Lump sum social secuirty

[Deedeedirekt]

I have a client who received a lump sum SS benefit in 2019 over 100000.00  He has no other income I worked through the  back years worksheets and he has zero tax. My question is-- Does he have to file?The program is telling me he ineligible for efile so should I paper file the return?

[qbteachmt]

I used Google on the Web to find the IRS resources:

https://www.irs.gov/faqs/social-security-income/back-payments/back-payments

Try it. It's works great.

[BobKamman]

Yes, paper file.  IRS doesn't want its e-file servers cluttered by disabled people.  

[Deedeedirekt]

unfortunately i could not find the answer to my question there

[Deedeedirekt]

Thank you for the answer i have had this situation before but not that large of a lump sum.

[qbteachmt]

"unfortunately i could not find the answer to my question there"

Yes, the answer was there.

"My question is-- Does he have to file?"

Yes; the answer was there.

"The program is telling me he ineligible for efile so should I paper file the return?"

Yes, the program is correct.

[rbynaker · Accepted solution]

Is the problem that you have no taxable income?  Put in $1 of interest and see if that clears the efile error.

[taxshack]

He does not have to file if his only income is social security; even with it being a large lump sum.

[BobKamman]

He has to file to show he qualifies for the exclusion based on how much of the payment is attributed to prior years.

Those who choose to report phantom income should remember:  The more we try to trick the IRS computer, the more it may try to trick us.