When do you stop paying Social Security tax? The answer is almost always "never" as long as you're employed but there are exceptions. Consider consulting with a tax professional if you think any of these situations or exceptions might apply to you.
Every year, the government sets a limit on the amount of your earnings that can be taxed for Social Security. That limit in 2025 is $176,100.
Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.
These include public workers who participate in a government pension plan comparable to Social Security. In addition, federal workers, including members of Congress, who have been serving consistently since before 1984 are covered under another retirement plan, so they're also exempt from Social Security taxes.
Do Church Employees Pay Social Security Taxes? Because clergy employees are generally considered self-employed, they are responsible for FICA tax obligations. The 7.65% FICA tax and Social Security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from a minister's pay, and boxes 3, 4, 5, and 6 on their Form W-2 are left blank.
Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. People who are 65 or older at the end of 2024 have to file a return for tax year 2024 (which is due in 2025) if their gross income is $16,550 or higher. If you're married filing jointly and both 65 or older, that amount is $32,300.
Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.
If your spouse dies, do you get both Social Security benefits? You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement. If you qualify for both survivor and retirement benefits, you will receive whichever amount is higher.
Starting in 2025, tax Social Security benefits in a manner similar to private pension income.
You can't avoid income taxes during retirement. But once you stop working, you stop paying taxes for Social Security and Medicare, which can add several thousand dollars to your bottom line.
Taxpayers 65 and older qualify for an additional standard deduction, reducing their taxable income. The extra deduction amount differs based on filing status and whether the taxpayer or spouse is blind. The IRS updates the deduction amounts annually for inflation, impacting tax filings.
Employees and employers are each required to pay a 6.2% tax on wages. In 2025, the limit is $176,100, which means you'll pay no more than $10,918.20 in Social Security taxes ($176,100 x 6.2%) in 2025. This tax cap rises each year, increasing from $168,600 in 2024 and $160,200 in 2023.
Social Security can potentially be subject to tax regardless of your age. While you may have heard at some point that Social Security is no longer taxable after 70 or some other age, this isn't the case. In reality, Social Security is taxed at any age if your income exceeds a certain level.
For single filers and heads of households age 65 and over, the additional standard deduction will increase slightly — from $1,950 in 2024 (returns you'll file soon in early 2025) to $2,000 in 2025 (returns you'll file in early 2026).
The Social Security 5-year rule refers specifically to disability benefits. It requires that you must have worked five out of the last ten years immediately before your disability onset to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Each survivor benefit can be up to 100% of your benefit. The amount may be reduced if the women start benefits before their own full retirement age, but they don't have to share — the amount isn't reduced because you've had more than one spouse.
Generally, if Social Security benefits were your only income, your benefits are not taxable and you probably do not need to file a federal income tax return.
A credit for taxpayers: aged 65 or older OR retired on permanent and total disability and received taxable disability income for the tax year; AND. with an adjusted gross income OR the total of nontaxable Social Security, pensions annuities or disability income under specific limits.
“This is simply a way for Congress to obtain more revenue for the federal government at the expense of seniors who have already paid into Social Security.