Apparently there's been some changes to the tax law re: Seniors since our filing. Does that affect us?

[jltllt]

Apparently there's been some changes to the tax law re: Seniors since our filing. Does that affect us?

[CatinaT1]

Maybe.  There is a new Senior Tax Deduction and it is automatically calculated by TurboTax if you qualify. The calculation will appear on Schedule 1-A page 2, Part V Enhanced Deduction for Seniors, which is then carried to your Form 1040 line 13b. 

The maximum deduction is $6,000 for each person 65. There is a phaseout of the deduction once your income (MAGI) exceeds $75,000 for single or $150,000 for married filing jointly (MFJ). On a joint return the phaseout is calculated separately for each person.

On a joint return the phaseout is calculated separately for each person, so the 6% phases out for each spouse. This deduction is intended to provide tax relief for seniors and is in addition to the existing Standard Deduction or your Itemized Deductions. Expires December 31, 2028.

[jltllt]

I was "specifically" referring to the Feb tax filing we just completed for 2025.  The reason we ask is to find out if we need to open and RE-run our TurboTax return to see if there's a difference.  Our ONLY income is SSA, 0$ invested; the result of the Feb filing was 0$ owed AND 0$ refund. 

[DoninGA]

@jltllt  If the Social Security benefits is the Only income to be reported on the tax return and there is no federal income taxes being withheld, then there is no reason or need to file a tax return.

Unless you also received a Form 1095-A for your health insurance through one of the State Marketplace Exchanges or from healthcare.gov then you must file a tax return.

With no tax refund, no taxes owed and no taxable income on the return, it cannot be e-filed.

[VolvoGirl]

What do you mean 0$ invested?   What else did you enter on your tax return besides Social Security on SSA-1099?  The new 6,000/12,000 Senior Deduction is on line 13b.   Do you see it there?   

[jltllt]

0$ invested = we have NO investments OR investment income...ONLY SSA!  We let TurboTax file our return & didn't even look at it since 0$ tax AND 0$ refund.  We were just wondering if any of the "mentioned changes" in TurboTax's email affected us and warranted a RE-filing.

[VolvoGirl]

Ok.   Were you able to efile your return with just SS on it?   Or did you print and mail it?   As posted above if you only get SS it is not taxable and you don’t have to file a return.   

[SteamTrain]

The only really recent significant change, is for Idaho tax filings.  And ID doesn't tax SS.

There have been a few, somewhat recent, Federal software fixes to get Energy Credits for home upgrades, that weren't working properly before.