Contributed by KeriC, FreeTaxUSA Agent, Tax Pro
Generally, if your only income is your Social Security benefits, you don’t need to file a tax return.
Reportable Social Security benefits include yours or your spouse’s monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. Social Security benefits including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for, or on behalf of, a dependent are not reportable or taxable on your return.
However, there are some circumstances when you will need to file a return even if your only income is from Social Security.
- Your filing status is Married Filing Separate.
- If your filing status is Married Filing Separate, you are required to file if your income, including Social Security benefits, is greater than $5. Or,
- You have tax-exempt income in addition to Social Security benefits.
- When your tax-exempt income combined with your benefits exceed the gross income threshold for your filing status, you are required to file a tax return.
If you are still unsure whether or not you need to file a return, the IRS has an interactive tool that can help you determine if you need to file: Do I need to file a tax return?
You can also go to this IRS link or Table 1-1 of IRS Publication 17 to review the filing requirements.
Also See:
Do I need to file a tax return? - FreeTaxUSA Community
Do I need to file a tax return if I am a dependent who has income? - FreeTaxUSA Community
