How to File Joint Tax Returns When One Spouse Is on Social Security
Reporting Social Security benefits on a joint tax return requires a few extra steps. Complete a worksheet to determine how much, if any, of the Social Security benefits are taxable, then add the information to your tax form. Couples who file their own taxes should be able to complete this process.
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Instructions
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Social Security Benefits Worksheet
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1
Complete the first page of your tax return, skipping the social security line, the total income line, and the adjusted gross income line.
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2
Locate the social security benefits worksheet in the 1040 Instructions. Follow the detailed directions on the worksheet to be sure you have the latest information.
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3
Enter your social security benefits amount, divide by 2 and enter this amount on the appropriate line.
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4
Add up all of your non-social security income from the right column of the income sections of the 1040, and enter the total on the worksheet.
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5
Add together the income amounts you just entered---half of the social security and all of the non-social security income---and enter the sum on the worksheet.
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6
Add the adjustments to your income, check the worksheet to see which should be excluded, and subtract the sum from the total income in step 5. If this amount is zero or less, enter -0- as your taxable social security income on the 1040 and skip to step 9.
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7
Subtract the amount indicated on the worksheet from the difference found in step 6. If this amount is zero or less, enter -0- as your taxable social security income on the 1040 and skip to step 9.
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8
Follow the steps on the worksheet to determine any taxable social security at this point. Have your calculator handy, the final steps can be tricky. Enter the amount found, or -0- if a negative number, as your taxable social security income on the 1040.
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9
On the 1040, add your taxable social security benefit to your other taxable income amounts and enter the sum on the total income line.
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10
Subtract your total adjustments from the total income to find your adjusted gross income. Enter this in the bottom line on the first page of the 1040 and the top line on the second page.
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11
Complete your tax return as normal.
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Tips & Warnings
If any of your calculations end with a negative number, always use -0-.
Consult a professional tax preparer with any questions or concerns you may have about this process.
Review the exceptions on the 1040 instructions to determine if you should use another method of figuring your taxable Social Security benefits.
