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Widowed this year: Is Social Security taxable?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 22, 2025
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Widowed this year: Is Social Security taxable?

My husband passed in December 2024 and I'm filing the taxes as Married Filing Jointly.

Turbo Tax automatically entered zero dollars in the Social Security portion, and Turbo Tax doesn't allow me to change it.

However, "Up to 85% of Social Security becomes taxable when all your other income plus 1/2 your Social Security reaches: Married Filing Jointly: $32,000."

Our income exceeds $32,000.

Should I leave zero dollars for both of our Social Security amounts? Or should I change it, but how can I do this since Turbo Tax doesn't give me the option?

Best answer by AmyC

Desktop, wonderful. Follow these steps:

Switch to Forms mode (windows system is top right)
On the left side panel, locate 1040 and select it
On the 1040, locate social security line 6, click in the box and you will see a magnifying glass.
Click the magnifying glass
The Social Security worksheet pops up
Fill in lines A-E with the correct information for each of you.

Your return should now flow correctly. You can look at the 1040 tab and see that it is calculating up to 85% taxable- after the $32,000 floor.

Switch back to step by step and finish your return.

I am very sorry for your loss.

X

xmasbaby0

Very sorry for your loss. For the year that your spouse died, you can still file a joint return. That way, you will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $29,200 (+ $1550 for each spouse 65 or older) which will lower the amount of income you are taxed on.

In My Info, you will need to indicate that your spouse died. When his name is in My Info, there is a screen early in the interview that asks "Do any of these apply to [name] ?’” where you will do that, and then a drop down will appear where you can enter the date he passed.

If you have qualifying dependent children you will be able to file as a qualifying surviving spouse (QSS) for the next two years after this tax return. Post back if you need further help.

Go to Federal> Wages & Income>>Retirement Plans and Social Security (SSA1099 and 1099RRB) to enter you and your spouse's SSA1099

Enter any other income you or your spouse receive for 2024.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

F

FramboiseAuthor

I've completed my entire tax return, and my only problem is entering the SSA 1099 because Turbo Tax automatically entered zero and won't let me change it.

In the “Retirement plans and Social Security” section,

-if I click “update”, no new page opens.

-If I click “visit all”, everything appears except Social Security.

I think I need to enter our 2 SS since I will have to pay taxes on them.

My question is : How to change the 0 to the exact amount?

AmyCAnswer

Desktop, wonderful. Follow these steps:

Switch to Forms mode (windows system is top right)
On the left side panel, locate 1040 and select it
On the 1040, locate social security line 6, click in the box and you will see a magnifying glass.
Click the magnifying glass
The Social Security worksheet pops up
Fill in lines A-E with the correct information for each of you.

Your return should now flow correctly. You can look at the 1040 tab and see that it is calculating up to 85% taxable- after the $32,000 floor.

Switch back to step by step and finish your return.

I am very sorry for your loss.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

KrisD15

Which TurboTax program are you using and is it Desktop or Online?

There is a question about the spouse living in a foreign country which can make the Social Security exempt.

Please go back through the section where you enter SSA-1099.

Look for a screen that looks like the one attached.

For Online it comes before entering the form and with Desktop if comes after.

Make sure you select NO to that question.

@Framboise