How is total income from social security figured?

[toniajb]

The total is much larger than the amounts that I input.

[ColeenD3]

The income is calculated based on your entry from your SSA-1099. The amount of income is measured against other income to determine the amount of which you are taxed. If you are seeing a larger amount than is on your form, be careful that you did not also enter any 1099-R information on that screen.

A quick way to find out if any of your benefits may be taxable is to add one-half of your Social Security benefits to all your other income, including any tax-exempt interest. Next, compare this total to the base amounts below. If your total is more than the base amount for your filing status, then some of your benefits may be taxable. The three base amounts are:

• $25,000 - for single, head of household, qualifying widow or widower with a dependent child or married individuals filing separately who did not live with their spouse at any time during the year
• $32,000 - for married couples filing jointly
• $0 - for married persons filing separately who lived together at any time during the year

[SweetieJean]

Or did you enter the SSA-1099 as a 1099-R?  Also check to make sure you didn't type a comma for a decimal point, or vice-versa.