My husband will be 66 this year. Is it true after 65 you no longer are required to pay tax on social security? And if so can we file married filing separate ?

[DoninGA]

No, it is not true.  You have to pay Social Security taxes on income earned regardless of your age.

Social Security benefits paid are taxable depending on the amount of other income reported on a tax return.  Just because one spouse received SS benefits does not mean you need to file differently.  You would still want to file a Married Filing Jointly.  For tax purposes it is in your best interest to file jointly versus separately.

Up to 85% of Social Security Retirement/Disability/Survivors benefits becomes taxable when all your other income plus 1/2 your social security reaches:

• Married Filing Jointly - $32,000
• Single or Head of Household - $25,000
• Married Filing Separately - 0

[Bsch4477]

No. Whether your social security is taxed depends on the amount of your other income.  Filing separately is usually not advantageous so try it both ways. Regardless of social security you do have the option of filing as married jointly or separately, but again, jointly is usually better. 

[VolvoGirl]

Does he receive Social Security benefit Checks? Are you asking about still working when you get SS?

There are 2 different things to know about social security. People get them mixed up all the time.

1. Your actual SS checks

If you are over full retirement age your actual ss checks won't be reduced. Otherwise they will actually reduce your payments if you make too much other income in the prior year.  See SS FAQ for working after retirement

https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html

2. Income Tax

For any age up to 85% of Social Security becomes taxable when ALL your other income plus 1/2 your social security reaches:

Married Filing Jointly: $32,000

Single or head of household: $25,000

Married Filing Separately: 0

[Opus 17]

There are 3 concepts you may be confused by. 

1. If you receive social security, it may be taxable depending on your other income.  Filing Married Filing Separately guarantees that his social security will be taxable even if it would not be taxable when filing jointly.

2. If he continues to work, he will still be subject to withholding of social security tax.  That always applies to income earned from working no matter how old the worker is.  However, by adding to his credits in the social security system, continuing to work may increase his benefits.

3. Below his official retirement age, working will reduce his benefit paid by social security.  After his official retirement age, working does not reduce his benefit.