Online Services, Taxes

Tax Season — It’s About What You Know

March 17, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: March 17, 2016

a picture of stree signs that read tax season, and again.Did you know that your Social Security benefits may be taxable?

This includes your monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. About one-third of people receiving Social Security benefits must pay taxes on some of these benefits, depending on the amount of their taxable income. This may happen if you have other significant income in addition to your Social Security benefits.

To find out whether you must pay taxes on your benefits, you will need your Social Security Benefit Statement (Form SSA-1099/1042S). You should automatically receive it in the mail each January. It shows the total amount of benefits you received from Social Security in the previous year so you know how much Social Security income to report to the Internal Revenue Service on your tax return. The benefit statement is not available for people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), as SSI payments are not taxable.

If you didn’t receive your Benefit Statement or misplaced it, you can get an instant replacement easily by using your secure my Social Security account. If you don’t already have an online account, you can create one in minutes. Go to the my Social Security page, and select “Sign In or Create an Account.” Once you are logged in, select the “Replacement Documents” tab to obtain your replacement 1099 or 1042S benefit statement. You can also use your personal my Social Security account to keep track of your earnings each year, manage your benefits, and more.

You can also obtain a replacement benefit statement by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or contacting your local Social Security Office. If you live outside of the United States, please contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Don’t wait. Be ready! Open your own personal my Social Security account today.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

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Comments

  1. John W.

    Why is it fair that my benefits will be reduced this coming year because of my MAGI amount last year? Most of that income was my wife’s. I have been retired for 10 years and have worked none during that time. My income is Army National guar retirement, VA partial disability, and SS. Am I being penalized for filing jointly? This does not seem fair. Even after the COLA for 2018, I will still receive almost $50 less.

  2. Tammy k.

    I’m so confused about this tax stuff. May of 2014 was when I officially became disabled, and I won May of 2017. I was awarded (after my lawyer got his $), A nice chunk of BackPay. Now, I’m totally confused bc our tax lady says we have to pay ALOT for the taxes now or we can go back the last 3 yrs of taxes and do Amendments(?). But do we take the back pay and devide that by 3yrs & that’s what my ‘annual income’ is? Or do we take my monthly award amount AFTER I pay the Medicare, which is $600 ish and times that by 12 months & that will be my yrly income? I’m So confused!!!!

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Tammy. Some people have to pay federal income taxes on their Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you have other substantial income (such as wages, self-employment, interest, dividends and other taxable income that must be reported on your tax return) in addition to your benefits. For further income tax questions, you will need to contact the IRS. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040. Thanks.

  3. sylvester H.

    Hey guys.those jackass have federal retirement.and we pay it for them.do you think they care about you and your SS?

  4. sylvester H.

    hey guys. those jackass have federal retirement.and we pay it for them.do you think they care about ss

  5. Melvin S.

    My mother passed away last year and I did not receive a SSA-1099 for the 9 months she received SS benefits. What can i do to get the 1099 so I can file a tax return for her. Or, do I need to file a tax return for her when her only income was the SS that amounted to less than $10,000?

  6. Amato

    Let me say what i want to say

  7. Amato

    Go for it

  8. Amato

    Time to change regime…this is the only answer to our corrupt system, and we have a chance, it is now or never….lets do it guys!

  9. jackie w.

    i started ss at 63 i am 65 now can i stop ss until i am 70

  10. Sharyn

    SS is not perfect but before there was such a thing, your family had to help you or you worked until you died, or you were homeless until you died.

Comments are closed.