Higher Medicare bill in 2028.
- The widow(er) tax trap. When one spouse dies, the survivor files single. Same income, smaller brackets, higher tax.
What if…
You have $600k in an IRA at 68
Wait until 73 and RMDs start on a much bigger balance — on top of Social Security. Or use the low-income years between retirement and 73 to convert small chunks to Roth at today's brackets. Same money, different tax bill.
Bring your situation
Ask Ebby about your tax picture
I'm not a CPA, but I can tell you which levers most retirees pull — order of withdrawals, Roth conversions, timing Social Security — so you go into your tax preparer's office with the right questions. No products, no sales pressure, no obligation.
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