Skip to content
Social Security Online 		Actuarial Publications
www.socialsecurity.gov Home   FAQs   Contact Us   Search
 
Solvency Provisions SSA logo: link to Social Security Online home

Provisions Affecting Taxation of Benefits
Present law taxation of Social Security benefits

These provisions revise the current rules for subjecting Social Security benefits to personal income tax. We provide a summary list of all options (printer-friendly PDF version) in this category. For each provision listed below, we provide an estimate of the financial effect on the OASDI program over the long-range period (the next 75 years) and for the 75th year. In addition, we provide graphs and detailed single year tables. We base all estimates on the intermediate assumptions described in the 2015 Trustees Report.

Choose the type of estimates (summary or detailed) from the list of provisions.

Number Table and graph selection
H1 Starting in 2016, tax Social Security benefits in a manner similar to private pension income. Phase out the lower-income thresholds during 2016-2025.
Summary measures and graphs   (PDF version)
Detailed single year tables   (PDF version)
Memorandum containing this or a similar provision:
H2 Starting in 2016, tax Social Security benefits in a manner similar to private pension income. Phase out the lower-income thresholds during 2016-2035.
Summary measures and graphs   (PDF version)
Detailed single year tables   (PDF version)
Memorandum containing this or a similar provision:
H3 Tax Reform for Individuals: Starting in 2017, 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.
Summary measures and graphs   (PDF version)
Detailed single year tables   (PDF version)
Memorandum containing this or a similar provision:
H4 Increase the threshold for taxation of OASDI benefits to $50,000 for single filers and $100,000 for joint filers starting in 2017. Taxation of benefits revenues transferred to the Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund would be the same as if the current-law computation applied.
Summary measures and graphs   (PDF version)
Detailed single year tables   (PDF version)
Memorandum containing this or a similar provision:

Above provisions
Summary measures
 Link to USA.gov: U.S. Government portal Privacy Policy  | Website Policies & Other Important Information  | Site Map
Last reviewed or modified September 14, 2015