Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) announces reintroduction of the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act, H.R. 3206. This bill assists middle-class seniors by eliminating the unjust double tax on Social Security benefits.

As the Congressional Research Service reports, “Before 1984, Social Security benefits were exempt from the federal income tax. Congress then enacted legislation to tax a portion of those benefits, with the share gradually increasing as a person’s income rose above a specified income threshold.”
 
“Although seniors have already paid tax on their Social Security contributions via the payroll tax, they are still required to list these benefits as taxable income on their tax returns,” said Rep. Massie. “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. My bill would exempt Social Security retirement benefits from taxation and boost the retirement income of millions of older Americans.”

“The cost of living for seniors is rising and this will bring immediate tax relief for West Virginians,” said Representative Alex X. Mooney (R-WV). “Seniors worked hard to earn their Social Security benefits and have already been taxed on their contributions to Social Security. The federal tax on Social Security is a double-tax and its repeal is the right thing to do for our seniors.”

Representative Daniel Webster (R-FL) said, “For decades, seniors have paid into Social Security with their tax dollars. Now, when many seniors are on a fixed income and struggling financially, they are being double-taxed because of income taxes on their Social Security benefits. This is wrong and I’m pleased to once again co-sponsor this legislation to repeal this tax.”

Bob Carlstrom, President of the Association of Mature American Citizens Action, released the following statement in support of Massie’s legislation:

“Every year, millions of seniors become eligible for either Social Security or tier I railroad retirement benefits. After working for decades, paying taxes on their hard-earned income to fund these federal programs, some seniors are forced to pay income tax on the benefits they receive from the federal government. Taxing benefits which were created from already taxed funds is nonsensical and curtails retirement benefits seniors have been promised. Seniors deserve to reap the full benefits of their hard work from career-long contributions to Social Security and the Railroad Retirement Plan.

The Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act will amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to terminate the inclusion of tier I railroad retirement benefits and Social Security benefits in an individual’s gross income. As this legislation takes effect, seniors will notice their tax liability is significantly reduced and will no longer deal with the ‘double tax’ on their federally earned benefits.” 

The Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act was originally introduced in 2003 by Representative Ron Paul (R-TX). Rep. Massie has introduced this bill each Congress since taking office in 2012. Original cosponsors include Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Ben Cline (R-VA), Michael Cloud (E-TX), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Bob Good (R-VA), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Mark Green (R-TN), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Scott Perry (R-PA), Bill Posey (R-FL), Tom Tiffany (R-WI), and Daniel Webster (R-FL).

The text of H.R. 3206 is available at this embedded link.