Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a rally on July 31, 2024 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Trump is returning to Pennsylvania for the first time since the assassination attempt. Polls show a close race with Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. (Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Former President and Republican nominee, Donald Trump has proposed a new tax policy that would eliminate federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for seniors.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the proposal, which Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social and reiterated at a rally in Pennsylvania, aims to reduce the financial burden on older Americans by removing taxes on their Social Security income and tips. This, however, could impact federal revenue, with estimates suggesting a reduction of $1.6 trillion to $1.8 trillion over the next decade.
Trump's proposal has garnered mixed reactions from lawmakers and experts.
Supporters, like Rep. Thomas Massie argue that seniors should not be taxed on the benefits they receive after a lifetime of work. Massie, who sponsored a similar bill in the House last year, believes that the proposal aligns with the principles of reducing taxes and supporting retirees.
However, critics, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen, argue that the plan disproportionately benefits wealthier seniors with other sources of income, such as investments, pensions, and 401(k) distributions. Van Hollen contends that the proposal is another example of Trump's tendency to favor tax cuts for the wealthy.
Interestingly, Trump himself may not benefit from this proposed tax cut. Publicly released tax returns indicate that he has not reported any income from Social Security benefits, even though he is eligible to receive them.
The impact of Trump's proposal on Social Security's long-term viability is also a concern.
Currently, about 48% of Social Security recipients pay taxes on their benefits, contributing $86 billion in 2023 alone. Removing this tax revenue could accelerate the depletion of the Social Security trust fund, potentially moving up the date for automatic benefit cuts from 2033 to 2032.
Critics argue that without identifying a funding source to replace the lost revenue, the proposal could undermine the program's stability and lead to significant challenges in maintaining benefit levels.
Trump's influence within the Republican Party could give the proposal some momentum, particularly among lawmakers who align with his tax-cutting agenda. However, passing such a major change through Congress could be challenging, even if Republicans gain full control of the House, Senate, and White House.
Notably, changes to Social Security are often subject to stringent rules in the Senate, making it difficult to pass major alterations without bipartisan support.