Retirement tax questions

If you never worked for a railroad you are likely covered by Social Security and received a SSA-1099.  You are not covered by railroad retirement benefits if you never worked for a railroad.

To enter your SSA-1099 Form:

1. Open (continue) your return in TurboTax
2. In the search bar, search for the term Social Security benefits and then select the Jump to link at the top of your search results
3. On the screen Did you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits in 20XX? answer Yes and select Continue
4. On the next screen, check the box beside Social Security benefits (Form SSA-1099), then enter the amounts from your form(s) in the boxes provided
   • If you received multiple SSA-1099s, add up the amounts for each box and enter them together
   • Don't include SSA-1099s for dependents. Those should be reported on the dependent's return, but only if they are required to file a return (this is uncommon)
5. Select Continue and follow the on-screen instructions

We'll calculate how much, if any, of your Social Security benefits are taxable. If your only income is from Social Security, you aren't required to file a return.

The Railroad Retirement program was established in the 1930s. It provides retirement, survivor, unemployment, and sickness benefits to individuals who have spent a substantial portion of their career in railroad employment, as well as to these workers' families.

Workers whose jobs required that they cross State lines sometimes found that they were not eligible for benefits in any of the States in which they worked. It was therefore recommended that railroad workers be covered by a separate plan. Congress enacted the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act in June 1938.

The Railroad Retirement Act is a Federal law that provides retirement and disability annuities for qualified railroad employees, spouse annuities for their wives or husbands, and survivor benefits for the families of deceased employees who were insured under the Act.

Some workers are eligible for both Social Security and RRB benefits.