TurboTax determines how much, if any, of your Social Security benefits is included in taxable income.
IRS publication 915 reads:
"How Much Is Taxable?
"If part of your benefits are taxable, how much is taxable depends on the total amount of your benefits and other income. Generally, the higher that total amount, the greater the taxable part of your benefits.
"Maximum taxable part.
Generally, up to 50% of your benefits will be taxable. However, up to 85% of your benefits can be taxable if either of the following situations applies to you.
If you only get SS it is not taxable and you do not have to file a return. And there is no benefit in claiming dependents or deductions. And you can't efile a return with no taxable income. If you want to file you will have to print and mail it.
Or you can try adding $1 of interest to let you efile. Make up a fake 1099Int
Enter a 1099-Int under
Federal
Wages & Income
Interest and Dividends
Interest on 1099INT - Click the Start or Update button
Put the interest amount in box 1