Filing taxes for a senior citizan

[HopkinsKCH]

When are you required to file a return for a senior citizen?

[LenaH]

It depends. I have attached the thresholds for the requirement to file (depending on filing status) below.

Whether or not your Social Security income is taxable depends on your total income, including your Social Security plus any other income. Generally speaking, if your only income is Social Security, you probably don't make enough money to be required to file a federal tax return.

For those with additional sources of income, the key figure is the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). The MAGI includes half of your Social Security, plus other sources of income. Once your MAGI exceeds the base amount for your filing status ($32,000 for Married Filing Jointly, otherwise $25,000), at least part of your Social Security income becomes taxable. The taxable portion of your Social Security income increases once you reach additional MAGI thresholds.

To determine if your Social Security income is taxable, all you need to do is enter that income. TurboTax does the rest!