Should I file a joint return when my husband's only income is social security and he does not have to file?

[missgwee]

Should we file jointly when my husband's only income is social security and he is not required to file?

[Texas Roger]

Yes you should file a joint return. You must include his social security income on your joint tax return even if your total income is low enough for no taxes to be owed on it. 

[xmasbaby0]

Yes, you need to file a joint return.   Your spouse's SSA1099 must be included on that return.  Social Security will mail out his SSA1099 in January.

Do not try to enter your SSA1099  or RR1099RB as a W-2.  Go to Federal> Wages & Income>>Retirement Plans and Social Security  (SSA1099 and 1099RRB) to enter your SSA1099.

[NCperson]

@missgwee - agree with all the advise above.  and this is why filing separate is a 'bad idea:

if you don't file "joint", then YOU have file "Married- Filing Separate" in which case your standard deduction is only half what it would be by filing "joint" AND you income is subject to a higher tax bracket.  You'd pay more tax than filing joint on the same income. 

Further, because you are filing "separate" (and presumably you two lived together for any part of 2022),  HALF of his social security is AUTOMATICALLY considered part of his gross income - that is a special IRS rule for determining how much of social security is taxable when filing separate and still living togeher.  if his social security income is greater than around $33,750, (which would mean his adjusted gross income would be over the standard deduciton of $14,350), he would have a filing requirment and some of his social security income would be taxed.  (the rule disincents married couples from filing 'separate'!

[Opus 17]

It is always allowed for a married couple to file jointly even if one spouse does not work or has very little income, or their income is only from Social Security. Married filing jointly almost always results in the lowest overall tax or largest overall refund.  Your spouse’s Social Security may be partly taxable depending on your total combined income.

Furthermore, as mentioned, if you file separately, then your spouse must file separately and their Social Security becomes taxable; they may pay more tax on their Social Security income by filing separately than if you filed jointly.

[Critter-3]

When filing separately the SS benenfits ARE 85% taxable right off the bat  but when you file jointly the SS benefits can be UP TO 85% taxable ... this is to discourage folks from filing separately to avoid the taxation of the SS benefits.