Tax withholding from Social Security checks - How to submit W-4V form correctly?

I submitted my W-4V about 8 months ago when I started collecting my retirement benefits. You have a few options: 1. Mail it directly to your local SSA office (this is what I did) 2. Fax it to your local office 3. Use the secure drop box if your local office has one I'd recommend calling your local office first to confirm they have a secure drop box. Also make sure you keep a photocopy of your completed form just in case it gets lost. When I mailed mine, it took about 3 weeks for the withholding to start showing up on my monthly payments.

i put mine in the drop box last year works fine. they dont send u any confiramtion tho just shows up on ur check. make sure u check the right % box! i did 7% but wished i did more lol

The most reliable method is to fax the W-4V directly to your local office. The drop boxes can be hit or miss depending on your local office's staffing and procedures. I always recommend that clients send it via certified mail if they're concerned about tracking. One important detail: make sure you're using the current version of the W-4V form (revised December 2023). The IRS updated it and sometimes the old versions get rejected. Also note that you can only select from the standard withholding percentages (7%, 10%, 12%, or 22%) - you can't specify a custom amount. Your withholding should take effect within one payment cycle if submitted at least 30 days before your payment date. If you submit it closer to your payment date, it may take an additional month to process.

DONT USE THE DROP BOX!! I left my W-4V in the drop box last April and they NEVER processed it! Ended up owing a bunch at tax time and when I called they had NO RECORD of my form!!! Had to submit it again and waited on hold for 3 HOURS to finally talk to someone who could help. The whole system is a disaster.

I just went through this whole process in December! I faxed my W-4V to the local office AND also mailed a copy just to be safe. Then I spent 2 weeks trying to get through on the phone to confirm they received it. Was on hold for like 45 minutes each time before getting disconnected. So frustrating trying to reach a real person there!

Update: I called my local office this morning and finally got through after about 30 minutes. They confirmed they DO have a secure drop box but recommended certified mail instead for forms like the W-4V. Apparently they process drop box items within 5 business days but can't guarantee tracking within their system. I'm going to send it certified mail tomorrow just to be safe. Thanks everyone for your advice!

wait did u say retirement benfit or SSDI? cause theres diffrnt rules for disability tax stuff i think

Great thread! I'm in a similar situation - just filed for my retirement benefits at 65. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going with certified mail for my W-4V form. One question though - has anyone had experience with changing their withholding percentage later? I'm thinking of starting with 10% but wondering if I can adjust it up or down after a few months once I see how it affects my budget.

I'm just starting my Social Security journey at 62 and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was planning to use the drop box at my local office, but after reading about Nick and Hannah's experiences, I'm definitely going with certified mail instead. Better safe than sorry when it comes to taxes. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have been through this process, how long did it take from when you submitted your W-4V to when you could actually see the withholding amount reflected on your Social Security statement or MySocialSecurity account online? I want to make sure I can track that everything is working correctly before tax season rolls around.

I just submitted my W-4V form last month and can share my recent experience! I ended up using certified mail after reading horror stories about drop boxes online. The whole process took about 3 weeks from mailing to seeing the withholding on my payment. One tip I wish someone had told me earlier - call the SSA customer service line (1-800-772-1213) about a week after you mail your form to confirm they received it. Yes, you'll be on hold for a while, but it's worth the peace of mind. The representative was able to tell me exactly when my form was processed and when the withholding would start. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number and the exact date you mailed the form when you call - they'll need both to look up your submission. I went with 12% withholding since I have other retirement income, and it's been working perfectly. Good luck with your first payment in February!

I'm also approaching Social Security eligibility and this has been such a valuable discussion! Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that certified mail is the safest route for submitting the W-4V form. I particularly appreciate Ingrid's tip about calling to confirm receipt - that proactive approach seems much better than waiting and wondering. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have gone through this process, did any of you end up needing to make quarterly estimated tax payments in addition to the Social Security withholding? I'm trying to figure out if the standard withholding percentages (7%, 10%, 12%, 22%) are typically sufficient or if most people need to supplement with quarterly payments. I have some investment income that might complicate things, so I want to make sure I'm not caught off guard come tax time. Also, has anyone used a tax professional to help calculate the right withholding percentage? I'm wondering if it's worth the consultation fee to get it right from the start rather than guessing and adjusting later.

This thread has been incredibly helpful for someone just starting to navigate Social Security withholding! I'm 67 and just filed for my benefits last week. Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going the certified mail route for my W-4V form. I wanted to add one more option that worked well for my sister last year - she actually submitted her W-4V through her MySocialSecurity online account. There's a "Contact Us" section where you can upload documents securely. She got an automatic confirmation that it was received, and the withholding started within about 2 weeks. This might be worth checking if you're comfortable with the online portal and want that digital confirmation receipt. Thanks especially to Maria for starting this discussion and to everyone who shared their real experiences - both the success stories and the cautionary tales about drop boxes!