IRS says the taxable amount of SS income is incorrect

[TejasKR]

My return was submitted over a month ago and TT just says it was accepted. When I check at the IRS site, they say that there is an error in the calculation of taxable SS and now instead of a refund, I will owe them money. I cannot find any way to see what TT used in the worksheet, as they are no longer in the downloaded returns. I have a pretty simple return, so wonder how this error occurred, and why TT has not rectified it yet. IRS says the letter was mailed March 7 2025, but it has not arrived yet. I tried to start an amended return but I do not have any information other than what was entered, so the return still shows the same numbers. P.S. The dropdown list here doesn't match the editions currently available. I have PREMIUM, but only PREMIER is shown. 

[DoninGA]

Once a tax return has been Accepted by the IRS or a State, TurboTax receives no further information concerning the tax return or the status of any tax refund.

To access your current or prior year online tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the User ID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

When you sign onto your online account and land on the Tax Home web page, scroll down and click on Add a state. 

This will take you back to the 2024 online tax return.

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen.  Then click on Print Center.  Then click on Print, save or preview this year's return.  Choose the option Include government and TurboTax worksheets

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

[TejasKR]

Not really helping. I've been using TurboTax probably since MS-DOS. For some years I just use the online version. I've downloaded the Tax Return PDF, but there are no worksheets included. But, I can do the the paper one I get from IRS.gov, and it does not agree with my tax return, but I don't have the IRS letter so not sure what they are using. Clearly there's some disagreement between Intuit and the IRS about how to do this.

[NCperson]

@TejasKR I would not attempt nor submit an amendment until that letter is received.  The IRS will provide instructions on what to do and in some cases, no amendment is required since the IRS has just adjusted the return.

what is odd though, is that the portion of SS that is taxable is all calculated by TT, so it would be surprising how it submitted something that isn't correct.

[DoninGA]

@TejasKR As stated in you use the 2024 online editions and have e-filed the return and it has been accepted by the IRS then you can download a PDF to include all forms, schedule and worksheets for the 2024 return

To access your current or prior year online tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the User ID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

When you sign onto your online account and land on the Tax Home web page, scroll down and click on Add a state. 

This will take you back to the 2024 online tax return.

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen.  Then click on Print Center.  Then click on Print, save or preview this year's return.  Choose the option Include government and TurboTax worksheets

If you use the TurboTax desktop editions installed on a personal computer you can save a PDF of the tax return to include all the forms, schedules and worksheets in the File section of the desktop program.

[mesquitebean]

Did you download the PDF using the method that @ DoninGA provided above?   The PDF available at the Print Center after re-opening the return interview may have all the worksheets.   You can select there the type of PDF to download.

Was the SS income reported on lines 6a and 6b of the Form 1040?    We have seen some rare anecdotes of people who mistakenly reported it on the wrong line.  So that's the first place to review.  

Obviously no one in a user community forum can see your figures, and do NOT post any personal info in this public Internet forum.

      If you can't figure out what is going on with your return to explain the error, we can tell you how to ask a TT Expert to review your tax data to see what happened.   The way they do this is to ask you to upload a "sanitized" version of your tax file--i.e., one that has all of your personal information scrubbed from it when it is sent to them (scrubbed as part of the submission process--not by you.)  You are then provided a token number to give to the TurboTax expert.

[TejasKR]

Ok, wow, make it hard to find. And, there's a box checked on the SS worksheet that my wife is *resident* of another country, which is not true. So, where did that piece of information come from? I guess I'll have to look and see.

[TejasKR]

Well, in the personal information collected by TT, we state that we were both residents of our current state for the full year. Somehow, now, the SS entry page has a radio button that says Lena was a resident of some country she's never lived in, most never visited. Curious. I am 100% certain I did not check that, but that's my problem now.

[KrisD15]

There is now a question in the Social Security interview which asks if the spouse resided in a foreign country. 

This was added for tax year 2024.

This question is asked on the screen following the entry of Form SSA-1099 on a Married Filing Jointly return using TurboTax desktop. 

The program does not allow you to continue without making a selection. 

[TejasKR]

Yeah, I can tell you I did not see that question when I completed my taxes in early February. You'd think they'd reconcile that information with the question that asks if you've been a resident of a [US] state for the entire year? But, the amended return is filed, my dreams of having a refund up in smoke. But, thanks for the hidden steps to print a return with the worksheets. 

[ksj5712]

I had the same issue using 2024 Home and Business Desktop. Just received a letter RE: error on the Tax on Social Security Benefits area of the return. Return was accepted March 4, 2025. Received a letter today. How can I fix this in Turco Tax so next year's figures are correct, and why did it not calculate properly? 

[Alomega]

If you need comfort in submitting the correct return, redo your return using the 1040X, which IRS provides when the taxpayer discovers a mistake of sometime.  The Tax Laws state in Title 26 USC Section 6201 that "(1)Taxes shown on return

The Secretary shall assess all taxes determined by the taxpayer or by the Secretary as to which returns or lists (or payments under section 6225(c)(2)(B)(i)) are made under this title."  (Let me add that the Statutory LAW does not provide argument of this law).  The IRS has no rights to alter anything on your behalf when you submit a return- right or wrong. But if you don't submit a return of some type, they have the right to fill one out from any and all information they can find about you from: bank deposits, debit card transactions, credit card transactions, wherever they can find it.  How they use those numbers might be very wrong, and different from your submitted return, but you ultimately didn't so the do fill one out for you. But when your original 1040 is wrong they provide the 1040X form for you to make it right.  (Isn't that nice of them )?  And they gladly accept it over your incorrect 1040 when resubmitted.  The reasons for the mistake, officially and legally according to Statutory Law matter not.  Personally I had to provide my 2023 Tax returns to a College my son applied to for scholarship consideration.  And when I opened up the 2023 TurboTax Deluxe, it immediately went looking for any updates to the commercially sold 2023 desktop version which I always use, and have copies when and if I need them.  After downloading all the upgrades provided it opened up a 1040X version which I needed to fill out again from the old 1040 data which could be imported and it now showed a $4000+ refund coming to me.. This was totally unexpected, but that's why I have stuck with them for 30 years, about when Win95 came out.  Regardless of their mistakes at the time, they ultimately provide the correction which I stress is our responsibility to check during every new tax year to keep the information the IRS has correct. (Its a nice reward for checking every new tax year, isn't it?)  And as the laws referenced above, they accept without resistance.  

Disclaimer- I am not an attorney, but regulate my tax obligations according to the Statutory Tax Code Law found in Title 26 USC. And share my experience with you and with the Statutory references shown above as proof of evidence of what is written.  If any tax attorney grows indignant over the Statutory Law mentioned above I suggest you file a claim in the nearest  Federal District Court against your Congressman for establishing these laws contrary to what you believe it or were improperly taught.  But Mr. Attorney, thanks for reading my "freedom of speech" in replying to this person's question.