Retirement tax questions

To make your Social Security benefits nontaxable on your return, enter the benefits received and then subtract the taxable amount from your income.  To do this please follow these steps:

1. Enter the Social Security benefits exactly as it appears on your SSA-1099. 
2. On the Wages & Income tab, scroll to Less Common Income.
3. Click the Start/Update button beside Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C
4. Click the button beside Other Reportable Income (at the bottom of the list).
5. Click the Yes box on the Any Other Taxable Income? page.
6. On the Other Taxable Income page, enter this in the description box:  IRS PUB 915 - SS Income Not Taxable.
7. Enter the amount of taxable Social Security as a negative number.
8. Click Continue when done.
   

To look at the Form 1040 to confirm that amount has been deducted on Line 21 (and to double check the taxable social security amount), please follow the instructions below.

You can preview your 1040 by following these steps:

1. While in your return, click Tax Tools (in the black bar at the left of the screen) > Tools >
   View Tax Summary (under Other helpful links).
2. Click on the Preview my 1040 link in the black bar at the left of the Tax Summary.
   
   • line 5a is your total Social Security benefits
   • line 5b is the taxable amount.
   • line 21 shows the subtraction for the Social Security