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Level 2
posted Mar 12, 2025 5:45:42 PM

Tax on Social Security

TurboTax did not include any social security income as taxable and I got a letter from the IRS.  Why didn't TurboTax include taxable SS when I was responsible for tax on that line?  This needs to be fixed asap 

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1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Mar 15, 2025 4:37:12 AM

Thank you for sending over your token.

 

I see that your Social Security benefits were excluded on the Social Security worksheet because of treaty benefits. There's a question asking if you lived in Canada, Egypt, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Romania, or the UK. It's answered yes in the program (see screenshot). The US doesn't tax SS benefits for citizens living in these countries, in an attempt to eliminate double taxation.

 

Were you living in one of these countries in 2024?

 

 

 

@rreiland 

24 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 12, 2025 5:48:22 PM

Was this for your 2024 return or a prior year? What was your filing status? Did you have other income that was properly reported on the return?

Level 2
Mar 12, 2025 6:37:40 PM

2024 filing, married filed jointly, only one of us had SS income.  Yes, all other income was reported properly but TurboTax listed zero as our tax on SS which was caught by the IRS and deducted from our refund.  I called TurboTax to question this omission so it can be corrected in the future, but no one has called.  Case # 1546032904.  I called Sat 3/8 and the rep said someone would call within 72 hours...didn't happen.  I need to know what went wrong so it doesn't happen again.

Expert Alumni
Mar 12, 2025 6:45:18 PM

To clarify, can you look at your 1040 and tell us what is reported on your 1040 line 6a and also line 6b?

Level 2
Mar 12, 2025 6:49:11 PM

$9,096. on line 6a, and 0 on line 6b

Expert Alumni
Mar 12, 2025 6:53:07 PM

Thank you, were there any other adjustments? Any other income not reported? 

 

Level 2
Mar 12, 2025 7:00:26 PM

Not sure what you mean by "adjustments" - to what?  I reported all other income properly, the problem is that I owed tax on our SS income, and TurboTax reported that amount as zero.  There are only 3 reasons I can figure:

1.  I answered a question incorrectly when responding to TurboTax

2.  The IRS is wrong.

3.  TurboTax reported zero incorrectly (most likely - need to know why)

 

Side note:  It's funny that this system liste me as a new member, but I have been using TurboTax since 2017

Level 15
Mar 13, 2025 6:41:21 AM

It's tough to answer a question like that without actually having a copy of what you actually filed. @NE of the TTX "Experts" may ask for a diagnostic file from your taxes to look at what was on your actual tax file.

_______________________

Usually, something like this happens when some other income you entered did not actually show up as taxable income....and the IRS catches the missing income.  For instance, if you missed entering Tax-exempt income on line 2a, or missed entering some other pension or IRA income as being taxable income on lines 4b or 5b.

______________

in the meantime, "maybe" one of us can figure out whether TTX reported it right based on your actual entries......so....what's on:

1) box 5 of your SSA-1099

2) line 2a of your form 1040

3) line 11 of your form 1040

 

Level 2
Mar 13, 2025 6:51:13 AM

I called days ago asking a call back - no one has called to resolve this problem.  I have used TurboTax for 15 years, but this may be the last due to the lack of support I have requested which is minimal.

Level 2
Mar 13, 2025 7:19:31 AM

Answers to your questions:

1) box 5 of your SSA-1099 - $9,096 (as answered previously in this chat string)

2) line 2a of your form 1040 - zero

3) line 11 of your form 1040 - $130,294

Level 15
Mar 13, 2025 7:47:30 AM

One thing could be if you got any 1099R for IRA,  401k or pensions.  It might have been reported on the wrong line 4 or 5 so the IRS missed it and added it on to your return again which made some of your SS taxable.   If a 1099R has the little IRA box checked (between boxes 7&8) then it goes on line 4, otherwise no checkmark goes on line 5.  

Level 15
Mar 13, 2025 7:55:07 AM

Yep... limited to that information, 85% of your SS should have showed up on line 6b of the 1040.

 

The only way for TTX to figure out what happened, would be to get a Diagnostic copy from you, that they can look over in detail to see what was going on.

 

@KrisD15    @KeshaH    Either of you want to look into this?

 

 

Level 2
Mar 13, 2025 8:40:25 AM

The first thing I did was call TurboTax and spoke to someone who couldn't help me but opened a case number as shown early in this chat thread.  Why can't someone simply do what was requested to begin with (go over it on line with me on the phone)?

 

This piecemeal approach with 4-5 different people is highly frustrating and has only lead to guesses and speculation.

Level 2
Mar 13, 2025 8:52:55 PM

Same here and when I called the so called tax expert said "it isn't taxable" when I had her look further into it, after an hour on the phone she said that she submitted to the investigation team and I would hear something in 48ours, only to get an email from intuit stating something totally different, this system seems to be operating by AI there isn't a human being responding with these lame suggestions. the next email was asking me to complete a survey???!!!! and stated the case was CLOSED??!!!  I still haven't gotten this remedied in the system and I need to prepare an amended return!!!!  I will not use this system next year!!!!!!!

Level 2
Mar 13, 2025 8:57:32 PM

Yes it was for 2024 Yes I had additional Income and filed Single and my Social Security should have been taxed however the 6B box was filed with a 0 as taxable income which completely messed up and delayed my return!!! I have made several calls to Intuit and sent messages to NO AVAIL. I finally got someone to actually look into it today who after an hour on the phone finally said it was being referred to the investigation team and I would hear something in 48 hours and I then get an email stating the case was CLOSED!!! what is really going on with this System and Company the Support SUCKS!! 

Level 2
Mar 13, 2025 9:01:59 PM

All of the income information was entered correctly you guys have an issue with the system PERIOD and someone needs to take this seriously and look into this matter this is frustrating that we are getting this jerk around response for something we did not create.  If we have been using this system for several years and all at once this is happening, there has to be something going on in the system that is glitching.

Level 2
Mar 13, 2025 9:03:17 PM

That is NOT what happened PLEASE put the report and look into this matter

Level 2
Mar 13, 2025 9:04:20 PM

TTX has OUR report they don't need to get one from us!! it is in their system 

Expert Alumni
Mar 14, 2025 4:36:21 AM

I'd like to get a diagnostic copy of your return so that we can see exactly what happened and possibly open an investigation into why your social security income was not properly reported on your return. The diagnostic copy will be scrubbed and won't include any of your personal details.

 

If you're using TurboTax Online:

Once you're logged in to your account,

- on the left hand panel, click on Tax Tools and then choose Tools

- on the pop up window, select Share my file with Agent

- you'll see a message saying you'll give us a copy of your tax return. Your personal information will be changed so we can't see any private information.

- click okay and you'll get another message with a token

 

If you're using TurboTax Desktop:

  • Click on Online in the top menu of TurboTax Desktop for Windows
  • Select 'Send Tax File to Agent'
  • Write down or send an image of your token number and state then place in this issue.
  • We can then review your exact scenario for a solution

 

Please reply to this message with your token so that we can further assist you. Let us know all other states, if any, that are included on the return.

 

@rreiland @johnsomd2 

Level 15
Mar 14, 2025 5:28:54 AM

@johnsomd2 

 

No...they desperately need that Diagnostic code.

 

Yes, your file may be on their computer system.....but,  they have no access to your actual files without that special Diagnostic copy.

______________________

That's a data safety issue.....If their people had access to everyone's data at all times, think of the massive identity theft issues that would be presented with millions of names, birthdates, SSNs at risk.

 

A diagnostic copy just cleans out that "personal" information before sending your files data to the agent investigating the problem.

 

Level 2
Mar 14, 2025 6:54:27 AM

I do not see ANY of the menus or drop downs you mention.  I looked at the desktop, android app, and website app from my phone.  None of those choices are shown.  I also did a help search - no results.

Level 15
Mar 14, 2025 7:01:58 AM

@rreiland 

 

@rreiland 

On your computer (not on a phone)....log into your account.

 

Then look below the display of Fed and State acceptaces.....there should be a blue line of text to click on that says "Add a State"  (you won't actually be adding one)....once you get into your actual tax file...NOW the Tax Tools selection shows up.

___________________

When posting the Diag file number...check it after posting...sometime the computer AI thinks it is a telephone number, and you might have to repost it...either by inserting a few spaces in the number, or by uploading a scrrenshot.

Level 2
Mar 14, 2025 7:12:12 AM

Token is 12888 183 no spaces

Expert Alumni
Mar 15, 2025 4:37:12 AM

Thank you for sending over your token.

 

I see that your Social Security benefits were excluded on the Social Security worksheet because of treaty benefits. There's a question asking if you lived in Canada, Egypt, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Romania, or the UK. It's answered yes in the program (see screenshot). The US doesn't tax SS benefits for citizens living in these countries, in an attempt to eliminate double taxation.

 

Were you living in one of these countries in 2024?

 

 

 

@rreiland 

Level 2
Mar 15, 2025 7:29:26 AM

Good catch Kesha!  No, I have never lived abroad (US only).  I'm surprised there wasn't a follow up question asking which country for those of us who made a mistake to confirm...anyway, should I file an amendment?  What do you suggest?