THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, SEpTEmbER 12, 2025 Page 23 Say nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Is Social Security Still Taxable? Dear Savvy Senior, Do I have to pay taxes on my Social Security retirement benefi ts? I heard that President Trump’s big, beautiful bill eliminated that. What can you tell me? About to Retire Dear About, No, the new law, better known as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ did not eliminate Social Security taxes. It did, however, provide a temporary “senior bonus” deduction (starting in 2025 through 2028) of up to $6,000 that will apply to taxpayers, age 65 and older, who earn up to $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for joint fi lers. If you earn over that amount, the deduction starts phasing out. Also note that the senior bonus is a deduction, not a refundable credit, so it will not help lower-earning seniors who owe no income taxes. Who Owes SSA Taxes? Whether or not you’ll be required to pay federal income tax on your Social Security benefi ts will depend on your income and fi ling status. About 40 percent of Social Security recipients have total incomes high enough to trigger federal income tax on their benefi ts. To fi gure out if your benefi ts will be taxable, you’ll need to add up all of your “provisional income,” which includes wages, taxable and non-taxable interest, dividends, pensions and taxable retirement-plan distributions, self-employment, and other taxable income, plus half your annual Social Security benefi ts, minus certain deductions used in fi guring your adjusted gross income. To help you with the calculations, get a copy of IRS Publication 915 “Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits,” which provides detailed instructions and worksheets. You can download it at IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p915. pdf or call the IRS at 800-8293676 and ask them to mail you a free copy. After you do the calculations, the IRS says that if you’re single and your total income from all of the listed sources is: Less than $25,000, your Social Security will not be subject to federal income tax. Between $25,000 and $34,000, up to 50 percent of your Social Security benefi ts will be taxed at your regular income-tax rate. More than $34,000, up to 85 percent of your benefi ts will be taxed. If you’re married and filing jointly and the total from all sources is: Less than $32,000, your Social Security won’t be taxed. Between $32,000 and $44,000, up to 50 percent of your Social Security benefi ts will be taxed. More than $44,000, up to 85 percent of your benefi ts will be taxed. If you’re married and fi le a separate return, you probably will pay taxes on your benefi ts. You can also find out if any of your benefits are taxable through the IRS online tax tool that asks a series of questions that will help you determine your status. To access this tool, go to IRS.gov/Help/ITA – click on “Social Security or railroad retirement tier I benefi ts - Are mine taxable?” To limit potential taxes on your benefi ts, you’ll need to be cautious when taking distributions from retirement accounts or other sources. In addition to triggering ordinary income tax, a distribution that raises your gross income can bump up the proportion of your Social Security benefi ts that are subject to taxes. How to File If you fi nd that part of your Social Security benefits will be taxable, you’ll need to file using Form 1040 or Form 1040SR. You also need to know that if you do owe taxes, you’ll need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS, or you can choose to have it automatically withheld from your benefi ts. To have it withheld, you’ll need to complete IRS Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request (IRS. gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4v.pdf), and fi le it with your local Social Security offi ce. State Taxation In addition to the federal government, nine states – Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia – tax Social Security benefi ts to some extent too. If you live in one of these states, check with your state tax agency for details. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nior ior OBITUARIES Gary A. Caputo O f Everett. Ent e red into eternal rest on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 in the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, surrounded by his loving family, after a brief illness. He was 71 years old. Born in Somerville, Gary lived in Everett for many years. He retired from Comm Gas as a meter reader. Gary was the son of the late John and Lillie (Nilo) Caputo; the beloved husband of Marian (Sachetta) Caputo for over 39 years; the dear and devoted father of Michelle Harkins and her husband, Richard of Winthrop, Jill Perry and her husband, Walter of Everett and Jessi Mattuchio and her husband, Michael of Saint Albens, VT; the dear brother of Richard Caputo of Somerville; and the loving grandfather of Emily and Abigail Harkins and Giovanni and Viviana Mattuchio. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Gary’s visitation in the Cafasso & Sons Funeral Home, 65 Clark St. (Corner of Main Street) Everett, Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. with a funeral Mass to follow in the Immaculate Conception Church, 487 Broadway, Everett at 12 noon. Burial will be private. Following the services the family cordially invites everyone to join them at Rosaria Restaurant, 190 Main St. Saugus. In lieu of fl owers, contributions in Gary’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 3 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 would be sincerely appreciated. Parking with attendants on duty. John F. Cribbins Jr. O f Everett passed away on September 3rd, 2025, with his family by his side at the age of 76. Born in Everett, MA, on July 17, 1949, to the late John and Frances Cribbins. John graduated from Everett Vocational High School and retired from Union Local #4 after a long and dedicated career as a heavy equipment operator. He was a member of the Everett Elks. He is survived by his beloved wife Lauren E. (Conley) Cribbins. Dear brother of the late Maryellen Jarvis, James D. Cribbins Sr., and George A. Cribbins. Brother-in-law of Cynthia A. Cribbins, the late Donna (Conley) Flaherty and her surviving husband Michael Flaherty. Cherished uncle of David M. Jarvis, Karen A. Griffi ths, Lisa Bono and her husband Martin, James D. Cribbins Jr and his wife Kate, Brian Flaherty, John Flaherty, and Joy Flaherty. He is also survived by many cousins. Relatives and friends were invited to attend visiting hours at the J.F. Ward Funeral Home, Everett, on Tuesday September 9th followed by a funeral in the . Services conFuneral Home on Wednesday, September 10th cluded with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, in Everett.
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