The year Social Security used, not the year income dropped
The premium notice states the older year’s income that Social Security used, and the newer return states the lower one. Software can copy the notice’s figures because they’re printed under the form’s own words.
AGI, not MAGI or total income
Returns and letters print total income, adjusted gross income and modified AGI within a few lines of each other. Software often takes the wrong one, or the MAGI that already includes the interest.
Tax-exempt and taxable interest side by side
A return lists tax-exempt and taxable interest on the same line, and a notice shows another year’s figure. Software can copy the larger taxable amount, or the older year’s.
A year box that already prints “20”
The tax year boxes print “20” and leave two spaces. Software that types the whole year writes “202025”.
Filing status from the wrong year
Filing status can change with a marriage, a divorce or a death, and the notice shows the old one. Software can copy the status printed on the notice.
Next year’s estimate on a form that doesn’t want it
An adviser’s projection for next year sits in the same file as the actual return. Step 3 is for when income next year will be lower still, as the form says. Software that fills every amount it finds adds an estimate that doesn’t belong.
Only the event this request is about
Client notes often mention old marriages and divorces as background. Software can tick every event it reads about, not just the one behind this request.