Retirement contributions vs Social Security contributions

[Dajohnson]

My wife works at a school and because she has a Retirement plan. The school only takes contributions for her retirement and do not take contribution for social security. So when we file our taxed there is always a short fall in taxes paid in to Social Security due to no Social security withholding. Therefor we have to make up that difference. Any entries entered into out 1040 for her retirement contributions does not affect our total contributions ( mainly do to the Social security contribution being allocated to retirement).

[VolvoGirl]

How do you have to make up the shortfall?  That should not be on your tax return.  Where are you seeing it on your tax return?  You only pay SS & Medicare tax if you have self employment income.  And I don't think when you go to SS to apply for benefits you have to pay extra in to make it up.  Does one of you also get SS benefits on a SSA-1099?  

[Dajohnson]

Turbotax calculates the amount contributed versus the required contribution. When entering the amount contributed into retirement. It appears to make no difference to the calculations as it does with a Social security contribution. We pay the short fall through a end of year payment. Which also concerns me, because we most likely will.not be reimbursed for that come retirement. Should she be paying in social security as well as retirement?

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry I'm still not following you.  Turbo Tax does not calculate any required contribution.  Where on your actual 1040 (and schedules) do you see an amount for SS tax?  If you have a lot of investments there is a extra Medicare tax.  But that is offset with an extra amount on line 16 with withholding.  I'll try to find someone else to help.  @dmertz

[dmertz]

Perhaps this is a situation where your wife is not subject to Social Security tax at all because the employer provides a retirement pension that substitutes for Social Security.  I'm not familiar with these situations.

[DawnC]

What state does she teach in?   Are boxes 3 and 4 empty?  Any codes in boxes 12 -14?   If your wife is a teacher that participates in a retirement plan through the state, she probably does not need to be making that yearly 'shortfall' payment.