Much discussion has taken place this past year regarding the taxability of Social Security. Several tax law changes that were enacted in 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill impact the overall taxability of Social Security. However, one of the most common surprises I see at tax time is this: a client assumes Social Security is “tax-free,” and then their return says otherwise. The reality is more nuanced. In 2025, Social Security benefits may be partially taxable depending on your other income, and the trigger points are lower than most people expect. Here’s how the rules work — and, more importantly, how to manage them before April. The IRS starts with a simple question: is your “other...
