If you’re asking, “Will Social Security be taxed in 2026?” the answer is — yes, in many cases it will still be taxed. The rules that determine whether you owe federal income tax on Social Security benefits remain largely unchanged for 2026.
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📄 How Social Security Taxation Works
Your Social Security benefits (retirement, survivor, or disability) can be taxable depending on your “combined income.” Combined income includes:
- Your adjusted gross income (AGI)
- Any nontaxable interest you earn
- Half of your Social Security benefits for the year
Based on that number, the portion of benefits subject to federal tax is determined by a tiered system:
| Combined Income (2026) | Taxed Portion of Social Security Benefits |
|---|---|
| Under $25,000 (single) / under $32,000 (married filing jointly) | 0% — benefits are not taxed |
| $25,000–$34,000 (single) / $32,000–$44,000 (joint) | Up to 50% of benefits taxed |
| Above $34,000 (single) / Above $44,000 (joint) | Up to 85% of benefits taxed |
Benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) remain non-taxable.
🔎 What’s New for 2026
While the core tax rules remain, 2026 brings a few updates that matter for retirees:
- A standard deduction increase under recent tax law — for 2026 the standard deduction rises to $16,100 for single filers (and married filing separately), and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly.
- A temporary additional deduction for seniors: taxpayers aged 65 or older may claim an extra $6,000 deduction for tax years 2025 through 2028. This deduction can lower taxable income and in some cases offset taxes owed on Social Security benefits.
- Importantly: even with those changes, the new law did not eliminate federal taxation of Social Security benefits.
So while more seniors may see reduced taxable income or even pay no federal tax on benefits, the possibility of taxation remains.
✅ What This Means for Beneficiaries
- If your combined income remains below the threshold ($25,000 single / $32,000 joint), you won’t owe federal tax on Social Security benefits.
- If your income exceeds the threshold, a portion (up to 50% or 85%) may be subject to income tax — but increased standard deductions and the extra senior deduction may reduce or eliminate the actual tax owed.
- For couples, both spouses’ benefits and incomes get combined when determining the taxable portion.
- Supplemental benefits such as SSI remain non-taxable, which may help some low-income seniors.
📈 Context: Social Security in 2026
Beyond taxation, 2026 introduces a benefit boost for recipients: Social Security announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which will raise monthly benefit amounts starting January 2026.
Even so, the increased benefits may push some retirees over the combined-income thresholds, making taxation more likely. At the same time, the higher standard deduction and senior deduction might shield many from taxes — especially modest-income seniors.
🔔 Final Word
Yes — Social Security can be taxed in 2026. For many recipients, the 2026 tax year brings a mix of benefit increases and new deductions that could offset tax liability, but the age-old rule remains: your total income — not age — determines whether benefits are taxable.
If you are a retiree or close to retirement, it pays to run the numbers now — to see whether you’ll owe federal tax on Social Security in 2026 or benefit from the new deductions.
We’d love to hear your thoughts: do you expect to owe taxes on your 2026 Social Security income?