Ask the Expert: When to take a spouse's Social Security benefit, and the income tax statute of limitations

I’m a 62-year-old widower. I’ve been advised to take my own Social Security benefit now and switch over to my late spouse’s Social Security, which would be much more than mine, after I’m fully retired. Is this possible?

Yes. It’s both possible and sensible.

As a surviving spouse, you have a choice not available to other Social Security beneficiaries. You can start collecting a reduced survivor benefit as early as age 60, and later switch to your own full benefit. Or you can take your own reduced benefit as early as age 62, and later switch to your full survivor benefit.

It’s usually smart to postpone the bigger amount. The reason: Social Security benefits are always reduced when taken before your full retirement age. You’d receive only 79.6% of your bigger survivor benefit if you took it now, at age 62 — and the reduction is permanent. But you’ll receive the full benefit if you wait until you’re 67 (your full retirement age) to begin collecting it.

More information:

bit.ly/3UXwmgr

bit.ly/SSAsurvivorbenefitsplanner

Personal income tax returns filed on or before April 15 are deemed to have been filed on April 15 for purposes of the three-year statute of limitations. But I thought returns filed on extension are deemed filed as of the date received, and not Oct. 15. Is that correct?

No. If your filing deadline is extended until Oct. 15, the three-year statute of limitations — the usual window in which the IRS can assess additional tax on a return, or taxpayers can amend it to claim a credit or refund — starts on Oct. 15.

One caveat: In certain circumstances — if you’re claiming a loss from worthless securities, for example — the statute of limitations is seven years. And in cases of fraud, there is no statute of limitations.

More information:

bit.ly/IRSrecordsretention

bit.ly/3wRdFTx