Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis recently gathered with senior citizens and representatives from AARP New York to rally support for her initiative aimed at reducing taxes on Social Security income for seniors. The event took place at the New Dorp Beach Friendship Club, where Malliotakis was joined by Beth Finkel, State Director of AARP New York, and Marie Santangelo, leader of all Staten Island AARP Chapters.
Malliotakis, who serves on the House Ways & Means Committee, is working to incorporate her proposed tax relief measures into the upcoming budget reconciliation tax package. Key components include H.R. 1130, The Bonus Tax Relief for America’s Seniors Act. This legislation seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by increasing the additional bonus deduction for seniors over 65 years old from $1,950 to $5,000 for single filers and from $3,100 to $10,000 for married couples. According to Malliotakis’s office, this could reduce federal taxes by an average of $2,100 for married couples filing jointly with an income of $85,000 annually.
Additionally, Malliotakis is advocating for raising the cap on State and Local Tax (SALT) deductions. “As we work to finalize the details of our tax relief package,” she stated, “I remain hopeful that key provisions of my legislation will be included in our one big, beautiful bill to reduce the tax burden on our seniors and middle-class families in our community.”
Nancy A. LeaMond from AARP emphasized the importance of these measures: “This bill is a clear recognition of both the financial pressures facing older Americans and the additional cost of taxation on Social Security benefits.”
Other initiatives backed by Malliotakis include H.R. 1129 (TRUST Act) and H.R. 2266 (RETIREES FIRST Act). These bills aim to modernize outdated Social Security tax thresholds and adjust them according to inflation rates.
Currently, nearly 56% of retirees pay taxes on their Social Security benefits compared to less than 10% in 1984 when exemptions were first introduced. The new proposals would raise provisional income thresholds significantly—up from current levels—to exempt most middle-class retirees from such taxes.
The congresswoman remains focused not only on easing senior tax burdens but also on other economic measures like increasing domestic production incentives.
