How the New $6,000 'Senior Bonus' Tax Deduction Works

the number 65 on clothespins hanging on a line — (Image credit: Getty Images)

A significant tax change for older adult taxpayers this filing season comes in the form of a new benefit known as the “senior bonus deduction.”

Tucked into President Donald Trump’s 2025 tax bill, this provision is designed to give retirees and older taxpayers extra relief at filing time. While the idea sounds simple enough, the new deduction has stirred questions about who qualifies and how the deduction works with other tax breaks.

For example, if you’re 65 or older and have been itemizing your tax deductions, you might wonder if this new bonus deduction could benefit you.

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just ~~$107.88~~ $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues

CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/y99mlvgqmn1763972420.png

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

Most taxpayers claim the standard deduction — and those who do can stack the bonus deduction on top of the regular standard deduction and the existing extra standard deduction for those 65 and older.

Here’s more to know about what the new bonus deduction means for those age 65 and older.

More: Standard Deduction 2025 Quiz: How Much Do You Really Know?

What is the bonus deduction for older adults in the Trump tax bill?

A new bonus deduction kicks in beginning with the 2025 tax year (taxes you'll file in early 2026) due to recently enacted Trump/GOP tax legislation, which Trump calls the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB).

This bonus allows taxpayers age 65 and older to claim an additional deduction — up to $6,000 for singles, or $12,000 for married couples when both spouses qualify.

Key points:

You must be 65 or older by December 31, 2025.
The bonus amount tops out at $6,000 for individuals and $12,000 for married couples when both spouses are 65 and older.
This deduction phases out above a certain income level: Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) of $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for those married, filing jointly. It phases out completely for MAGI above $175,000 and $250,000, respectively.
The IRS says you must "include the Social Security Number of the qualifying individual(s) on the return, and file jointly if married, to claim the deduction."

Because the deduction applies regardless of whether you itemize or take the standard deduction, it can be helpful for those with sufficient deductible expenses to itemize but who also want to further reduce their taxable income.

Keep in mind: This new tax break is temporary, set to be available from 2025 through 2028 unless Congress renews it.

How it works for standard deduction takers

As Kiplinger has reported, taxpayers 65-plus who typically claim the standard deduction can claim the up to $6,000 bonus deduction (or $12,000 for married couples when both are age 65-plus).

That’s in addition to the existing extra standard deduction for those 65 and older ($2,000 for singles, $1,600 per qualifying individual married, filing jointly).

For example, a single filer age 65 or older could have a standard deduction of $15,750 (the new base amount), plus $2,000 (existing age deduction), plus $6,000 (bonus), for a total deduction of $23,750, assuming total income is below the phase-out threshold.

How the 65-plus bonus deduction works for itemizers

The existing extra standard deduction for individuals age 65 and older only benefits those who claim the standard deduction. They add the appropriate extra standard deduction amount for those 65 and older to their existing standard deduction.

However, the 2025 bonus deduction for older adults temporarily offers a separate tax benefit. (You aren’t required to take the standard deduction to claim it.)

Even if you itemize your deductions — claiming mortgage interest, charitable giving or medical expenses, for example — you might still benefit from the new separate bonus deduction for those 65 and older as part of your retirement tax plan.

Despite what you might have heard, the bonus deduction doesn’t necessarily eliminate taxes on your Social Security benefits.

Trump’s tax bill does not directly change Social Security taxation and makes no changes to the Social Security program.

Instead, the new law, enacted on July 4, 2025, provides a temporary, income-based bonus 65-plus tax deduction rather than a full repeal of Social Security benefit taxes. That deduction boost could, for some, indirectly impact how much Social Security income is subject to tax.

For more information, see Kiplinger's report: No SS Tax Cut in Trump's Big Bill.

'Senior bonus deduction:' What to do now

The new bonus deduction is a temporary tax break that could benefit a broader range of older adult taxpayers, including those who itemize and those who choose the standard deduction.

Here are a few things to consider as we head toward the final quarter of 2025:

Review your income. Think about your expected MAGI to gauge how much of the $6,000 deduction you can claim.

Keep track of all deductible expenses. This helps ensure that claimed deductions are documented, which can result in a lower taxable income and prevent paying more taxes than necessary.

Consult a tax professional. Since the rules are new and income phaseouts apply, professional advice can help you optimize your retirement tax strategy for 2025 and beyond.

Kelley R. Taylor is the senior tax editor at Kiplinger.com, where she breaks down federal and state tax rules and news to help readers navigate their finances with confidence. A corporate attorney and business journalist with more than 20 years of experience, Kelley has helped taxpayers make sense of shifting U.S. tax law and policy from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), to SECURE 2.0, the Inflation Reduction Act, and most recently, the 2025 “Big, Beautiful Bill.” She has covered issues ranging from partnerships, carried interest, compensation and benefits, and tax‑exempt organizations to RMDs, capital gains taxes, and energy tax credits. Her award‑winning work has been featured in numerous national and specialty publications.