
What president imposed taxes on Social Security benefits?
- 1) With respect to employment during the calendar years 1937, 1938, and 1939, the rate shall be 1 per centum.
- (2) With respect to employment during the calendar years 1940, 1941, and 1942, the rate shall 1 1/2 per centum.
- (3) With respect to employment during the calendar years 1943, 1944, and 1945, the rate shall be 2 per centum.
How do you calculate taxable social security benefits?
- $25,000 if you’re filing single, head of household, or married filing separately (living apart all year)
- $32,000 if you’re married filing jointly
- $0 if you’re married filing separately and lived together with your spouse at any point in the year
What you should know about taxes and Social Security benefits?
- $29,393 Taxable Social Security
- $21,255 IRA Withdrawal
- $50,000 pension
Which states tax my Social Security retirement benefits?
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Rhode Island

When did the federal government start taxing Social Security?
As part of the 1939 Amendments, the Title VIII taxing provisions were taken out of the Social Security Act and placed in the Internal Revenue Code and renamed the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). Social Security payroll taxes are thus often referred to as "FICA taxes."
What president took money out of Social Security?
President Lyndon B. Johnson1.STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT UPON MAKING PUBLIC THE REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON AGING--FEBRUARY 9, 19647.STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT COMMENORATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT -- AUGUST 15, 196515 more rows
What did Ronald Reagan do to Social Security?
In 1981, Reagan ordered the Social Security Administration (SSA) to tighten up enforcement of the Disability Amendments Act of 1980, which resulted in more than a million disability beneficiaries having their benefits stopped.
Why is Social Security taxed twice?
The rationalization for taxing Social Security benefits was based on how the program was funded. Employees paid in half of the payroll tax from after-tax dollars and employers paid in the other half (but could deduct that as a business expense).
Who was president when Congress borrowed from Social Security?
President Ronald W. Reagan1.LETTER TO CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM--May 21, 19819.REMARKS ON SIGNING THE SOCIAL SECURITY AMENDMENTS OF 1983 --April 20, 198310.STATEMENT ON SIGNING THE SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS REFORM ACT OF 1984 --October 9, 198418 more rows
Who was the first president to touch Social Security?
Which political party started taxing Social Security annuities? A3. The taxation of Social Security began in 1984 following passage of a set of Amendments in 1983, which were signed into law by President Reagan in April 1983.
Did Congress borrow from Social Security?
Ultimately, Congress' borrowing allowed Social Security to collect $85.1 billion in interest income for 2017, and it's expected to provide $804 billion in aggregate interest income between 2018 and 2027.
How much money has the government borrowed from the Social Security fund?
All of those assets are held in "special non-marketable securities of the US Government". So, the US government borrows from the OASI, DI and many others to finance its deficit spending. As a matter of fact, as of this second, the US government currently has "intragovernmental holdings" of $4.776 trillion.
Did the government borrow from Social Security?
Myth #5: The government raids Social Security to pay for other programs. The facts: The two trust funds that pay out Social Security benefits — one for retirees and their survivors, the other for people with disabilities — have never been part of the federal government's general fund.
How can I avoid paying taxes on Social Security?
How to minimize taxes on your Social SecurityMove income-generating assets into an IRA. ... Reduce business income. ... Minimize withdrawals from your retirement plans. ... Donate your required minimum distribution. ... Make sure you're taking your maximum capital loss.
At what age is Social Security not taxable?
At 65 to 67, depending on the year of your birth, you are at full retirement age and can get full Social Security retirement benefits tax-free.
At what age can you stop paying taxes on Social Security?
65 years oldWhat Age Do You Stop Paying Taxes on Social Security? You can stop paying taxes on Social Security at 65 years old as long as your income is not high.
What percentage of SS benefits are taxed?
Instead of the 50% tax on SS for “high income earners,” 85% of their benefits were now taxed and the 50% began to include modest earners. Every House Republican voted against this, although it was part of a massive Omnibus Reconciliation Act which included various other tax increases like increasing the top marginal rate to 36%.
Why was the Social Security tax not passed?
Additionally, this new Social Security tax wasn’t passed because of tax cuts, but entirely for different reasons. Claiming that Reagan imposed the tax on Social Security benefits ignores that it was a widespread bipartisan effort, passed easily and quickly with overwhelming support by a Democratic House and Republican Senate.
How much of SS benefits are taxable?
They also made 50% of SS benefits part of taxable income for higher income recipients. At the time this was over $25,000/yr for singles or $32,000 for couples, the equivalent of about $67K/85K today. For those seniors earning above this threshold, they’d be taxed on 50% of their benefits. This additional revenue would go to the SS trust fund.
How many lower income Americans were removed from the tax base?
This effectively removed 6 million lower-income Americans from the tax base. It also si.
When did the top tax rate go down?
Again, the top tax rate was lowered to 28% in 1986 , not 1984, by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (though technically it didn’t take effect until 1988). Like the Social Security amendments of 1983, it also had bipartisan support. In fact, the bill was sponsored by Democrat Richard Gephardt. It also had strong bipartisan opposition.
When did the tax rate drop to 28%?
Under Reagan, the top marginal tax rates were lowered from 70%-50% in 1981, but didn’t drop to 28% until the Tax Reform Act of 1986 . Meanwhile, the tax on Social Security was instituted in 1983, long before the Tax Reform Act was even considered.
Who sponsored the tax reform bill?
In fact, the bill was sponsored by Democrat Richard Gephardt. It also had strong bipartisan opposition. While it lowered taxes on the rich, it also closed many popular loopholes, like depreciation and rental housing, which the wealthy often used to escape the prior high tax rates.
When did Social Security become taxable?
Social Security income became taxable in 1984. The bill allowing it to be subject to tax was passed in 1983 on a bi-partisan basis. The bill was signed into tax was signed by Ronald Reagan, a Republican President.
When did Social Security become subject to income tax?
Some social security benefit payments became subject to income taxes with a law in 1983. The bill was introduced by Republican Barber Conable of New York and Democrat James Pickle of Texas. After passing both houses of Congress, the law
When did Social Security taxes increase?
The taxation of benefits was the result of the bipartisan reform of Social Security in the 1983. So I wouldn’t blame one party or the other. In the early 90s, the portion of benefits which are taxable was increased from 50 to 85 percent as part of a omnibus budget reconciliation package. It is really difficult to assign responsibility for lines within a 1,000 pages of jargon.
Do Amish people get Social Security?
Become Amish. About 60 years ago the Amish won an exemption from social security: they don’t pay social security taxes and they don’t receive social security benefits. Instead, they provide for their own people.
Is Social Security taxed at lower income levels?
Both parties voted for it in Congress and Reagan signed the bill into law. It’s not taxed at lower income levels and the amount subject to tax increases as other income increases so that higher income people pay tax on 85% of their social security benefits at their tax rate.
Is there a tax on Social Security?
Nobody: there is no such thing as “the tax on Social Security.” Social Security is supported by a tax, but it is a tax on personal income; it is not a “tax on Social Security,” whatever that might mean. Social Security benefits are taxed as income by the the federal government, though subject to special provisions.
When did Social Security start?
Social Security was started to provide for people in their senior years which was part of the New Deal by FDR after the Depression which began in 1929 . Social Security provides for those who worked with payroll deductions to provide for their senior years. As Reagan said so famously that Americans should not rely totally on Social Security (when he retired he got one million dollars to deliver a speech in China) when they become seniors however many continue to work which might result in lack of jobs for younger folks.
When was the Social Security tax bill signed into law?
President Clinton signed the bill into law on August 10, 1993. (You can find a brief historical summary of the development of taxation of Social Security benefits on the Social Security website .) Q5.
Who proposed taxing benefits?
The taxation of benefits was a proposal which came from the Greenspan Commission appointed by President Reagan and chaired by Alan Greenspan (who went on to later become the Chairman of the Federal Reserve). The full text of the Greenspan Commission report is available on our website.
What was the 1993 tax change?
This change in the tax rate was one provision in a massive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) passed that year. The OBRA 1993 legislation was deadlocked in the Senate on a tie vote of 50-50 and Vice President Al Gore cast the deciding vote in favor of passage.
When was the SSI program created?
The SSI program was an initiative of the Nixon Administration and was signed into law by President Nixon on October 30, 1972. An explanation of the basics of Social Security, and the distinction between Social Security and SSI, can be found on the Social Security website.
When was the Social Security Trust Fund created?
The Social Security Trust Fund was created in 1939 as part of the Amendments enacted in that year. From its inception, the Trust Fund has always worked the same way. The Social Security Trust Fund has never been "put into the general fund of the government.". Most likely this question comes from a confusion between the financing ...
Is SSI a federal program?
SSI is a federal welfare program and no contributions, from immigrants or citizens or anyone else, is required for eligibility. Under certain conditions, immigrants can qualify for SSI benefits. The SSI program was an initiative of the Nixon Administration and was signed into law by President Nixon on October 30, 1972.
Is Social Security tax deductible?
A2: There was never any provision of law making the Social Security taxes paid by employees deductible for income tax purposes. In fact, the 1935 law expressly forbid this idea, in Section 803 of Title VIII.
When did Social Security start being taxed?
The taxation of Social Security began in 1984 following passage of a set of Amendments in 1983, which were signed into law by President Reagan in April 1983. Click to see full answer.
How much interest did Social Security collect in 2017?
Ultimately, Congress' borrowing allowed Social Security to collect $85.1 billion in interest income for 2017, and it's expected to provide $804 billion in aggregate interest income between 2018 and 2027. Long story short, Congress is in the clear on this one.
How much was the intragovernmental debt in 2015?
As of June 2015, the intragovernmental debt was $5.1 trillion of the $18.2 trillion national debt. According to the Social Security Trustees, who oversee the program and report on its financial condition, program costs are expected to exceed non-interest income from 2010 onward.
When was Social Security changed?
This change was in fact enacted into statute in the Social Security Amendments of 1983, signed into law by President Reag an on April 20, 1983. Additionally, has Congress borrowed from Social Security?
Did the government raid Social Security?
No, the federal government didn't raid Social Security As for Social Security's most pervasive and borderline irritating myth, that goes to the belief that the federal government raided Social Security's coffers and never put the money back. In other words, they don't believe the money is there.
How much of Social Security is taxed?
The law postponed cost-of-living increases, put federal workers into the system, raised the retirement age and taxed up to 50% of a person's Social Security income if he or she met certain income thresholds.
What was the deciding vote in raising the Social Security tax rate to 85% in 1993?
The former senator from Delaware was also the deciding vote in raising the Social Security tax rate to up to 85% in 1993, according to the meme. "His voting record on Social Security records over the years is one slap in the face to retirees after another," says the claim.
What was the Social Security tax rate in 1993?
A provision of the 1993 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act raised the Social Security tax rate from 50% to 85% for households in a higher income bracket. The act was Democratic President Bill Clinton's first budget and marked the highest peace-time tax increases on high-income earners in U.S. history up to that time, according to the University of California, Berkeley .
Does Biden have a tax credit for contributions?
Biden would accomplish this by eliminating the current deduction for contributions while providing a 26% refundable tax credit for each dollar contributed to a traditional retirement account, according to The Tax Foundation. The tax credit would be deposited into the retirement account as a matching contribution.
Who was behind the 1983 tax increase?
Another Facebook post calls into question Biden played in drafting the 1983 changes. The post's author, who did not respond to a request for comment, claimed Biden was behind the tax increase, writing: "Social Security wasn’t Taxable until Joe Biden wrote a bill and passed it to Tax Social Security Choose Wisely Nov. 3rd".
When did Social Security get excluded from taxes?
Social Security benefits were "explicitly excluded" from federal income taxation before Reagan signed the amendments into law, according to the SSA. Up to 50% of benefits could be added to taxable income based on certain income thresholds from 1984, onward.
Did Biden vote for taxing Social Security?
We rate this claim PARTLY FALSE, based on our research. As a senator, Biden voted in favor of two laws that authorized taxation of Social Security benefits. But Democratic presidential nominee Biden has not proposed taxing retirement accounts or a federal property tax.
How much money did Social Security have in assets?
These changes, along with an increase to the payroll tax on earned income, allowed Social Security to build up its aforementioned $2.9 trillion in asset reserves over the past 35 years.
What did Reagan do to address the Social Security deficit?
Back in 1983, the Reagan administration addressed annual deficits with the Social Security program by passing a bipartisan piece of legislation (the Social Security Amendments of 1983) that tackled the program's problems from both sides of the political aisle. The Amendments of 1983 are perhaps best known for the creation of the taxation ...
How much will Social Security be depleted in 2034?
By 2034, the approximately $2.9 trillion in asset reserves Social Security has built up since its last major reform in 1983 is expected to be depleted. Should this excess cash disappear, and no additional revenue be raised by Congress, the Trustees have estimated that an up to 21% across-the-board cut in benefits for existing ...
How much is the payroll tax for Social Security?
The 12.4% pay roll tax on wage income of up to $128,400, as of 2018, provides the bulk of the funding for the program. As long as Americans keep working, it'll continue to provide valuable income for Social Security that can be disbursed to eligible beneficiaries.
What is the 1983 amendment?
The Amendments of 1983 are perhaps best known for the creation of the taxation of Social Security benefits, as well as passing along a gradual increase to the full retirement age – i.e., the age where you become eligible to receive 100% of your retirement benefit.
How long does it take to solve the Social Security cash shortfall?
This suggests that Congress will struggle to resolve Social Security's looming cash shortfall, despite having 16 years to do so, if the Board of Trustees' estimate proves correct. And, as a reminder, the longer Congress waits to act, the wider the actuarial deficit grows.
When did Social Security trust fund ratio drop?
The program's trust fund ratio sank from 103% in 1969 and 1970, to just 14% by 1983. Image source: Getty Images. In other words, Congress knew for more than a decade prior to implementing the 1983 Amendments that Social Security was in trouble.

Wrong Timeline
Social Security Amendments of 1983
- By the 1980s, Social Security was in big trouble. Starting in 1975, SS expenditures exceeded revenues and its reserves were close to being exhausted. It was anticipated that, without legislative action, it would not have been possible to continue paying benefits on time beginning in July 1983. Remember, SS is supposed to be self-funded, not take from the general fund. Being t…
Later Social Security Tax Increases
- Left out of the meme is that this tax was again increased in 1993, under Bill Clinton and a Democratic Congress. Instead of the 50% tax on SS for “high income earners,” 85% of their benefits were now taxed and the 50% began to include modest earners. Every House Republican voted against this, although it was part of a massive Omnibus Reconciliation...
The Tax Reform Act of 1986
- Again, the top tax rate was lowered to 28% in 1986, not 1984, by the Tax Reform Act of 1986(though technically it didn’t take effect until 1988). Like the Social Security amendments of 1983, it also had bipartisan support. In fact, the bill was sponsored by Democrat Richard Gephardt. It also had strong bipartisan opposition. While it lowered taxes on the rich, it also clos…
Verdict
- The meme is simply wrong with its claim that this was to make up for the Reagan tax cuts. The tax on SS benefits was always meant to address the shortfall for that specific program, and the revenues went to the trust fund, not general fund. It also raises a fairly small amount of revenue. In 2018, $35 billionwas raised from this tax, just 3.4% of SS’s total funding. In comparison, $885…