Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)
This week, Representative Sharice Davids demanded that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Frank Bisignano immediately clarify conflicting public statements regarding federal taxes on Social Security benefits.
In recent months, the president and other administration officials have claimed that their partisan budget law eliminated federal taxes on Social Security benefits. However, the law itself did not eliminate those taxes. Instead, it created a temporary $6,000 tax deduction for a small subset of eligible seniors from 2025 through 2028 — a separate provision that does not repeal the underlying taxation of benefits.
“As enacted, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act created a temporary tax deduction of $6,000 for eligible seniors… While this deduction may provide relief for some, it does not eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits,” wrote Davids. “When the federal government provides conflicting or inaccurate information, it undermines trust and places an unfair burden on seniors who are trying to make responsible financial decisions. As Americans navigate retirement planning and the 2026 tax season, clarity is not optional — it is essential.”
Nonpartisan estimates indicate that fewer than half of seniors nationwide are expected to benefit from the new deduction. Meanwhile, federal taxes on Social Security benefits remain in place. In July, the Social Security Administration issued a clarification confirming that those taxes were not eliminated, but administration officials continue to push false information.
Davids asks Treasury and SSA to confirm in writing whether the law eliminated taxes on Social Security benefits, whether Americans must still report Social Security income on their federal tax filings, and whether implementation of the law could impact Social Security’s long-term solvency. She requested responses by April 1, 2026.
The letter comes as Americans prepare their taxes and amid broader concerns about the stability of Social Security. Over the past year, seniors have faced uncertainty regarding administrative changes and public rhetoric surrounding the program. Davids has consistently pushed back on efforts to gut Social Security and emphasized that transparency is critical to maintaining trust.
Read Davids’ full letter here or below:
Dear Secretary Bessent and Commissioner Bisignano,
I am writing to request clarity on federal taxes on Social Security benefits. Public statements from the administration have claimed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated these taxes, but the law itself and agency guidance indicate otherwise. America’s seniors deserve honesty from their government as they plan for retirement and prepare to file their taxes.
As enacted, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act created a temporary tax deduction of $6,000 for eligible seniors, in effect from 2025 through 2028. While this deduction may provide relief for some, it does not eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits. Rather, this deduction exists alongside those continued taxes. Nonpartisan estimates indicate that fewer than half of seniors nationwide will benefit from the deduction at all.
Despite this, President Trump and the White House have repeatedly and publicly stated that the law eliminated taxes on Social Security benefits. That claim is incorrect and misleading. In July, the Social Security Administration issued a correction clarifying that taxes on Social Security benefits have not been eliminated.
When the federal government provides conflicting or inaccurate information, it undermines trust and places an unfair burden on seniors who are trying to make responsible financial decisions. As Americans navigate retirement planning and the 2026 tax season, clarity is not optional — it is essential.
This comes after a year of uncertainty and fear for folks who rely on Social Security. Under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the ongoing fallout, seniors have faced threats of cuts to vital Social Security Administration services, baseless claims of widespread fraud, and damaging comments dismissing Social Security as a “scam” and “Ponzi scheme.” Americans who have paid into Social Security over a lifetime of work should never have to wonder whether their earned benefits will be there when they need them.
Given the seriousness of these issues and the need for clear, factual guidance, I ask for your administration’s clarification by responding, in writing, to the following questions by April 1, 2026:
- Did the One Big Beautiful Bill Act directly eliminate federal taxes on Social Security? If so, will agency guidance be corrected? If not, will administration officials commit to correcting public statements that claim otherwise?
- Are Americans still required to report Social Security income on their federal tax filings?
- Is implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act expected to accelerate insolvency of Social Security?
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Millions of Americans — and especially seniors — depend on Social Security and on straightforward, truthful information from their government. I urge your administration to provide clarity and transparency they deserve. I look forward to reviewing your responses.