social security Archives - Babb Financial Group LLC | Flagstaff AZ Retirement Income Planning

Is Social Security Really Tax-Free Now? How the $6,000 Senior Deduction Works

If you are 65 or older, a new federal deduction worth up to $6,000 per person, or up to $12,000 for a qualifying married couple, is available right now and is scheduled to expire after 2028. It can lower the tax you owe on your income overall, including the taxable portion of your Social Security. It also phases out as income rises, which means ordinary retirement decisions, an IRA withdrawal, a Roth conversion, the sale of a stock, can quietly change how much of it you keep.

Social Security Claiming for Married Couples: The Case for Delaying the Largest Benefit

For married couples, the Social Security claiming decision is not two separate choices. It is one coordinated strategy that affects household income for both spouses, including the one who outlives the other. The core question is not simply when to turn it on. It is how to sequence both claims to protect income today and create the strongest possible foundation for whichever spouse lives longer. This article explains how spousal and survivor benefits work, why delaying the larger benefit often makes sense, and how taxes fit into the picture.