I am on disability and SS Disability is all I have made all year. I do not have disability as a choice to start my return with turbo tax on the first screen?

[cowebb2]

I am separated, no children. I do not understand which catagory I use on "Tell us a bit about you and your taxes" page to get started or do I not file taxes at all?

[CatinaT1]

If you have no other income than SS disability, there is no reason to file a tax return.

[xmasbaby0]

If Social Security was your only income for 2023 then you are not required to file a tax return unless you have a 1095A for marketplace health insurance, or if you had tax withheld from the SS and need to seek a refund.

Who has to file?

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Do-I-Need-to-File-a-Tax-Return%3F

[xmasbaby0]

Oh---wait----you said you are "separated"----so do you mean you are still legally married?   That matters.   If you are legally married and filing separate tax returns---then your SS is taxable on a MFS tax return.  You need to reconsider how you and your spouse are filing.

If you were legally married at the end of 2023 your filing choices are married filing jointly or married filing separately.

Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $27,700 (+$1500 for each spouse 65 or older)  You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit. 

If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return.

 Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Your limit for SALT (state and local taxes and sales tax) will be only $5000 per spouse. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI)

 If  you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice since with online, you get one return per fee.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-married-filing-jointly-vs-married-filing-separately

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901162-married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-separ...

[VolvoGirl]

And  if you try to efile and it won't let  you then try adding $1 of interest to let you efile.  Just enter a fake 1099INT and put $1 in box 1.  It won't affect your return.