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US social security what is the deduction 15 % or 50%

Some of the questions are saying where to put the 15% or the 50% dection on US social sec. , why the difference? 

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US social security what is the deduction 15 % or 50%

It depends on when you began receiving the U.S. Social Security which exemption you qualify for. If you started receiving SS prior to 1996, you should read the following rules which apply to the 50% exemption. 

From CRA:

Under the Canada-United States tax treaty, you can claim a deduction equal to 15% of the U.S. Social Security benefits, including U.S. Medicare premiums which you reported as income on line 115.

If you have been a resident of Canada and have received U.S. Social Security benefits continuously during the period starting before January 1, 1996, and ending in 2017, you can claim a deduction equal to 50% of the U.S. Social Security benefits received in 2017.

This 50% deduction also applies to you if you are receiving benefits related to a deceased person and you meet all the following conditions:

  • The deceased person was your spouse or common-law partner immediately before their death.
  • The deceased person had, continuously during a period starting before 1996 and ending immediately before their death, been a resident of Canada and received benefits to which paragraph 5 of Article XVIII of the Canada-United States tax treaty applied.
  • You have, continuously during a period starting at the person's time of death and ending in 2017, been a resident of Canada and received such benefits.