SSA has issued the following tax reminders that may be helpful when advising your clients:

As another tax season approaches, now is the time to remind your clients to begin gathering forms and documentation from the previous year. The Benefit Statement, also known as the SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S, is a tax form we mail each year in January to people who receive Social Security benefits. It shows the total amount of benefits your clients received from us in the previous year, so they know how much Social Security income to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on their tax return.

If your clients misplace their Benefit Statement, they can instantly get a replacement form with a personal my Social Security account. Replacement tax forms for the previous tax year are generally available beginning February 1 of each year.

To further assist your clients, the IRS Tools webpage offers a wide range of resources that can greatly simplify the tax preparation process. Individuals can use the Interactive Tax Assistant tool to get answers to common tax questions and determine if their Social Security benefits are taxable. Additionally, the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs provide free tax help for the elderly, the disabled, low-to-moderate income and people with limited English proficiency. To locate the nearest VITA or TCE site near you, use the VITA Locator Tool at www.irs.gov/VITA or call 800-906-9887.

Visit SSA’s Information for Tax Preparers webpage to learn more.