A spouse can Never be claimed as a dependent. You should be filing as Married Filing Jointly even if one spouse has little or no income.
You have to enter your Social Security benefits you received as reported on the Form SSA-1099
To enter Social Security benefits reported on form SSA-1099
- Click on Federal Taxes (Personal using Home and Business)
- Click on Wages and Income (Personal Income using Home and Business)
- Click on I'll choose what I work on (if shown)
- Scroll down to Retirement Plans and Social Security
- On Social Security (SSA-1099, RRB-1099), click the start or update button
Or enter ssa-1099 in the Search box located in the upper right of the program screen. Click on Jump to ssa-1099
Up to 85% of Social Security Retirement/Disability/Survivors benefits becomes taxable when all your other income plus 1/2 your social security reaches:
Married Filing Jointly - $32,000
Single or Head of Household - $25,000
Married Filing Separately - 0
