Submitted By: Janice
Answered: July 8, 2014 8:30 am

Are wages earned by someone who is age 65 or older tax free?

Earned income remains taxable regardless of age. Similarly, such income continues to be subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA for an employee; self-employment tax for a self-employed person). The one age-related break: once a worker reaches the full retirement age (currently 66), then he/she can have any amount of earned income without a reduction or complete loss of Social Security benefits.

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Tax Glossary

Individual retirement account (IRA)

A retirement account to which up to $4,000 (or $5,000 if you are 50 or over) may be contributed for 2007, but deductions for the contribution are restricted if you are covered by a company retirement plan. Earnings accumulate tax free.

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