Social Security Retirement/Disability/Survivors benefits are reported on a form SSA-1099 and the benefits received are reported on a federal tax return. The benefits may be taxable depending on the amount of other income you have entered on your tax return.
However, if the Social Security benefits are the Only income to be reported on the tax return, then there is no reason or need to file a tax return.
Any of the TurboTax editions can be used to report SS income. If you have no taxable income you are not required to file a tax return and any medical expenses you have are entered on a Schedule A as an itemized deduction. But if you have no taxable income, the deductions have no affect on your tax return.
If you have federal income taxes being withheld from your SS income, then you can file a tax return to get a refund of the taxes withheld. Or if you receive health insurance from one of the state Marketplace Exchanges and receive a Form 1095-A for the health insurance, then you need to file a tax return.
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
