Free Republic

As Congress was approving President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" on Thursday, the Social Security Administration touted the legislation by stating that it "eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries." That claim, which echoes previous promises by Mr. Trump to remove taxes on Social Security, may have come as welcome news for the millions of older and disabled people who depend on the program for income. So does the bill deliver? Not entirely. In a press release, the SSA said that the tax and spending package, which the president is set to sign into law on Friday,...

Senior citizens shouldn’t be paying taxes on their Social Security benefits, former President Donald Trump said Wednesday, floating an idea that could lighten the federal income-tax load for about 40% of recipients. At the same time, a tax exemption of this magnitude could also speed up the financial woes for Social Security and add a deep bruise to the deficit, according to one analysis. ... If an individual’s combined income is between $25,000 and $34,000, they’ll pay income taxes on up to half of their benefits. Past the $34,000 mark, up to 85% of the benefits are taxable depending on...