My wife and I are both retired and drawing Social Security. Our combined income from SS is around $37,000. Our only other income for the year is her required minimum distribution from her IRA, which is about $2,000. We do not have enough deductions to itemize for 2018. Will we need to fill out the Form 1040 to accommodate the dividend and interest payouts from our retirement portfolio ( which is less than $1000 total payout) along with her RMD? Or will the short form accommodate for the dividends, interest and her RMD? Our combined total income for 2018 will be around $40,000.
The Social Security benefits received plus the small amount of the other income will not be enough for you to be required to file a tax return. None of your income is taxable so there is no need to file a tax return. Unless you have had taxes withheld from the RMD then you should file for a tax refund.
Social Security Retirement/Disability/Survivors benefits becomes taxable when all your other income plus 1/2 your social security reaches:
Married Filing Jointly - $32,000
Single or Head of Household - $25,000
Married Filing Separately - 0
Standard deductions for 2018
Single - $12,000 add $1,600 if age 65 or older
Married Filing Separately - $12,000 add $1,300 if age 65 or older
Married Filing Jointly - $24,000 add $1,300 for each spouse age 65 or older
Head of Household - $18,000 add $1,600 if age 65 or older
Starting in 2018 the forms have changed. Under the new tax laws, there are no more simple Form 1040EZ or 1040A's. Everything goes on a little Form 1040 that has six extra "schedules" with it, and if you need any of those schedules, you are not able to use the Free Edition.
Unless you had withholding from the RMD or you had health insurance thru the ACA you have no need or reason to file a return ... the interest/dividends that accumulate inside a retirement plan or IRA are NOT reported on an income tax return ... only the distribution is.