Help with form SSA-44 for IRMMA adjustment amount

[Jmlrn]

I went over the 106,000 income threshold (single) in 2023 but in 2024 I retired and started collecting social security. I have already filed 2024 taxes and my income is quite a bit below 106,000. My question is that I want to send in this SSA-44 form but it requires the original or certified copy of my taxes. I have a copy from my tax accountant. Is that enough? Can I trust they will send it back? The only proof that I retired is a copy of my letter of resignation to my manager (I was only a per diem employee). What did you send in when you filed? I hate to go to my local SS office. It is a very unpleasant atmosphere.

[Dufus]

I called and made an appointment to take the forms in. I did not take a certified copy of taxes, just a copy. I printed out a copy of an email with last day on it. It was enough in my case, but I think it all depends on the SS employee you are working with. They are certainly having it rough right now with job uncertainty. Be kind and understanding.

[Jack FFR1846]

I retired mid year 2023. My form 44 had the form, the last pay stub and a copy of a copy of my taxes from my accountant. I was approved with the "life change event" being that I retired and would not continue working. I cited an exact annual income number which was below the IRMAA number. I did have to nag them constantly as it seems nobody looked at anything, picked up the paper or typed it into my file unless I mailed, phoned and went in person to ask why it wasn't taken care of yet. I filed in June and got approval by late October.

[Trillium]

I filed the SSA-44 form twice for myself (two years in a row) and I also helped my spouse prepare their SSA-44 both years. We didn't include our tax returns for any of the four requests for reconsideration, because the instructions said they either had them already or would get them from the IRS later on. My reading of the instructions was that you should let Social Security know if you amend your tax returns, but otherwise it's taken care of already in their process.

For our SSA-44 requests, I wrote a letter for each of us to explain the life-changing event and our new income. For supporting documentation, I may have overdone it. I included two categories of documentation: things to confirm the life-changing event (retirement for both of us) and things to support my estimate of our new income. For my spouse, we had a letter from his employer stating that he was retiring as of X date. Since I was self-employed, I included for myself a letter from the state confirming the closure of my LLC, a letter from my bank confirming that I had closed my business bank account, and a letter from my city confirming that I had canceled my local business license. For each of us, our letter of explanation referenced the fact that the other spouse was also newly retired, so each packet had info about both spouses.

To support my estimates of our new adjusted gross income, I just explained for each year how much we expected to bring in and where it was coming from (interest income, IRA withdrawals, Social Security). I padded it a bit in case there turned out to be more income than I expected. Where I could supply supporting evidence, I did. The SSA-44 form says that you're declaring under penalty of perjury that you're being accurate and they will check it all out later .

Each of us mailed our SSA-44 along with the letter of explanation and supporting documentation to the local Social Security office. The first year, I think our approval came in two weeks. The second year it took three weeks.

[WeakOldGuy]

I have submitted the SSA-44 twice now. Most recently last month. In each case it was before my taxes were complete for the year. You can estimate your income for year, and then give the SSA a copy of your return when it is filed. That is what the SSA officer told me when submitting the forms so that is what I did. I would think that they could get the info from the IRS, but I wanted to do as I was instructed. So as soon as I have my 2024 return done, I'll drop a copy off at the local SSA office in their drop-box with a letter explaining where it goes.