If I'm the only one working and my husband is on social security what would be my filing status and do I have to include his social security income on my tax return?

[CathiM]

Yes, you should include his social security income on your return if you are filing as married filing joint.  It is usually best for married taxpayers to file married filing joint.. The other choice is married filing separate which gives you less  standard deduction and has limitations on many other deductions and credits. 

Click here on this link to find out more about filing status Should You and Your Spouse File Taxes Jointly or Separately?

[BobinCT]

AND, if you filed Married Filing Separate, so would your husband and 85% of his SSA benefit would be taxable.

[CathiM]

If you file separate and are living together some of his benefits may be taxable. If you are not living together and his only income is his SSA benefit, they will probably not be taxable.  You can try entering your filing status both ways to see which turns out best.

[SteamTrain]

[Edited: 1/30].....usually, we recommend that MFS is to be avoided in most situations.  It is difficult to model using an Online account, because fully separate Online accounts should be used, otherwise you risk messing up your MFJ tax file.  Desktop software is far easier to use to test out the MFJ vs MFS situations since many different tax files can be created easily.   Not so with the Online software
 
But if you choose to do so (test MFS) , plan on spending several weeks at it.  Doing MFS tax returns should not be considered an easy process if you've never done it before.

[WS13]

Maybe you have more information.  I never saw any numbers.  So  SS could be taxable at 0%, 50% , or 85%.  IRS loves the word "generally".

[VolvoGirl]

Up to 85% of Social Security becomes taxable when all your other income plus 1/2 your social security, reaches:

Married Filing Jointly: $32,000

Single or head of household: $25,000

Married Filing Separately: 0

To see the Social Security Benefits Calculation Worksheet  in Turbo Tax Online version you would have to save your return with all the worksheets to your computer.   Or if you are using the Desktop CD/Download Software you can switch to Forms Mode (click Forms in the upper right) and click on SS in the list on the left side.

[WS13]

• File a joint return, and you and your spouse have a combined income* that is
  • Between $32,000 and $44,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 50% of your benefits.
  • More than $44,000, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable.

[WS13]

* Your adjusted gross income
+ Nontaxable interest
+ ½ of your Social Security benefits
= Your "combined income"