Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 12, 2025 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller Is Social Security Still Taxable? Dear Savvy Senior, Do I have to pay taxes on my Social Security retirement benefits? 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 filers. 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 benefits will depend on your income and filing status. About 40 percent of Social Security recipients have total incomes high enough to trigger federal income tax on their benefits. To figure out if your benefits 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 benefits, minus certain deductions used in figuring 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 benefits will be taxed at your regular income-tax rate. • More than $34,000, up to 85 percent of your benefits 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 benefits will be taxed. • More than $44,000, up to 85 percent of your benefits will be taxed. If you’re married and file a separate return, you probably will pay taxes on your benefits. 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 benefits - Are mine taxable?” To limit potential taxes on your benefits, 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 benefits that are subject to taxes. How to File If you find 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 benefits. To have it withheld, you’ll need to complete IRS Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request (IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/ fw4v.pdf), and file it with your local Social Security office. 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 benefits to some extent too. If you live in one of these states, check with your state tax agency for details. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. On Sept. 12, 1944, who was born whose 1974 album is called “Can’t Get Enough”? 2. Bananas Foster, which was named after Crime Commission Chair Richard Foster, originated at Brennan’s in what Southern city? 3. On Sept. 13, 1990, what law enforcement TV series that featured several real politicians debuted? 4. In Quincy, Mass., is Souther Tide Mill, which was built to grind what grains? 5. In what region of the country is the American goldfinch most often seen? 6. On Sept. 14, 1927, what dance pioneer died when her scarf got tangled in a car wheel? 7. What scenic state, in addition to Alaska, Hawaii and Maine, has a billboard advertising ban? 8. In what two organizations would you find a petty officer? 9. On Sept. 15, 1890, what author of “The Mousetrap” and “Death on the Nile” was born? 10. The USA’s oldest Italian restaurant, Fior d’Italia (1886), is in what city with the oldest USA Chinatown? 11. Noah’s flood took how many days: 20, 30 or 40? 12. How are Albert, Fester and Sam similar? 13. Sept. 16 is National Guacamole Day; is avocado a fruit or vegetable? 14. What “King of Rock and Roll” performed only in the USA and Canada? 15. In what city is the deepest tunnel in the USA? 16. On Sept. 17, 1787, the Constitutional Convention ended at Independence Hall where? 17. What Bostonian Founding Father created a glass armonica with a London glassblower? 18. What kind of pen originally included a textile? 19. Julie Andrews, James Brown and The Four Tops have songs mentioning what sweet? 20. Sept. 18 is National Cheeseburger Day; what other day associated with cheeseburgers is celebrated in September? ANSWERS 1. Barry White 2. New Orleans (Foster was a friend of the restaurant owner.) 3. “Law & Order” 4. Corn and wheat 5. New England 6. Isadora Duncan 7. Vermont 8. The coast guard or navy 9. Agatha Christie 10. San Francisco 11. 40 12. All uncles: Albert of “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” song, Fester of “The Addams Family,” Uncle Sam. (Legend has it that he supplied meat during the War of 1812.) 13. Fruit 14. Elvis Presley 15. Boston (Ted Williams Tunnel, 90 feet below harbor surface) 16. Philadelphia (final draft of the Constitution was signed) 17. Benjamin Franklin 18. Felt-tip pen (originally had hard felt made from wool, not synthetic fibers) 19. Sugar (“A Spoonful of Sugar,” “I Feel Good” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch,” respectively) 20. National Double Cheeseburger Day (on the 15th)
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