WASHINGTON, DC (Michigan News Source) – For anyone 65 or older who heard “no more Social Security tax!” and immediately booked a spa day, hold your confetti. The new tax break isn’t an automatic elimination of Social Security tax – it’s a temporary deduction that might shrink your taxable income. But you have to file for it.

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, eligible seniors can claim up to $6,000 off their taxable income – and married couples could double that. The catch? It phases out once modified adjusted gross income tops $75,000 single/$150,000 joint. And the most important thing to know: you have to actually fill out the brand-new Schedule 1-A form with your 1040 to get the deduction.

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So this is a friendly reminder: this isn’t an IRS gift basket. If you breeze through your taxes like normal, you’ll miss it. The IRS won’t magically apply it for you – you have to check the right box and use the Schedule 1-A to get the deduction.

Bottom line: the deduction is real, but it’s not automatic. If you qualify and don’t file the extra form, you leave money on the table. Check your income, fill out Schedule 1-A, and make sure the “no tax on Social Security” hype actually turns into a refund instead of a missed opportunity.