Marital benefits follow the same tax rules as primary social security benefits. Whether or not your benefits are taxed depends on your overall household income. If your combined income is less than $32,000, you will not have to pay any income tax on your benefits. If your income is between $32,000 and $44,000, you will have to pay taxes on 50% of your benefits. Finally, if your income is over $44,000, you will need to pay taxes on 85% of your benefits.