Social Security checks could get a big tax break in 2026 from a new ‘senior deduction.’ What you need to know

Many Americans are likely to see massive changes to their taxes in 2026, especially seniors.

That’s largely due to President Donald The President’s so-called big, beautiful bill, a massive 940-page bill signed into law over the summer that includes an array of new tax write-offs but also fails to renew some previous deductions from the Biden administration.

One change is a $6,000 deduction for seniors. Here’s what to know.

Who qualifies for the new senior tax deduction?

The President’s tax and spending law introduced a $6,000 deduction for qualifying seniors ages 65 and older, on top of the current additional standard deduction for seniors under existing law. Taxpayers must attain age 65 on or before the last day of the taxable year to be eligible.

The $6,000 senior deduction (or $12,000 for a married couple where both spouses qualify) applies to an eligible individual earning up to $75,000 in modified adjusted gross income, or up to $150,000 for joint filers. It is available for both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers.

Taxpayers must include the Social Security number of the qualifying individual(s) on the return, and file jointly if married, to claim the deduction.

How does the deduction impact Social Security?

The deduction is meant to offset upcoming federal taxes on Social Security payments.

Older taxpayers could be taxed up to 85% based on their “combined income,” which is calculated based on a taxpayer’s adjusted gross income plus half of their Social Security benefits, according to CNBC.

Anything else to know?

According to the IRS, the deduction expires at the end of 2028, right before The President leaves office, making this a temporary deduction effective for tax years 2025 through 2028.

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