Excess social security and Tier 1 RRTA tax withheld means that you overpaid on the amount of Social Security from your paychecks. This usually occurs when you change jobs or work multiple jobs. Look at box 3 from your W-2s. If they add up to more than $132,900, then you overpaid and it will be credited to you on your tax return. You will see it on line 18 (d) if your return.
I don't know about RRTA tax but for excess Social Security.....Did you have 1 employer or more?
One Employer:
Try leaving the cents off box 4.
Check boxes 3 & 4 on your W2. Box 4 should be 6.2% of box 3 up to a max of $8,537.40. So take the amount in box 3 and multiply it by .062. If box 4 is more than that you need to get a corrected W2 from your employer. But also go back and double check your W2 entries, you may have entered box 3 & 4 wrong. A lot of people who have asked this found they did enter an amount wrong.
Or check W2 box 12. You may have entered Code A by mistake.
A sure way to fix this is to delete the W2 and re-enter it. That may clear something out.
Or post back with the amounts in boxes 3&4.
I did not find this on line 18 on my 1040. Does Turbo Tax 2021 software include this module to apply for such excess social security refund? Thanks.
Yes, If you paid excess Social Security Tax it will be automatically calculated. You don't enter anything. Just enter all your W2s. If you had more than 1 employer and paid more than the max SS in box 4 you get it back. And it is for each spouse separately, not combined. For 2021 it will be on Schedule 3 line 11 which goes to 1040 line 31.
Before filing you can preview the 1040 or print the whole return. You have to pay any fees first before you can see all the forms, etc.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/accessing/help/how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing/00/26160
And as for the prior answer above, line 18d is the wrong line for 2020. That was the line for 2019. It changed to line 31 in 2020 and 2021.
For 2021 the max for Social Security is $8,853.60 on $142,800 of wages.
For 2021 it will be on Schedule 3 line 11 which goes to 1040 line 31.
Thanks. Do you know if I can import my H&R Block tax return from last year if I switch to TurboTax this year ? I am unable to confirm this for H&R and I rather switch.
You might be able to transfer if you have the pdf file. But the pdf only transfer you name and very basic info.
How to transfer into Turbo Tax Online, including from a pdf file or other software or from the Desktop program
Does TurboTax calculate this automatically if you switched jobs during the year, but with the same employer? TurboTax is giving me the message 'You may be due a refund from your employer' and just telling me that I need to get a W-2c from my employer, but they won't provide that.
Thanks
Yes Turbo Tax will if the EIN is different for each W2. If it is the same EIN then you have to get the excess back from them. I'll try to find IRS info so you can show them.
Thank you. EIN is the same, but my employer has said that they won't give me the excess back, I need to get back from IRS when I file my taxes. They have provided a letter confirming overpayment that I can 'use as proof', but I'm completely lost as to how I actually claim the overpayment so I can be reimbursed.
If you got 2 W2s from the same employer with the same EIN on them you have to get the excess ss back from the employer.
See 1040 Instructions page 103 for line 11
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf
It says……
But if any one employer withheld more than $8,853.60, you can't claim the excess on your return. The employer should adjust the tax for you. If the employer doesn't adjust the overcollection, you can file a claim for refund using Form 843.
Here you go.....
Form 843
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f843.pdf
Form 843 Instructions
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i843.pdf
I worked for two employers and thus had an excess of social security removed for 2021. This amount does show on Line 31 of my 1040 return, which I e-filed last night.
How do I get the refund for this sum, though? Does the IRS observe that line and issue me a check? Do they notify the Social Security Administration and they send a check? Do I need to send in an additional form separately? Thank you.
You don’t need to do anything else – no additional paperwork is required of you.
If you have a refund coming on your return, it’ll be included in your refund amount. If you have a balance due, it's included in the computation for that, as well.
The IRS doesn’t notify Social Security; it merely verifies that the excess amount you reported is correct.
Thank you, John. I see that it was credited towards tax owed. I had to look closer to see it. Thank you.
We got a letter from the IRS stating:
"The formd W-2, submitted with your tax return, are insufficient to support the amount you claimed for excess social security and tier 1 RRTA tax withheld on your Form 1040. Send us all the Forms W-2 used to support your claim for excess SST/RRTA."
Does this refer to what you are explaining? My husband switched jobs in mid-2021 so just trying to piece the puzzle together as to what the IRS is claiming/wanting.
It’s difficult to tell who’s post you’re referring to, but here’s the long and short of it.
For tax year 2021, no taxpayer should have more than $8,853.60 in Social Security withholdings. That’s the maximum allowed by law.
If any one taxpayer has more than that withheld, they’re entitled to a refund of the excess.
If one employer withheld too much, you’ll have to contact the employer about getting the excess amount back.
But if an excess has been withheld, in combination, by more than one employer, you claim the excess on your tax return.
The IRS is indicating that you claimed an excess amount on your return, but it doesn’t have documentation to substantiate it. That’s why they want to see your Forms W-2.
For a more in-depth explanation, please see the TurboTax Help article Can I get a refund for excess Social Security tax withheld?.
I filed my taxes with the W2s I received from my employer, but I separately completed and sent Form 843 (https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i843) with proof of my overpayment, and a letter from my employer saying that I overpaid. I owe on my federal taxes this year, but I have not paid yet, as I am waiting for the IRS to confirm the amount that I owe (e.g., subtracting my overpayment on social security).
Thank you so much! That was very helpful! Currently on the phone with the IRS and they are looking in to it but I will submit my W-2s just for them to verify
"If you had more than 1 employer and paid more than the max SS in box 4 you get it back. And it is for each spouse separately, not combined."
Does Max social security of $8854 is calculated separately for each spouse. On my W2 , my employer has deducted Max social security of 8854
But my spouse has multiple employers and they have deducted a total of $2528 of social security on those W2s. Does that mean we can get a social security credit of excess social security deducted as combined both of us exceeds $8854 , but separately neither of us, but or coming status is, "married filing jointly"
Please let me know.
Thanks in advance
No. It's only for 1 person. Not combined. Only if 1 spouse had several jobs and they went over the max. Each person is separate. The max is per person. So your max is 8854 and her max is 8854. Hope that clears it up.
That's why it's very important to enter each W2 under the right name. So you don't claim any excess on your return. That messes people up.