Save Social Security Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1631
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13]
Introduced: 2017-03-20
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Employment taxes

Government trust funds

Income tax exclusion

Self-employed

Social security and elderly assistance

Wages and earnings
Latest action: action_date: 2017-03-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-03-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Save Social Security Act of 2017 </b></p> <p>This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code and title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to: (1) apply Social Security payroll taxes to annual income above $300,000; (2) include earnings above $300,000 in the benefit formula; and (3) increase to $100,000 the income threshold above which Social Security benefits are included in gross income. </p> <p>(Under current law, Social Security payroll taxes apply to the first $127,200 of income in 2017 and benefits are included in the gross income of individuals with certain income that exceeds thresholds of $0, $25,000, or $32,000, depending on the individual's filing status.)</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1631 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 20, 2017 Mr. Crist introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend title II of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the portion of wages and self-employment income subject to payroll taxes, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Save Social Security Act of 2017 . 2. Determination of wages and self-employment income above contribution and benefit base after 2017 (a) Determination of wages above contribution and benefit base after 2017 (1) Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code (A) In general Paragraph (1) of section 3121(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after such calendar year. the following: The preceding sentence shall apply only to calendar years for which the contribution and benefit base (as so determined) is less than $300,000, and, for such calendar years, only to so much of the remuneration paid to such employee by such employer with respect to employment as does not exceed $300,000. . (B) Conforming amendment Paragraph (1) of section 3121(a) of such Code is amended by striking Act) to and inserting Act), or in excess of $300,000, to . (2) Amendment to the Social Security Act Section 209(a)(1)(I) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 409(a)(1)(I) ) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: except that this subparagraph shall apply only to calendar years for which the contribution and benefit base (as so determined) is less than $300,000, and, for such calendar years, only to the extent remuneration paid to such employee by such employer with respect to employment does not exceed $300,000 . (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to remuneration paid in calendar years after 2017. (b) Determination of self-Employment income above contribution and benefit base after 2017 (1) Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code (A) In general Paragraph (1) of section 1402(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: (1) in the case of the tax imposed by section 1401(a)— (A) in the case of a taxpayer with wages (as determined under section 3121(a) without regard to paragraph (1) of such section) less than $300,000 and more than the contribution and benefit base (as determined under section 230 of the Social Security Act) which is effective for the calendar year in which such taxable year begins, the lesser of— (i) the excess of $300,000 over the wages (as so determined) paid to such individual during such taxable year, or (ii) the net earnings from self-employment for the taxable year, and (B) in the case of a taxpayer with wages (as so determined) less than or equal to such contribution and benefit base and for whom the sum, for the taxable year, of net earnings from self-employment and wages (as so determined) paid to such individual is greater than such contribution and benefit base, the lesser of— (i) the excess of such sum over such contribution and benefit base, or (ii) the excess of $300,000 over such contribution and benefit base. . (B) Phaseout Subsection (b) of section 1402 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following: Paragraph (1) shall apply only to taxable years beginning in calendar years for which the contribution and benefit base (as determined under section 230 of the Social Security Act) is less than $300,000. . (2) Amendments to the Social Security Act (A) In general Section 211(b)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 411(b) ) is amended— (i) in subparagraph (I)— (I) by inserting and before 2018 after 1974 ; and (II) by striking or at the end; and (ii) by adding at the end the following: (J) For any taxable year beginning in any calendar year after 2017, an amount equal to— (i) in the case of an individual with wages (as determined under section 209(a) without regard to paragraph (1) of such section) less than $300,000 and more than the contribution and benefit base (as determined under section 230 of the Social Security Act) which is effective for the calendar year in which such taxable year begins, the lesser of— (I) the excess of $300,000 over the wages (as so determined) paid to such individual during such taxable year, or (II) the net earnings from self-employment for the taxable year, and (ii) in the case of a taxpayer with wages (as so determined) less than or equal to such contribution and benefit base and for whom the sum, for the taxable year, of net earnings from self-employment and wages (as so determined) paid to such individual is greater than such contribution and benefit base, the lesser of— (I) the excess of such sum over such contribution and benefit base, or (II) the excess of $300,000 over such contribution and benefit base. . (B) Phaseout Section 211(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 411(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: Paragraph (1) shall apply only to taxable years beginning in calendar years for which the contribution and benefit base (as determined under section 230) is less than $300,000. . (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to net earnings from self-employment derived, and remuneration paid, in calendar years after 2017. 3. Inclusion of earnings over $300,000 in social security benefit formula (a) Inclusion of earnings over $300,000 in determination of primary insurance amounts Section 215(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 415(a)(1)(A) ) is amended— (1) in clause (ii), by striking and at the end; (2) in clause (iii), by inserting and at the end; and (3) by inserting after clause (iii) the following: (iv) 3 percent of the individual’s excess average indexed monthly earnings (as defined in subsection (b)(5)(A)). . (b) Definition of excess average indexed monthly earnings Section 215(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 415(b) ) is amended— (1) by striking wages and self-employment income each place such terms appear and inserting basic wages and basic self-employment income , respectively; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (5) (A) An individual's excess average indexed monthly earnings shall be equal to the amount of the individual's average indexed monthly earnings that would be determined under this subsection by substituting excess wages for basic wages and excess self-employment income for basic self-employment income each place such terms appear in this subsection (except in this paragraph). (B) For purposes of this subsection— (i) the term basic wages means that portion of the wages of an individual paid in a year that does not exceed the contribution and benefit base for the year; (ii) the term basic self-employment income means that portion of the self-employment income of an individual credited to a year that does not exceed an amount equal to the contribution and benefit base for the year minus the amount of the wages paid to the individual in the year; (iii) the term excess wages means that portion of the wages of an individual paid in a year after 2017 in excess of the higher of $300,000 or the contribution and benefit base for the year; and (iv) the term excess self-employment income means that portion of the self-employment income of an individual credited to a year after 2017 in excess of the higher of $300,000 or such contribution and benefit base. . (c) Conforming amendment Section 215(e)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 415(e)(1) ) is amended by inserting and before 2018 after 1974 . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to individuals who initially become eligible (within the meaning of section 215(a)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act) for old-age or disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act, or who die (before becoming eligible for such benefits), in any calendar year after 2017. 4. Modification of amount of social security benefits included in gross income (a) In general Section 86 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking subsections (a), (b), and (c) and inserting the following: (a) In general Gross income for the taxable year of any taxpayer described in subsection (b) (notwithstanding section 207 of the Social Security Act) includes social security benefits in an amount equal to the lesser of— (1) 85 percent of the social security benefits received during the taxable year, or (2) 85 percent of the excess described in subsection (b). (b) Taxpayers to whom subsection (a) applies A taxpayer is described in this subsection if— (1) the sum of— (A) the modified adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for the taxable year, plus (B) 85 percent of the social security benefits received during the taxable year, exceeds (2) $100,000. (c) Modified adjusted gross income For purposes of this section, the term modified adjusted gross income means adjusted gross income— (1) determined without regard to this section and sections 135, 137, 199, 221, 222, 911, 931, and 933, and (2) increased by the amount of interest received or accrued by the taxpayer during the taxable year which is exempt from tax. . (b) Social security trust funds held harmless There are hereby appropriated (out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated) for each fiscal year to each fund under the Social Security Act or the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 an amount equal to the reduction in the transfers to such fund for such fiscal year by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a). (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years ending after the date of the enactment of this Act.