Still waiting for our SSA-1099 to arrive in the mail - is this normal?

Don't panic yet! The SSA is required to mail out all SSA-1099 forms by January 31st, but that doesn't mean you'll receive it immediately after that date. Mail delivery can take 1-2 weeks depending on your location, and there are often processing delays at the SSA when they're sending out millions of these forms at once. Since you only received two payments last year, the amount on your SSA-1099 is probably relatively small in the grand scheme of your tax return. If you know the exact payment amounts you received, you could technically report that income even without the form - the SSA-1099 is just confirmation of what was paid to you. Have you tried calling the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213? They might be able to tell you when your form was mailed or even provide the information over the phone.

I was in the exact same situation last year! Couldn't log into the stupid SSA website no matter what I tried, and kept waiting for the paper form. After weeks of stress, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was a lifesaver. I uploaded my bank statements showing the two social security deposits, and their system actually helped identify those payments and include them properly on my return without needing the official SSA-1099. Their software analyzed my bank deposits and matched them to the expected payments from SSA. This way I didn't have to delay filing while waiting for the form to maybe show up eventually. They also helped me calculate the taxable portion correctly since only part of social security benefits are taxable depending on your other income. Definitely worth checking out if you're still stuck waiting!

Just wanted to follow up - I actually tried taxr.ai after my initial skepticism, and it worked great! I uploaded my bank statements showing my SSA deposits, and it pulled everything together perfectly. The system even flagged that my benefits might be partially taxable based on my other income and helped calculate the correct amount. I filed my taxes last week using their information instead of waiting for the paper SSA-1099 (which STILL hasn't arrived). The best part was seeing confirmation that my reported numbers exactly matched what the SSA had on file. Really took the stress out of the situation!

If you really need to talk to someone at the SSA about your missing 1099, good luck getting through their phone system. I tried for DAYS and kept getting disconnected or stuck on endless hold. Then someone told me about Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, they navigate the SSA phone system for you and call you back when they've got an actual human on the line. I was super frustrated with waiting for my SSA-1099 too, and within an hour of using their service, I was talking to a real SSA representative who confirmed my form was sent and helped me get my benefit information so I could file my taxes. Way better than wasting hours on hold or continuing to wait for a form that might be lost in the mail!

I need to publicly admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment yesterday, I went ahead and tried it because I was at my wit's end with the SSA. Within 40 minutes, my phone rang and there was an actual SSA representative on the line! They confirmed my SSA-1099 was mailed on January 29th and gave me all the information that would be on it, including the exact benefit amount I received last year. The rep even emailed me a confirmation I could use for my tax filing. I'm still shocked it worked so well. After weeks of frustration, I finally have what I needed to complete my taxes. If your SSA-1099 is missing and you're stuck, this is legitimately worth trying.

Another tip - if you're married filing jointly, check if the SSA-1099 might have been sent to your spouse instead of you. My husband and I were both waiting for his form, and it turned out they had mailed it to me as the primary tax filer from last year. The envelope wasn't clearly marked as containing a tax document so I almost tossed it! Something to check before panicking.

LPT: if this happens again next year, try accessing the mySocialSecurity site very early in the morning (like 5-6am) or very late at night. Their servers get completely overloaded during tax season during normal hours. I couldn't log in for weeks during business hours, then tried at 5:30am and got right in!

As a tax professional, I want to emphasize that while these alternative solutions like taxr.ai and Claimyr might be helpful, the most important thing is accuracy. The IRS does allow you to report Social Security income without the physical SSA-1099 form, but you need to be absolutely certain of the amounts. If you received only two payments in 2023, you should be able to find the exact amounts on your bank statements or by checking your Social Security account online during off-peak hours (as others mentioned). The key is that whatever you report must match exactly what the SSA reports to the IRS. For future reference, SSA-1099 forms are typically available online by February 1st even if the mailed versions are delayed. But definitely try the early morning login trick - I've recommended this to many clients with success. Don't let a delayed form prevent you from filing on time, especially since you can always file an amended return later if needed.