First, let’s talk about income tax on social security benefits. People who receive Supplemental Security Insurance or SSI benefits are exempt from paying taxes on these benefits. In addition, single registrants whose income is less than $25,000 or married registrants filing jointly whose total combined income is less than $32,000 are not required to pay taxes on any part of their Social Security income.
Social security tax can also refer to withholdings from your paycheck that enter the system while you work. This tax is part of the FICA taxes. Very few people are exempt from paying these taxes. However, there are some exceptions. State and local employees who are included in a public pension plan are not required to pay the tax because that would essentially mean a double dip. Also, foreign government officials working in the United States are not required to pay into the system. In exceptional cases, people can request a religious exemption from paying the tax, although strict requirements are needed to benefit from this exemption.