Social Security payments including lump sum payments for prior years.

Your brother may need to file a federal tax form 1040 for 2024, even if Social Security payments, including lump sum payments, were his only income. Whether he needs to file depends on the total amount of his Social Security benefits and his filing status.

General Filing Requirements:

• If half of his Social Security benefits plus any other income exceeds $25,000 for single filers or $32,000 for married couples filing jointly, a portion of his benefits may be taxable. If his total income is below these thresholds, he might not need to file.

Married Filing Separately:

• If he lived with his spouse at any time during the year and files separately, his Social Security benefits are generally taxable regardless of the amount.
• If he lived apart from his spouse for the entire year and files separately, his benefits may be taxable if half of his Social Security benefits plus any other income exceeds $25,000.

For more detailed information, you can check the IRS guidelines on Social Security and click the first frequently asked question.