1     
SOCIAL SECURITY TAX AMENDMENTS

2     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Walt Brooks

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies the individual income tax credit for social security benefits.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     expands eligibility for the social security benefits tax credit by increasing the
13     thresholds for the income-based phaseout; and
14          ▸     makes technical changes.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          This bill provides retrospective operation.
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     AMENDS:
21          59-10-1042, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 459
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 59-10-1042 is amended to read:
25          59-10-1042. Nonrefundable tax credit for social security benefits.
26          (1) As used in this section:
27          (a) "Head of household filing status" means the same as that term is defined in Section

28     59-10-1018.
29          (b) "Joint filing status" means the same as that term is defined in Section 59-10-1018.
30          (c) "Married filing separately status" means a married individual who:
31          (i) does not file a single federal individual income tax return jointly with that married
32     individual's spouse for the taxable year; and
33          (ii) files a single federal individual income tax return for the taxable year.
34          (d) "Modified adjusted gross income" means the sum of the following for a claimant
35     or, if the claimant's return under this chapter is allowed a joint filing status, the claimant and
36     the claimant's spouse:
37          (i) adjusted gross income for the taxable year for which a tax credit is claimed under
38     this section;
39          (ii) any interest income that is not included in adjusted gross income for the taxable
40     year described in Subsection (1)(d)(i); and
41          (iii) any addition to adjusted gross income required by Section 59-10-114 for the
42     taxable year described in Subsection (1)(d)(i).
43          (e) "Single filing status" means a single individual who files a single federal individual
44     income tax return for the taxable year.
45          (f) "Social security benefit" means an amount received by a claimant as a monthly
46     benefit in accordance with the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 401 et seq.
47          (2) Except as provided in Section 59-10-1002.2 and Subsections (3) and (4), each
48     claimant on a return that receives a social security benefit may claim a nonrefundable tax credit
49     against taxes otherwise due under this part equal to the product of:
50          (a) the percentage listed in Subsection 59-10-104(2); and
51          (b) the claimant's social security benefit that is included in adjusted gross income on
52     the claimant's federal income tax return for the taxable year.
53          (3) A claimant may not:
54          (a) carry forward or carry back the amount of a tax credit under this section that
55     exceeds the claimant's tax liability for the taxable year; or
56          (b) claim a tax credit under this section for a taxable year if a tax credit under Section
57     59-10-1019 is claimed on the claimant's return for the same taxable year.
58          (4) The tax credit allowed by Subsection (2) claimed on a return filed under this part

59     shall be reduced by $.025 for each dollar by which modified adjusted gross income for
60     purposes of the return exceeds:
61          (a) for a federal individual income tax return that is allowed a married filing separately
62     status, [$37,500] $45,000;
63          (b) for a federal individual income tax return that is allowed a single filing status,
64     [$45,000] $54,000;
65          (c) for a federal individual income tax return that is allowed a head of household filing
66     status, [$75,000] $90,000; or
67          (d) [for a return under this chapter] for a federal individual income tax return that is
68     allowed a joint filing status, [$75,000] $90,000.
69          (5) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
70     commission may make rules governing the calculation and method for claiming the tax credit
71     described in this section.
72          Section 2. Effective date.
73          This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.
74          Section 3. Retrospective operation.
75          This bill has retrospective operation for a taxable year beginning on or after January 1,
76     2024.