How to Get Your SSA-1099 from Social Security Online

If you receive Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration sends you a tax form called the SSA-1099 every January. This form shows the total amount of benefits you received during the year. And you need it to file your federal tax return. Sometimes the paper form gets lost in the mail, arrives late, or never shows up at all. The good news is you can get a replacement copy online any time you want, free of charge, through the official SSA website.

To do this, you need a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. This is a free, secure account that lets you view your benefit amount, change your direct deposit, request a replacement Medicare card, and download tax forms. If you already have an account, you can sign in and grab your SSA-1099 in about two minutes. If you do not have an account yet, you can create one in about ten minutes. The SSA will verify your identity by asking questions only you would know, such as past addresses and old phone numbers.

The SSA-1099 is available online starting February 1 each year for the prior tax year. Forms from previous years are also available, going back several years, in case you need them for amended returns or for a tax preparer. You can save the form as a PDF, print it, or email it directly to your tax preparer.

One important note: the website ssa.gov is the only official Social Security website. Be careful of fake sites with similar names. Always type ssa.gov directly into your browser. The SSA will never ask you for your password through email or text. If something feels wrong, stop and call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.