Can I submit Social Security tax withholding forms online or need to visit SSA office?

You don't need to go to an SSA office for this! Your mom can complete Form W-4V (Voluntary Withholding Request) to have federal taxes withheld from her benefits. She can download and print the form from the IRS website, fill it out (she can choose 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% withholding), and then mail it to her local Social Security office. Unfortunately, SSA doesn't currently allow electronic submission of the W-4V form - it must be mailed or delivered in person. If she has a my Social Security account, she can't submit the form there, but she can see other tax documents like her SSA-1099 benefit statement when tax season comes around.

my aunt tried doing this online last yr and couldnt. had to print form and mail it. took foreeeever to process tho, like 6 weeks!!! might wanna do it asap if ur mom wants withholding for this tax year

Actually, I think you CAN do this online now! I just helped my father-in-law set up tax withholding through his my Social Security account last month. They've updated some features recently. Have her log in (or create an account if she doesn't have one) and look under the Benefits & Payments section. There should be an option for tax withholding preferences. Much easier than the paper form route!

I HATE dealing with SSA paperwork!!! spent 4 hours on hold last week just trying to get someone to explain my medicare premium increase. absolute nightmare. who has time for this??

Just a thought - your mom might want to calculate whether she actually needs withholding from her SS benefits. Depending on her total income, she might not need to withhold anything from SS specifically. My mom was withholding unnecessarily for years and basically giving the government an interest-free loan until tax time! She now just adjusts her withholding at her part-time job instead.

To directly answer your question - no, you cannot currently submit tax withholding requests for Social Security benefits online. Here's the exact process: 1. Download Form W-4V from irs.gov 2. Complete the form (your mom will need her Social Security number and to select a withholding percentage) 3. Mail or hand-deliver the completed form to your local Social Security office The processing time is typically 30-45 days for the withholding to take effect. For future reference, your mom can change or stop the withholding at any time by submitting a new W-4V form. If she hasn't already, I strongly recommend your mom create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. While she can't submit the W-4V online, the account allows access to benefit verification letters, direct deposit changes, and address updates without calling or visiting an office.

One more thing to know - if your mom is receiving both Social Security retirement and a pension from work where she didn't pay Social Security taxes (like some government jobs), she might be subject to WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) or GPO (Government Pension Offset). This could affect her tax situation differently. Just something to be aware of when calculating her potential tax liability.

btw my grandpa said if ur mom doesnt do withholding she might have to do quarterly estimated tax payments instead. just fyi. tax stuff is so confusing with ss benefits!!!

As someone who just went through this process with my elderly father, I wanted to add that you should also consider having your mom consult with a tax professional before deciding on the withholding percentage. The interaction between Social Security benefits, part-time work income, and potential state taxes can get pretty complex. A CPA or enrolled agent can help determine the optimal withholding rate so she doesn't end up owing a big chunk at tax time OR giving the government too much of an interest-free loan. Many offer reasonably priced consultations specifically for seniors dealing with this exact situation. Just a thought that might save headaches down the road!

For finding a tax professional who specializes in senior tax issues, I'd recommend checking with the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) website - they have a "find an EA" tool where you can search for enrolled agents in your area who specifically list retirement/Social Security taxation as a specialty. Also, AARP Tax-Aide program offers free tax preparation for seniors, and their volunteers are trained on Social Security benefit taxation rules. Many local senior centers also keep referral lists of tax professionals who work frequently with retirees. When you call potential tax pros, specifically ask about their experience with Social Security benefit taxation and provisional income calculations - that's the key term that will help you identify someone who really knows this area!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who helped my mother-in-law through this exact same situation last year! The paper W-4V form really is the only way to go right now - I kept hoping SSA would modernize this process but they haven't yet. One tip that might help: when you mail the form, send it certified mail with return receipt requested. It costs a few extra dollars but gives you proof of delivery and helps track if there are any processing delays. Also, make sure your mom signs and dates the form - I've heard of forms being rejected for missing signatures. The whole process took about 5 weeks for us, so definitely get it submitted soon if she wants withholding to start this year. Good luck with everything, and congrats to your mom on her retirement benefits!

I just wanted to add one more helpful resource that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your mom is comfortable with technology, the SSA website has a really useful tool called the "Retirement Estimator" that can help her understand how her part-time work might affect her Social Security benefits and overall tax situation. While it won't handle the W-4V submission (since that still has to be done by mail), it can give her a better picture of her expected annual income from all sources, which is super helpful when deciding on that withholding percentage. Also, if she's 65 or older, don't forget she gets a higher standard deduction on her taxes, which might affect how much withholding she actually needs. The combination of everyone's advice here about the paper form process plus maybe running some numbers through that estimator should give you both a solid game plan!

One thing I learned when helping my dad with his Social Security taxes is that your mom might want to check if she's actually subject to federal taxes on her benefits at all. With part-time income around $14k and Social Security of about $23k annually (rough estimate from your $1,950 monthly), her "combined income" might be below the threshold where SS benefits become taxable. The IRS has specific formulas for this - if her combined income (AGI + nontaxable interest + half of SS benefits) is under $25k for single filers, none of her Social Security is taxable. Even if she's over that threshold, only a portion might be taxable. It might be worth running those numbers before going through the W-4V process, especially since some folks here mentioned she could just adjust withholding at her part-time job instead. Just another angle to consider!