Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
New Member
posted Mar 27, 2023 6:55:33 AM

My old age German retirement income is about US$ 5000 for 2022. Which form to use to report this income?

0 3 419
1 Best answer
Level 3
Mar 27, 2023 10:03:30 AM

However, if this old age German retirement income is a German Social Security payment and you live in the US, according to the tax-treaty between Germany and the US, it has to be treated and reported the same way as a US Social Security payment. That means that the payment is not or only partly taxable (max 85%), depending on total income. I think the only way to report this is by adding this payment to your SSA-1099 payment.

3 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 27, 2023 7:18:26 AM

To enter foreign pension, you will need to create a substitute form 1099-R. 

 

Entering Foreign Pension:

1.  Sign into your account and select Take me to my return

2.  At the right upper corner, type in 1099r, then Enter

3.  Select Jump to 1099r

4.  On screen, Your 1099-R, answer Yes and select Continue

5.  Next screen, Choose your bank or brokerage, select I'll type it in myself

6.  On the screen Tell Us Which 1099-R You Have, check the box 

     I need to prepare a substitute 1099-R and follow the prompts.

 

If your foreign issuer does not have the ID number, try entering nine 9s. 

Level 3
Mar 27, 2023 8:43:43 AM

LeonardS gave the best answer to this question on 4/2/2022 and I quote:

You can enter the foreign pension income on Form 1040, Line 21 as "other income" or "foreign pension." 

To report your foreign pension in TurboTax follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your TurboTax account if it is not open.
  2. Select the Wages & Income tab.
  3. Scroll down to Less common income click Show more.
  4. On the page Let's Work on Any Miscellaneous Income click on Other reportable income.
  5. On the page Any Other Taxable Income?  select yes.
  6. On the page, Other Taxable Income enter Foreign Pension for the description and the amount.
  7. Select continue and answer No on the next page.

Level 3
Mar 27, 2023 10:03:30 AM

However, if this old age German retirement income is a German Social Security payment and you live in the US, according to the tax-treaty between Germany and the US, it has to be treated and reported the same way as a US Social Security payment. That means that the payment is not or only partly taxable (max 85%), depending on total income. I think the only way to report this is by adding this payment to your SSA-1099 payment.