1     
TAXATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler

5     
House Sponsor: Justin J. Miller

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions related to individual income taxes.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     enacts an individual income tax exemption that is based on social security benefits
13     and adjusted gross income;
14          ▸     amends birth requirements for the retirement tax credit;
15          ▸     repeals obsolete language; and
16          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          This bill provides a special effective date.
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          59-10-104, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 389
24          59-10-116, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 382 and 389
25          59-10-1019, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 389
26     ENACTS:
27          59-10-104.2, Utah Code Annotated 1953

28     

29     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30          Section 1. Section 59-10-104 is amended to read:
31          59-10-104. Tax basis -- Tax rate -- Exemption.
32          (1) [For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, a] A tax is imposed on the
33     state taxable income of a resident individual as provided in this section.
34          (2) For purposes of Subsection (1), for a taxable year, the tax is an amount equal to the
35     product of:
36          (a) the resident individual's state taxable income for that taxable year; and
37          (b) 5%.
38          (3) This section does not apply to a resident individual exempt from taxation under
39     Section 59-10-104.1 or 59-10-104.2.
40          Section 2. Section 59-10-104.2 is enacted to read:
41          59-10-104.2. Exemption from taxation on the basis of social security benefits.
42          (1) As used in this section, "social security benefits" means the same as that term is
43     defined in Section 86, Internal Revenue Code.
44          (2) An individual is exempt from a tax imposed by Section 59-10-104 or 59-10-116 if
45     greater than 50% of the individual's adjusted gross income on the individual's federal
46     individual income tax return is social security benefits.
47          Section 3. Section 59-10-116 is amended to read:
48          59-10-116. Tax on nonresident individual -- Calculation -- Exemption.
49          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a tax is imposed on a nonresident individual
50     in an amount equal to the product of the:
51          (a) nonresident individual's state taxable income; and
52          (b) percentage listed in Subsection 59-10-104(2).
53          (2) This section does not apply to a nonresident individual exempt from taxation under
54     Section 59-10-104.1 or 59-10-104.2.
55          Section 4. Section 59-10-1019 is amended to read:
56          59-10-1019. Definitions -- Nonrefundable retirement tax credits.
57          (1) As used in this section:
58          (a) "Eligible age 65 or older retiree" means a claimant, regardless of whether that

59     claimant is retired, who:
60          (i) is 65 years of age or older; and
61          (ii) was born on or before December 31, [1952] 1957.
62          (b) (i) "Eligible retirement income" means income received by an eligible under age 65
63     retiree as a pension or annuity if that pension or annuity is:
64          (A) paid to the eligible under age 65 retiree or the surviving spouse of an eligible under
65     age 65 retiree; and
66          (B) (I) paid from an annuity contract purchased by an employer under a plan that meets
67     the requirements of Section 404(a)(2), Internal Revenue Code;
68          (II) purchased by an employee under a plan that meets the requirements of Section 408,
69     Internal Revenue Code; or
70          (III) paid by:
71          (Aa) the United States;
72          (Bb) a state or a political subdivision of a state; or
73          (Cc) the District of Columbia.
74          (ii) "Eligible retirement income" does not include amounts received by the spouse of a
75     living eligible under age 65 retiree because of the eligible under age 65 retiree's having been
76     employed in a community property state.
77          (c) "Eligible under age 65 retiree" means a claimant, regardless of whether that
78     claimant is retired, who:
79          (i) is younger than 65 years of age;
80          (ii) was born on or before December 31, [1952] 1957; and
81          (iii) has eligible retirement income for the taxable year for which a tax credit is claimed
82     under this section.
83          (d) "Head of household filing status" is as defined in Section 59-10-1018.
84          (e) "Joint filing status" is as defined in Section 59-10-1018.
85          (f) "Married filing separately status" means a married individual who:
86          (i) does not file a single federal individual income tax return jointly with that married
87     individual's spouse for the taxable year; and
88          (ii) files a single federal individual income tax return for the taxable year.
89          (g) "Modified adjusted gross income" means the sum of an eligible age 65 or older

90     retiree's or eligible under age 65 retiree's:
91          (i) adjusted gross income for the taxable year for which a tax credit is claimed under
92     this section;
93          (ii) any interest income that is not included in adjusted gross income for the taxable
94     year described in Subsection (1)(g)(i); and
95          (iii) any addition to adjusted gross income required by Section 59-10-114 for the
96     taxable year described in Subsection (1)(g)(i).
97          (h) "Single filing status" means a single individual who files a single federal individual
98     income tax return for the taxable year.
99          (2) Except as provided in Section 59-10-1002.2 and subject to Subsections (3) through
100     (6):
101          (a) each eligible age 65 or older retiree may claim a nonrefundable tax credit of $450
102     against taxes otherwise due under this part; or
103          (b) each eligible under age 65 retiree may claim a nonrefundable tax credit against
104     taxes otherwise due under this part in an amount equal to the lesser of:
105          (i) $288; or
106          (ii) the product of:
107          (A) the eligible under age 65 retiree's eligible retirement income for the taxable year for
108     which the eligible under age 65 retiree claims a tax credit under this section; and
109          (B) 6%.
110          (3) A tax credit under this section may not be carried forward or carried back.
111          (4) The sum of the tax credits allowed by Subsection (2) claimed on one return filed
112     under this part shall be reduced by $.025 for each dollar by which modified adjusted gross
113     income for purposes of the return exceeds:
114          (a) for a federal individual income tax return that is allowed a married filing separately
115     status, $16,000;
116          (b) for a federal individual income tax return that is allowed a single filing status,
117     $25,000;
118          (c) for a federal individual income tax return that is allowed a head of household filing
119     status, $32,000; or
120          (d) for a return under this chapter that is allowed a joint filing status, $32,000.

121          (5) For purposes of determining the ownership of items of retirement income under this
122     section, common law doctrine shall be applied in all cases even though some items of
123     retirement income may have originated from service or investments in a community property
124     state.
125          Section 5. Effective date.
126          This bill takes effect for a taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2016.






Legislative Review Note
     as of 12-19-14 11:57 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel