Never mind. I see that the needed worksheet is included in the 1040 instructions book. Now I remember that that's been true in the past
too.
But I still thought you might like this story, and questions a and c
were less important but still could use answers:
This year to calcullate the taxable portion of my Social Security, I
dl'd the Social Security Benefits Worksheet�Lines 5a and 5b. This form
was directly referred to in the 1040 instructions.
a) Less important than b: When I got to the bottom, add this, multiply
this, compare this, over and over, I had no idea what the goal was, how
the calculations arrived at some statutory or reasonable or even
unreasonable goal as to how much should be taxable. In fact I got two
separate deductions from gross income for being single. (and others also
get two, just different amounts.) Does anyone know the goal of the calculations?
b) and then I noticed the almost final line instruction: "Also enter
this amount on Form 1040, line 5b . . . . . . . . . ". but it actually
goes into line *6*b. How could they get that wrong?
And then I noticed more of the heading, "2018 Form 1040�Lines 5a and
5b". 2018!!!!!!
I got this form straight from the IRS.
https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/social_security_benefits_worksheet_1040i.pdf
It was the second hit in google and the first that seemed to apply:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=social+security+worksheet+irs
(although I know google gives different results to different people.)
The first hit was
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/n703.pdf Notice 703
(Rev. November 2024)
Read This To See if Your Social Security Benefits May Be Taxable.
But it's not a worksheet and doesnt' reach an amount.
It refers to IRS Pub. 915 and Social Security Benefits in your 2024
federal income tax return instructions. Aha! That's where it is. They
really should get rid of that one from 2018!!
c) How come the computerized service at Social Security, to learn the
total paid, is not 24/7. It has a lot of hours, "Online Services Hours
of Service: Monday - Friday 4:15 AM - 1 AM ET | Saturday 5 AM - 11 PM
ET | Sunday 8 AM - 11:30 PM ET" but it's a computer: Why not 23 or
24/7?
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