 Income tax 2023-2024. Social security number SSN. Get ready and some coffee because we need to know a lot of information to do income tax preparation 2023-2024. Most of this information can be found in the line instructions of form 1040 instructions tax year 2023 which you can find on the IRS website at irs.gov irs.gov social security number or SSN so obviously the IRS sees us as a number we've got to have the right number in order to properly file the tax return noting that oftentimes the tax returns are filed electronically these days so we're going to need that social security number matching up properly with the name so that we can make sure and be able to process the returns on that electronic format otherwise it might get kicked back to us and we're going to have some workarounds on what we're going to do from that point possibly fixing the name and or social security number possibly having to file if we can't in some other way such as by paper for example so an incorrect or missing SSN otherwise known as social security number can increase your tax reduce your refund or delay your refund which are all of course not good results to be having here so we don't want to confuse the IRS this is the general rule don't confuse the IRS you're just going to get into a bureaucratic boondoggle and it's going to cause problems keep it simple make it make it easy for the IRS to get things done over there so to apply for an SSN social security number we're going to fill out form SS5 and return it along with the appropriate evidence documents to the social security administration so note we're talking about two federal agencies but don't make the mistake thinking that all government entities are in essence the same you are going to the social security administration that's not the same thing as going to the IRS you want to keep the agencies straight the social security number you're typically dealing with the social security administration ssa they communicate with the IRS in that that's the number that's going to be recognized when you file the tax return so then the ssa the social security administration assigns the name and the number which then should be recognized by the IRS when you file the tax returns but if there's a problem with that number you don't go to the IRS typically you're going to have to go to the social security administration first a word from our sponsor yeah actually we're sponsoring ourselves on this one because apparently the merchandisers they don't want to be seen with us but but that's okay whatever because our merchandise is is better than their stupid stuff anyways like this CPA thinking cap for example CPA thinking CAP you see what we did with like with the letters and this CPA thinking cap is not just for CPAs either anyone can and should have at least one possibly multiple CPA thinking caps why because based on our scientific survey of five people all of whom directly profit from the sale of these CPA thinking caps wearing this CPA thinking cap without a doubt according to the survey increases accounting productivity ten fold yeah at least yeah apparently the hat actually channels like accounting energy from the quantum field ether directly in your head allowing you to navigate spreadsheets faster it's kind of like how in like the matrix when neo learns kung fu or at least that's what the scientific survey saying so get one because the scientific survey participants could really use some extra cash if you would like a commercial free experience consider subscribing to our website at accountinginstruction.com or accountinginstruction.thinkific.com so you get form SS five online at ssa.gov forward slash forms forward slash SS five dot PDF from your local SS a office or by calling the SS a at and there's a number here eight zero zero seven seven two one two one three that you can take a look at so obviously you might visit the social security administration website if you have an office there you can go to the office and you might contact them by phone if necessary so it usually takes about two weeks to get an SS in once the SS a has all the evidence and information that it needs so check that both the name and social security number on form ten forty or ten forty SR W two and ten ninety nine agree with your social security card in other words when we file the tax return you often times we're going to electronically file it so we have to have the salt the number needs to match the name that we're processing now note if you use software you will often be paying paying for the software possibly by return if that's the case then it's usually the social security number that triggers the cost of using the software so you that's another reason you don't want to have to change the social security number because that's going to cause a problem in terms of the fee for the software possibly so you want to get the social security number in there properly the first time match it up properly to the name then when you file the tax return then the IRS should be able to recognize it with hopefully the e file if not it might kick it back now also then the forms that we get will typically be processed according to our social security number such as our W two forms and our ten ninety nine for example these forms being forms that the IRS basically forced the person that gave us income in some way to to kind of rat us out to the IRS right to give these forms to the IRS the IRS has the W two is in other words and the ten ninety and the ten ninety nine's they're going to assume that the W twos and the ten ninety nine income should be reported on the tax return related to the social security numbers on the W twos and ten ninety nine's if you file income differently from what's on the W two or ten ninety nine's it's going to cause you a problem typically because the IRS might question that because they have the documentation of the W twos and the ten ninety nine's therefore if you have an issue with the wrong social security number on these income document forms you might want to then contact the person who issued the document employee or the employer or whoever was the contractor so that they can get those adjusted on their end so the IRS has the proper information which will then match up to the tax return that you'll be generating. Okay, so if they don't certain deductions and credits on form ten forty or ten forty SR maybe reduce or disallowed and you may not receive credit for your social security earnings. So obviously the other issue is that your income that you that you get if you have schedule C type of income then you also might have the social security taxes in the form of self employment tax or if you have W two income then you might have withholdings for social security. So the thing with social security is that you're paying into the social security system which is almost being thought of as like a government kind of retirement program these days meaning the more you put into it the more you should get out of it when you retire. I wouldn't depend on that but that's the idea and so so you want to make sure that you have the proper information so that the money that you paid into it's going to give you a benefit when you take it out which means they have to have the proper social security number that your earnings and withholdings for social security have been tied to noting that social security is different than income taxes. But we kind of verify them at a similar time sometimes right because they're both on the W two form with payroll taxes. So if your form W two shows an increase an incorrect SSN social security number or name notify your employer or the form issuing agent as soon as possible to make sure your earnings are credited to your social security record. So in other words if there's a problem with the W two you would think all I'm going to I can go to the IRS and fix that I'll just tell them that my W two is wrong. But the IRS is probably going to say hey look we would like you to fix that with the employer or you have to go to the employer or to reissue or fix update the W two to properly record it because they're the ones that are not only giving it to the IRS but also to the Social Security Administration to make sure that you have the proper withholdings and are allocated the withholdings to the Social Security. So you have to go to the issuer of the form typically which sometime is a pain because you might have quit that job or you don't want to talk to them anymore anything like that. But that's where you that's where you you know you would typically need to go if you can't go there then you might have to take some other action but that's what you would want to do. So if the same name or Social Security on your Social Security card is incorrect you can call the SSA so that you could also call the Social Security Administration. So once you are issued an SSN Social Security number use it to file your tax return. Use your Social Security number to file your tax return even if your Social Security number does not authorize employment or if you have been issued an SSN Social Security number that authorizes employment and you lose your employment authorization and I-10 will not be issued to you once you have been issued an SSN. So if you receive your SSN Social Security number after previously using an I-10 stop using your I-10. So if you don't have a Social Security number you might have an I-10 so they're going to recognize you with an I-10. But once you get the Social Security number basically you're not generally going to go back to using the I-10. Once you have the Social Security number you would then use the Social Security number. So IRS individual taxpayer identification number otherwise known as the I-10s for aliens. So aliens from the United States right. So if you are a non-resident or resident alien and you don't have and aren't eligible to get an SSN Social Security number you must apply for an I-10. Now again if you're a tax preparer this might be a realm of specialization again right because because it's going to be a little bit more you're going to have different issues when you're talking with aliens and different statuses there and that could be something that you want to specialize in or it might be something that you don't want to specialize in because you're not you don't feel as comfortable in that particular area. One of the issues of course being the Social Security number so that they can be identified and be able to work. Now part of the problems with working in the United States when you're not a citizen is this whole issue with the Social Security because then the question is well should they be paying to Social Security because they might not be getting a benefit from Social Security if they're not if they're not a citizen at the time of retirement and so on and so forth and it gets all messy. So it takes about seven weeks to get an I-10. So if you already have an I-10 enter it whenever your Social Security number requested on your tax return. So if you have an I-10 without this but not a Social Security number then the I-10 kind of acts as your identification number as opposed to the Social Security number. So your I-10s must be renewed. So if you haven't used your I-10 on a federal tax return at least once for tax years 2020, 2021 or 2022 it has expired and must be renewed if you need to file a federal tax return. So the I-10s are not you know permanent and therefore you have to keep them up to date so you can properly keep in compliance with the tax code and so on. So you don't need to renew your I-10 if you don't need to file a federal tax return. You can find more information at irs.gov forward slash I-10 tip. I-10s assigned before 2013 have expired and must be renewed if you need to file a tax return. If you previously submitted a renewal application and it was approved you do not need to renew again unless you haven't used your I-10 on a federal tax return at least once for tax years 2020, 2021 or 2022. An I-10 is for tax use only. So it doesn't entitle you into Social Security benefits or change your employment or immigration status under U.S. law. So obviously if someone is here as an alien you know they're not a citizen then they want to work here and be productive and so on. Usually you have to have a Social Security number to do that so that you can be in compliance with the tax code and have the Social Security withholdings which is now kind of part of our federal retirement program kind of system. So if you don't have that then you're going to have to be assigned the temporary number the I-10 which is basically used for identification for tax purposes. Just for that purpose basically only. So once again an I-10 is for tax use only. It doesn't entitle you to Social Security benefits meaning Social Security benefits are when you have payroll tax withholdings withdrawn from the wages and then at retirement you're going to get that money back. Now obviously as a U.S. citizen most people would rather not pay into Social Security and just save for your own retirement would probably be the safer way to go. So that would be I wish I could opt out opt for that option but it is what it is. So or change your employment or immigration status under U.S. law. So for more information on I-10s including application expiration and renewal you can see form W7 and its instructions. So if you receive an SSN after previously using an I-10 stop using your I-10. So you get an SSN then that's it you don't use the I-10 anymore. Use your SSN instead. Visit a local IRS office or write a letter to the IRS explaining that you now have an SSN Social Security number and want all your tax records combined under your SSN Social Security number. Details about what to include with the letter and where to mail it are at IRS.gov forward slash I-10. Non-resident alien spouse if your spouse is a non-resident alien your spouse must have either a Social Security number or an I-10 if you file a joint return. Your spouse is filing a separate return. So you're married you think you'd file a joint return under normal circumstances but now your spouse is a non-resident alien. So you still need that identification then either a Social Security number or an I-10 typically. Presidential election campaign fund this fund helps pay for presidential election campaigns. The fund reduces candidates dependence on large contributions from individuals and groups and places candidates on an equal financial footing in the general election. The fund also helps pay for pediatric medical research. So if you want $3 to go to this fund check the box. If you are filing a joint return your spouse can also have $3 go to the fund. If you check the box your tax or refund won't change. So you could check that question sometimes comes up on checking the box or not so you can kind of explain that box.