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February 22, 2021
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Deferred Social Security Taxes

  • February 22, 2021
  • 2 replies
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Why does TurboTax say I deferred some of my Social Security taxes last year?  I'm pretty sure I didn't defer any taxes, unless my employer did it.  What makes the application think I did this?

    Best answer by RayW7

    You probably did not defer anything.  Your employer was allowed to defer this tax.

    Check the amounts in box 3 of your W-2 and the amount in box 4.  Box 4 should be 6.2% of Box 3. 

     

     

    This does not affect your tax return, only your social security account. For most employees no action is required.

     

    Review the IRS Notice 2020-65 which explains more about this topic.

     

    To Employers

    If you deferred the employee portion of Social Security tax under Notice 2020-65, when reporting total Social Security wages paid to an employee on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, include any wages for which you deferred withholding and payment of employee Social Security tax in box 3 (Social security wages) and/or box 7 (Social security tips). However, do not include in box 4 (Social security tax withheld) any amount of deferred employee Social Security tax that has not been withheld.

     

    To Employees:

    If you had only one employer during 2020 and your Form W-2c, Corrected Wages and Tax Statement, for 2020 (if you get one later), only shows a correction to box 4 (or to box 14 for employees who pay RRTA tax) to account for employee Social Security (or Tier 1 RRTA tax) that was deferred in 2020 and withheld in 2021 pursuant to Notice 2020-65, no further steps are required. 

     

     

     

    2 replies

    RayW7
    RayW7Answer
    February 22, 2021

    You probably did not defer anything.  Your employer was allowed to defer this tax.

    Check the amounts in box 3 of your W-2 and the amount in box 4.  Box 4 should be 6.2% of Box 3. 

     

     

    This does not affect your tax return, only your social security account. For most employees no action is required.

     

    Review the IRS Notice 2020-65 which explains more about this topic.

     

    To Employers

    If you deferred the employee portion of Social Security tax under Notice 2020-65, when reporting total Social Security wages paid to an employee on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, include any wages for which you deferred withholding and payment of employee Social Security tax in box 3 (Social security wages) and/or box 7 (Social security tips). However, do not include in box 4 (Social security tax withheld) any amount of deferred employee Social Security tax that has not been withheld.

     

    To Employees:

    If you had only one employer during 2020 and your Form W-2c, Corrected Wages and Tax Statement, for 2020 (if you get one later), only shows a correction to box 4 (or to box 14 for employees who pay RRTA tax) to account for employee Social Security (or Tier 1 RRTA tax) that was deferred in 2020 and withheld in 2021 pursuant to Notice 2020-65, no further steps are required. 

     

     

     

    March 15, 2021

    Social Security tax was not deferred for 2019. SSI wages was entered in error at a lessor amount.  The SSI tax withheld was correct.  How do I correct the 1040 for 2019?

    March 15, 2021

    If the social security tax or social security wages was the only item that was not correct on the 2019 tax return, the W-2 was filed with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the IRS.  There may be no reason for you to correct your tax return for this reason.

     

    Go to 'My Social Security' to review your account or create an account.  Once you sign in, review your social security statement to confirm the actual wages were correct for your social security account.

     

    If you cannot handle your business through their automated services, you can speak to a Social Security representative by calling toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm., Monday through Friday.  (call early or late for lowest hold times)

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    February 10, 2022

    I'm retired (75 years old) and don't pay SS taxes anymore. So why am I being told that I will receive a W-2C for deferred SS taxes? My W-2 is for life insurance greater than $50,000 that my past employer pays for. They did not take our SS taxes, but that shouldn't matter since I am no longer required to pay SS taxes.

    Critter-3
    February 10, 2022

    @rgrthumb 

     

    That is not true ... just because you get SS benefits doesn't make you immune to paying FICA taxes on something reported on a W-2 ... the box 12 codes M & N are for the "uncollected" FICA taxes on the life insurance the company pays for.  So all you need to do is enter the W-2 as printed and the program will do the rest.  

    February 11, 2022

    I don't get it. I've been receiving the same W-2 for the last 10 years (with no FICA taken in any of those years), and this is the first time I'm told a W-2C will be coming. What makes this year different?