Which tax form is commonly used to report income that may affect Social Security benefits?

The commonly used tax form to report income that may affect Social Security benefits is IRS Form 1040 along with Schedule SE. The IRS Form 1040 is the standard individual income tax return form used to report earnings, and it includes various schedules to provide additional detail about specific types of income, deductions, and credits.

Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax) is particularly relevant for individuals who earn income through self-employment. This schedule is used to calculate the Self-Employment Tax, which is comprised of Social Security and Medicare taxes. The income reported on Form 1040, particularly when accompanied by Schedule SE, is closely monitored by the Social Security Administration to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits and to calculate the benefit amount.

The other forms mentioned do not serve the same purpose. For instance, Form 1099 is typically used to report other types of income, such as independent contractor earnings or interest income, but it does not encompass all income that might influence a person's overall Social Security benefits as comprehensively as the 1040 and Schedule SE combination does. Similarly, Form W-2 is utilized by employers to report wages paid to employees but does not detail self-employment income. Form 1040X is an amended return used to