Social Security benefits - will SSA send me a tax form for filing?

Social Security doesn't send W-2 forms. They send what's called a Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefit Statement) that shows the total benefits you received during the tax year. These are typically mailed by January 31st each year. You'll use this form to determine if your benefits are taxable - which depends on your combined income. Up to 85% of your benefits might be taxable if your income is high enough.

You should also know that you might need to pay quarterly estimated taxes on your SS benefits depending on your total income. I didn't know this when I first started receiving benefits and got hit with an underpayment penalty! The IRS doesn't automatically withhold taxes from SS payments unless you specifically request it by filing a W-4V form.

To add to what others said, if you don't receive your SSA-1099 by early February, you can request a replacement through your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. You can also call the SSA to request one, but good luck actually getting through to a person - their phone lines are constantly jammed. You can also calculate if you want tax withholding from your benefits by using the IRS calculator and then submit form W-4V if you decide you want withholding.

i get ss disability not retirement but its the same form. they always mail it early january for me, never had to request it. but you can also see and print it online if you set up mySocialSecurity account. thats easier then waiting for mail

Remember if your only income is Social Security you probably don't even need to file taxes! Lots of retirees with just SS income don't have to file at all. But since you mentioned working part-time, you'll probably need to file. Just thought I'd mention it though.

When I started getting my SS benefits last year, I was also confused about the tax situation. One thing I didn't realize is that the SSA-1099 won't show up until NEXT January (January 2025) for benefits you received in 2024. So you won't get anything from them this calendar year. The form will cover all benefits you received from August through December 2024.

You might want to talk to a tax professional if this is your first year with both work income and Social Security. The calculations can get complicated, especially with the earned income thresholds if you're under full retirement age. I'm 63 and still working part-time, and I had to pay back some benefits last year because I earned too much. The limit for 2024 is $21,240 if you're under FRA.

Didn't see it mentioned but don't forget about STATE taxes too! Some states tax Social Security and some don't. I moved from Minnesota to Florida partly because MN taxes SS benefits and FL doesn't. Smart to check your state rules!

Just wanted to add something that might help with planning - if you're going to be working part-time and receiving Social Security, you might want to consider having taxes withheld from your part-time job wages to cover any taxes owed on your SS benefits. This can be easier than dealing with quarterly estimated payments. You can adjust your W-4 with your part-time employer to have extra federal tax withheld beyond what's needed for your wages. Many people find this simpler than calculating and making quarterly payments to the IRS. Just another option to consider when you're planning your tax strategy!

One thing I'd add is to keep good records throughout the year! Since this is your first year dealing with Social Security taxes, I'd recommend creating a simple spreadsheet or folder to track your SSA-1099 when it arrives, any quarterly payments you make, and records from your part-time work. Also, if you do decide to have taxes withheld from your Social Security benefits using Form W-4V, keep a copy of that form for your records. The IRS loves documentation, and having everything organized will make tax filing much less stressful next year. I learned this the hard way during my first year of retirement - wish someone had told me to start organizing early!

I went through this exact same situation when I started my Social Security benefits two years ago! The learning curve is real, but you're asking all the right questions. One thing I'd add that I wish I had known earlier - if you end up owing taxes on your Social Security benefits, the IRS has a "safe harbor" rule where you won't get penalized for underpayment as long as you pay at least 100% of what you owed the previous year (or 110% if your prior year AGI was over $150,000). This can give you some breathing room in your first year while you figure out the right withholding amounts. Also, don't stress too much about getting everything perfect right away - you can always adjust your withholding or estimated payments as you learn more about your actual tax situation. The important thing is that you're being proactive about understanding your obligations!

As someone who just went through my first year filing taxes with Social Security benefits, I wanted to add a couple of practical tips that helped me. First, if you're using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, they have specific sections for Social Security income that walk you through the calculations - it's not as scary as it seems! Second, I found it really helpful to estimate my taxes quarterly using the IRS Form 1040ES worksheet, even though I ended up having extra withheld from my part-time job instead of making quarterly payments. The worksheet helped me understand how much I might owe and plan accordingly. Finally, don't forget that if you do end up having taxes withheld from your Social Security benefits, it will show up on your SSA-1099 in a separate box, so you'll get credit for those payments when you file. The whole process gets much easier after the first year once you understand your specific situation!

I just want to echo what everyone has said here - this thread has been incredibly comprehensive! One small thing I'd add that helped me when I started receiving benefits: consider downloading and saving a digital copy of your SSA-1099 from your mySocialSecurity account as soon as it's available in January, even if you're getting the paper version mailed. I had a situation where my mailed copy got lost, and having that digital backup saved me weeks of waiting for a replacement. Also, if you're tech-savvy, you can set up email or text notifications through your mySocialSecurity account to alert you when your SSA-1099 is ready to view online - usually happens a few days before the paper versions are mailed out. Small details like this can make the whole process smoother!