Do I have to file state and federal taxes if my only income is from social security?

[sodavison]

2015,16,and17 I filed state and federal taxes thru turbo tax. I paid no taxes, and got no refunds. E-filed all three years. In all three years I had some income thru my late wife's IRA. Nothing has changed in filing except that I no longer have my late wife's IRA to supplement my social security. This year as I'am trying to file, turbo tax says that I cannot e-file because I show no income this year except social security. They said that I can still file thru them but instead of e-file they will mail it to the government. Then at the end of me filing, they say that e-file is ready and all looks good. I am confused. Also, since this is the first year that I do not have any income except social security. (no more pulling money out of an IRA I had, do I have to file state and fed. taxes? Plus did I have to file the last 3 years? I get no money refunded, and I pay no money, except to turbo taxes to do the forms. Please help me with my questions, thank you?

[Anita01 · Accepted solution]

If your only income was social security, you do not need to file a tax return at all, unless you are filing Married filing separate.  In that case you would need to file because some of your social security will become taxable.

If you choose to file anyway, you would have to file by printing and mailing the  return.  TurboTax does not do that for you, you have to do it yourself.  You cannot e-file a tax return with no taxable income on it.

Whether you had to file in prior years is not something that can be answered without knowing all the numbers on your returns.