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Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act

USA119th CongressS-1690| Senate 
| Updated: 5/8/2025
Sheldon Whitehouse

Sheldon Whitehouse

Democratic Senator

Rhode Island

Cosponsors (4)
Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)

Finance Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act" proposes significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to bolster the financial stability of Social Security and Medicare. A core provision involves modifying payroll taxes by removing the existing cap on earnings subject to Social Security taxes for income exceeding $400,000. This creates a "donut hole" where income between the current Social Security wage base and $400,000 remains untaxed, but income above $400,000 becomes subject to the tax. Additionally, the bill introduces a further additional Hospital Insurance tax of 1.2 percent on wages and self-employment income. This new tax applies to earnings above $400,000 for individuals, $500,000 for joint filers, and $250,000 for married individuals filing separately. These changes to payroll and self-employment taxes are slated to take effect on or after January 1 of the first calendar year following the act's enactment. The legislation also targets unearned income by substantially modifying the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT). For high-income individuals, defined by a modified adjusted gross income exceeding $400,000 (or $500,000 for joint filers), the NIIT base is expanded to include a broader category of "specified net income," removing certain exclusions for business-related income. Furthermore, the bill imposes an additional 13.6 percent tax on this expanded investment income for high earners, effectively raising the total NIIT rate from 3.8 percent to 17.4 percent on applicable income. For trusts and estates, the NIIT rate is directly increased from 3.8 percent to 17.4 percent, applying to undistributed specified net income or net investment income. A crucial aspect of these unearned income tax modifications is the explicit allocation of the generated revenue. Specific percentages of the taxes imposed under Section 1411 of the Internal Revenue Code will be transferred to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund (71.3 percent), the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (10.3 percent), and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (28.7 percent), with these provisions taking effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1174
Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act
May 8, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3271
Introduced in House
May 8, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 8, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1174
    Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act


  • May 8, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3271
    Introduced in House


  • May 8, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 8, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Taxation

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3271: Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act

Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act

USA119th CongressS-1690| Senate 
| Updated: 5/8/2025
The "Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act" proposes significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to bolster the financial stability of Social Security and Medicare. A core provision involves modifying payroll taxes by removing the existing cap on earnings subject to Social Security taxes for income exceeding $400,000. This creates a "donut hole" where income between the current Social Security wage base and $400,000 remains untaxed, but income above $400,000 becomes subject to the tax. Additionally, the bill introduces a further additional Hospital Insurance tax of 1.2 percent on wages and self-employment income. This new tax applies to earnings above $400,000 for individuals, $500,000 for joint filers, and $250,000 for married individuals filing separately. These changes to payroll and self-employment taxes are slated to take effect on or after January 1 of the first calendar year following the act's enactment. The legislation also targets unearned income by substantially modifying the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT). For high-income individuals, defined by a modified adjusted gross income exceeding $400,000 (or $500,000 for joint filers), the NIIT base is expanded to include a broader category of "specified net income," removing certain exclusions for business-related income. Furthermore, the bill imposes an additional 13.6 percent tax on this expanded investment income for high earners, effectively raising the total NIIT rate from 3.8 percent to 17.4 percent on applicable income. For trusts and estates, the NIIT rate is directly increased from 3.8 percent to 17.4 percent, applying to undistributed specified net income or net investment income. A crucial aspect of these unearned income tax modifications is the explicit allocation of the generated revenue. Specific percentages of the taxes imposed under Section 1411 of the Internal Revenue Code will be transferred to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund (71.3 percent), the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (10.3 percent), and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (28.7 percent), with these provisions taking effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1174
Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act
May 8, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-3271
Introduced in House
May 8, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 8, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1174
    Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act


  • May 8, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-3271
    Introduced in House


  • May 8, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 8, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sheldon Whitehouse

Sheldon Whitehouse

Democratic Senator

Rhode Island

Cosponsors (4)
Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)

Finance Committee

Taxation

Related Bills

  • HR 119-3271: Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted