Seniors: The Tax on Social Security Never Ended — Who Gets an IRS Bill in April

Congress never ended the tax on Social Security. The new law added a $6,000 deduction for everyone 65 and older — a real break, and for most people it means no federal tax on their benefits. But the rule that taxes Social Security is still in the law, word for word. About 1 in 8 people on Social Security still owe tax on it, some of them stopped their withholding when they heard the news, and the people it hits hardest have just lost a husband or a wife: less income, more tax. WHAT THE LAW ACTUALLY DID • A new deduction of $6,000 per person 65+ ($12,000 for a couple if both are 65+), 2025 through 2028 • You get it whether you itemize or not. It shrinks above $75,000 of income ($150,000 for a couple) • It does NOT change how much of your Social Security is taxable WHO STILL OWES • Half your Social Security + your other income (pension, IRA, interest, even tax-free bond interest) = "provisional income" • Over $25,000 single / $32,000 married: part of your benefit is taxable. Over $34,000 / $44,000: up to 85% • These lines have never been raised for inflation THE YEAR-END FIX • Social Security withholding: 7%, 10%, 12% or 22% — sign in at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 • Taking a required IRA withdrawal in December? Ask your bank to withhold tax from it. Withholding counts as if you paid all year • Generally no penalty if you owe under $1,000, or if you paid at least last year's total tax during the year DATES • Wed, Oct 14 — next year's raise announced • Thu, Oct 15 — extended 2025 returns due (the senior deduction goes on Schedule 1-A) • Dec 31 — last day for withholding to count for this year • January — your SSA-1099 arrives; Jan 15 — last estimated payment for this year • April 15, 2027 — tax day STATES THAT STILL TAX SOCIAL SECURITY (2026) Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont. West Virginia stopped this year. SCAM WARNING Nobody from the IRS will call you to "claim your $6,000 senior bonus." There is nothing to sign up for — you claim it on your tax return. The IRS starts with a letter in the mail. MY GUIDE Every program older Americans can claim but most never do — help with your Medicare premium, prescriptions, property taxes and heating — plus a chapter on the new deduction and the other tax breaks after 65, with this year's numbers and exactly how to apply: earlwhitaker.com (or scan the code in the video). FREE HELP (nobody here sells anything) • Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 or ssa.gov • Free tax preparation for older Americans: IRS VITA / Tax Counseling for the Elderly, and AARP Tax-Aide (from February) • IRS Tax Withholding Estimator: irs.gov CHAPTERS 0:00 Congress never ended the tax on Social Security 1:15 What the new law actually did 2:33 The rule that still taxes your benefits 3:42 Three examples 3:49 Ron & Linda: why they owe nothing 4:33 Dale: the bill coming in April 5:34 The December fix almost nobody knows 6:13 Turning your withholding back on 6:34 When there's no penalty 6:52 The widow's tax trap 8:11 The October 14 raise and your taxes 8:46 The Medicare surcharge the deduction doesn't lower 9:15 8 states that still tax Social Security 9:37 October 15: check for Schedule 1-A 9:58 My guide 10:26 The scam that follows a tax story 10:47 4 things to do this week 11:47 Every date in one place 12:24 My honest read 12:56 Did you stop your withholding? SOURCES Congressional Research Service, "Taxation of Social Security Benefits and the Senior Deduction in P.L. 119-21" (R48613) IRS — Schedule 1-A and the enhanced deduction for seniors; 2026 inflation adjustments; Publication 505 (withholding and estimated tax); Form W-4R Social Security Administration — Request to withhold taxes (ssa.gov) White House Council of Economic Advisers estimate, via Senate Finance Committee (July 2025) CMS — 2026 Medicare Part B premium and income-related amounts; 2026 Medicare Trustees Report The Senior Citizens League — 2027 COLA estimate