Taxable SS benefit on earlier year return if my wife had earlier year lump-sum SS

[lorac1975]

We file a join return.  I have collected SS for a few years. My wife collected SS this year with some of the money from previous year. Line D of "Earlier year Lump-sum SS worksheet" says "Enter taxable social security benefits reported in the earlier year Form 1040 line 20b. On my 2017 federal return this number is $25,524, my taxable SS for 2017.  On top, instructions from TurboTax say "Earlier year taxable SS benefits for taxpayer should not be greater that zero".  Since we are filing jointly, I received this money on line 20.  Don't understand! Can someone help please?  Thanks

[MichaelL1 · Accepted solution]

You need to enter only your wife's taxable Social Security for prior year would be $0, try this.

Try to think if this as only your wife and forget about your SS benefits when completing this.

[lorac1975]

Thank you.  Is the question misleading or vague when they were asking for "taxable social security benefits reported in the earlier year". That question was asked after asking filing jointly and the entry was place in my column in the worksheet. Maybe I'm not understanding or Turbotax screwed up in the questioning.  I almost feel like I am answering the question incorrectly but I understand what you are saying.

[mprice]

I had the same problem & zeroed out the spouse's SS benefits on the worksheet.  The error went away, but my federal refund went down by $54!  These worksheets are built in the background during the interview process.  How can I reset the worksheet to double check this?  The interview process filled out this worksheet incorrectly.  I never saw it until the smart check review was done.

[lorac1975]

Thanks for contributing. I believe Turbo tax should correct this problem. It wouldn’t even allow me to zero my wife’s SS for previous year on the worksheet since we are filing jointly and I am the one filing.