Summary of Provisions That Would Change the Social Security Program
Description of Proposed Provisions:
Provisions Affecting Taxation of Benefits
Estimates based on the intermediate assumptions of
the 2019 Trustees Report
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|
Change from current law [percent of payroll] |
Shortfall eliminated | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Long-range actuarial balance |
Annual balance in 75th year |
Long-range actuarial balance |
Annual balance in 75th year |
|||
| Current law shortfall in long-range actuarial balance is 2.78 percent of payroll and in annual balance for the 75th year is 4.11 percent of payroll. | ||||||
| H2 |
Starting in 2020, tax Social Security benefits in a manner similar
to private pension income. Phase out the lower-income thresholds during
2020-2039.
graph | table | pdf-graph | pdf-table | memo (Warshawsky) |
0.17 | 0.14 | 6% | 4% | |
| H3 |
Starting in 2021, modify personal income tax by: (a) establishing
two-brackets with marginal rates of 15 and 27 percent separated at
$51,000 (CPI indexed); (b) creating a non-refundable credit for low-income
tax filers age 65 and older; and (c) treating capital gains as regular
income. Tax all Social Security benefits at the applicable marginal
rate (15 or 27 percent) less 7.5 percent, with 60 percent of this
revenue going to OASDI and 40 percent going to HI.
graph | table | pdf-graph | pdf-table | memo (Bipartisan Policy Center 2010) |
-0.05 | -0.10 | -2% | -2% | |
| H4 |
Increase the threshold for taxation of OASDI benefits to $50,000 for
single filers and $100,000 for joint filers starting in 2021. Taxation
of benefits revenues transferred to the Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust
Fund would be the same as if the current-law computation applied.
graph | table | pdf-graph | pdf-table | memo (Larson 2015) | memo (Larson 2014) |
-0.09 | -0.01 | -3% | -0% | |
| H5 |
Beginning in 2026, for single/head-of-household/married-filing-separate
taxpayers with MAGI of $250,000 or more and joint filers with MAGI of $500,000
or more, include up to the remaining 15 percent of Social Security benefits
in taxable income (increased from up to 85 percent of benefits taxable
under current law). In subsequent years, update these thresholds for growth
in wages (AWI). Revenue from this provision would be credited to the Social
Security trust funds. Current law taxation of up to 85 percent of Social
Security benefits would remain unchanged.
graph | table | pdf-graph | pdf-table | memo (Bipartisan Policy Center October 2016) | memo (Bipartisan Policy Center June 2016) |
0.01 | 0.01 | 0% | 0% | |
| H6 |
Eliminate federal income taxation of OASDI benefits that is credited to the
OASI and DI Trust Funds for 2054 and later. Phase out OASDI taxation of benefits
by increasing relevant "income" thresholds from 2045 through 2053 as follows,
for single/joint tax filers: (a) 2045 = $32,500/$65,000; (b) 2046 = $40,000/$80,000;
(c) 2047 = $47,500/$95,000; (d) 2048 = $55,000/$110,000; (e) 2049 = $62,500/$125,000;
(f) 2050 = $70,000/$140,000; (g) 2051 = $77,500/$155,000; (h) 2052 = $85,000/$170,000;
and (i) 2053 = $92,500/$185,000. Taxation of benefits revenues for the Hospital
Insurance (HI) Trust Fund would be maintained at the same level as if the current-law
computation applied.
graph | table | pdf-graph | pdf-table | memo (Johnson 2016) |
-0.47 | -0.99 | -17% | -24% | |
| H7 |
Replace the current-law thresholds for federal income taxation of
OASDI benefits with a single set of thresholds at $50,000 for single
filers and $100,000 for joint filers for taxation of up to 85 percent
of OASDI benefits, effective for tax year 2021. These thresholds
would be fixed and not indexed to price inflation or average wage
increase. Reallocate a portion of revenue from taxation of OASDI
benefits to the HI Trust Fund such that the HI Trust Fund would be
in the same position as if the current-law computation (in the absence
of this provision) applied. The net amount of revenue from taxing
OASDI benefits, after the allocation to HI, would be allocated to
the combined Social Security Trust Fund.
graph | table | pdf-graph | pdf-table | memo (Larson, Blumenthal, Van Hollen September 2019) | memo (Larson, Blumenthal, Van Hollen January 2019) | memo (Larson 2017) |
-0.14 | -0.01 | -5% | -0% | |