S. 4196

103 S4196 IS: Strengthen Social Security by Taxing Dynastic Wealth Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-03-25
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4196  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   March 25, 2026   Mr. Van Hollen  introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Finance    A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to return the estate, gift, and generation skipping transfer tax to 2009 levels, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Strengthen Social Security by Taxing Dynastic Wealth Act  .
2.
Estate and gift tax returned to 2009 levels
(a)
Estate tax
(1)
Rate schedule
The table contained in  section 2001(c)  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking the last row and inserting the following:
       Over $1,000,000 but not over $1,250,000  $345,800, plus 41 percent of the excess of such amount over $1,000,000.    Over $1,250,000 but not over $1,500,000  $448,300, plus 43 percent of the excess of such amount over $1,250,000.    Over $1,500,000  $555,800, plus 45 percent of the excess of such amount over $1,500,000.
(2)
Reduction of basic exclusion amount
Paragraph (3) of  section 2010(c)  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
(3)
Basic exclusion amount
For purposes of this subsection, the basic exclusion amount is $3,500,000.
 .
(b)
Gift tax
(1)
Limitation on basic exclusion amount for purposes of determining applicable credit amount
Paragraph (1) of  section 2505(a)  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting  (determined as if the basic exclusion amount were $1,000,000 and the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount was modified under subsection (d))  after  calendar year .
(2)
Modification of deceased spousal unused exclusion amount
Section 2505 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following:
(d)
Modification of deceased spousal unused exclusion amount
In the case of a surviving spouse who is the last spouse of the decedent with respect to whom an election is made under section 2010(c)(5), the deceased spousal unused exclusion amount with respect to such surviving spouse shall be determined as if such amount were the lesser of—
(1)
$1,000,000, and
(2)
applicable exclusion amount of the decedent reduced by the amount with respect to which the tentative tax is determined under section 2001(b)(1) on the estate of the decedent.
 .
(c)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to estates of decedents dying and gifts made after December 31, 2026.
3.
Transfer of estate and gift tax revenue to combined Social Security Trust Fund
(a)
In general
Section 201(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 401(a) ) is amended to read as follows:
(a)
There is hereby created on the books of the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the  Social Security Trust Fund . The Social Security Trust Fund shall consist of the securities held by the Secretary of the Treasury for the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund and the amount standing to the credit of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund on the books of the Treasury on January 1, 2027, which securities and amount the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to transfer to the Social Security Trust Fund, and, in addition, such gifts and bequests as may be made as provided in subsection (i)(1), and such amounts as may be appropriated to, or deposited in, the Social Security Trust Fund as hereinafter provided. There is hereby appropriated to the Social Security Trust Fund for the first fiscal year that begins after January 1, 2027, and for each fiscal year thereafter, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, amounts equivalent to 100 percent of—
(1)
the taxes imposed by chapter 21 (other than sections 3101(b) and 3111(b)) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to wages (as defined in section 3121 of such Code) reported to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to subtitle F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury by applying the applicable rates of tax under such chapter (other than sections 3101(b) and 3111(b)) to such wages, which wages shall be certified by the Commissioner of Social Security on the basis of the records of wages established and maintained by such Commissioner in accordance with such reports;
(2)
the taxes imposed by chapter 2 (other than  section 1401(b))  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to self-employment income (as defined in section 1402 of such Code) reported to the Secretary of the Treasury on tax returns under subtitle F of such Code, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury by applying the applicable rate of tax under such chapter (other than section 1401(b)) to such self-employment income, which self-employment income shall be certified by the Commissioner of Social Security on the basis of the records of self-employment income established and maintained by the Commissioner of Social Security in accordance with such returns; and
(3)
the taxes imposed by subtitle B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury on the basis of tax returns under subpart C of part II of subchapter A of chapter 61 of subtitle F of such Code.
 The amounts appropriated by paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall be transferred from time to time from the general fund in the Treasury to the Social Security Trust Fund, such amounts to be determined on the basis of estimates by the Secretary of the Treasury of the taxes, specified in such paragraphs, paid to or deposited into the Treasury; and proper adjustments shall be made in amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior estimates were in excess of or were less than the taxes specified in such paragraphs. All amounts transferred to the Social Security Trust Fund under the preceding sentence shall be invested by the Managing Trustee in the same manner and to the same extent as the other assets of the Trust Fund. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in any case in which the Secretary of the Treasury determines that the assets of the Trust Fund would otherwise be inadequate to meet the Trust Fund's obligations for any month, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Trust Fund on the first day of such month the total amount which would have been transferred to the Trust Fund under this section as in effect on October 1, 1990; and the Trust Fund shall pay interest to the general fund on the amount so transferred on the first day of any month at a rate (calculated on a daily basis, and applied against the difference between the amount so transferred on such first day and the amount which would have been transferred to the Trust Fund up to that day under the procedures in effect on January 1, 1983) equal to the rate earned by the investments of the Trust Fund in the same month under subsection (d).
 .
(b)
Required actuarial analysis
Section 201(c) of the Social Security Act is amended by striking the fourth sentence in the matter following paragraph (5) and inserting the following:  Such report shall also include actuarial analysis of the benefit cost with respect to disabled beneficiaries and their auxiliaries, to retired beneficiaries and their auxiliaries, and to survivor beneficiaries. .
(c)
Board of Trustees
(1)
Board of Trustees of Social Security Trust Fund
Section 201(c) of the Social Security Act, as amended by subsection (b) of this section, is further amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (hereinafter in this title called the  Trust Funds )  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund (in this title referred to as the  Trust Fund ) .
(2)
Continuity of Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees of the Social Security Trust Fund created by the amendment made by subsection (a) shall be a continuous body with the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund in operation prior to the effective date of such amendment. Individuals serving as members of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund as of the effective date of such amendment shall serve the remainder of their term as members of the Board of Trustees of the Social Security Trust Fund.
(d)
Conforming amendments related to Social Security Trust Fund
(1)
Amendment to section heading
The section heading for section 201 of the Social Security Act is amended to read as follows:
Social Security Trust Fund  .
(2)
Board of Trustees
Section 201(c) of such Act, as amended by subsections (b) and (c)(1), is further amended—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking  Board of Trustees of the Trust Funds  and inserting  Board of Trustees of the Trust Fund ;
(B)
in paragraph (1), by striking  Trust Funds  and inserting  Trust Fund ;
(C)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by striking  Trust Funds  and inserting  Trust Fund ; and
(ii)
by striking  their  and inserting  its ;
(D)
in paragraph (3), by striking  either of the Trust Funds  and inserting  the Trust Fund ;
(E)
in paragraph (5)—
(i)
by striking  managing the Trust Funds  and inserting  managing the Trust Fund ; and
(ii)
by striking  Trust Funds are  and inserting  Trust Fund is ;
(F)
in the matter following paragraph (5), by striking  Trust Funds  each place it appears and inserting  Trust Fund ; and
(G)
in the second sentence in the matter following paragraph (5), by striking  whether the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, individually and collectively, are  and inserting  whether the Social Security Trust Fund is .
(3)
Investments
Section 201 of such Act is amended in subsections (d) and (e) by striking  Trust Funds  each place it appears and inserting  Trust Fund .
(4)
Crediting of interest and proceeds to Trust Funds
Section 201(f) of such Act is amended—
(A)
by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance Trust Fund, respectively  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Social Security Trust Fund ;
(B)
by striking  either of the Trust Funds  and inserting  the Trust Fund ; and
(C)
by striking  such Trust Fund  and inserting  the Trust Fund .
(5)
Administrative costs
Section 201(g) of such Act is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  Of the amounts authorized to be made available out of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund under the preceding sentence  and all that follows through  ( Public Law 103–296 ). ; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (B)(i)—
(I)
by striking subclauses (II) and (III) and inserting the following:
(II)
the portion of such costs which should have been borne by the Social Security Trust Fund,
  ; and
(II)
by redesignating subclauses (IV) and (V) as subclauses (III) and (IV);
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by striking  Trust Funds  and inserting  Trust Fund ; and
(ii)
by striking the last sentence; and
(C)
in paragraph (4), by striking  Trust Funds  each place it appears and inserting  Trust Fund .
(6)
Benefit payments
Section 201(h) of such Act is amended to read as follows:
(h)
All benefit payments required to be made under this title shall be made only from the Social Security Trust Fund.
 .
(7)
Gifts
Section 201(i) of such Act is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(B)
in paragraph (2)(B), by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund .
(8)
Travel expenses
Section 201(j) of such Act is amended by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (as determined appropriate by the Commissioner of Social Security)  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund .
(9)
Demonstration projects
Section 201(k) of such Act is amended by striking  the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, as determined appropriate by the Commissioner of Social Security  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund .
(10)
Benefit checks
Section 201(m) of such Act is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (2), by striking  each of the Trust Funds  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ;
(B)
in paragraph (3), by striking  one of the Trust Funds  and inserting  the Trust Fund ; and
(C)
by striking  such Trust Fund  each place it appears and inserting  the Trust Fund .
(11)
Conforming repeals
(A)
In general
Section 201 of such Act is amended by striking subsections (b), (l), and (n).
(B)
Redesignations
Section 201 of such Act is further amended—
(i)
by redesignating subsections (c) through (j) as subsections (b) through (i), respectively;
(ii)
by redesignating subsection (k) as subsection (j); and
(iii)
by redesignating subsection (m) as subsection (k).
(C)
References to redesignated sections
(i)
Section 201(a) of such Act, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is further amended—
(I)
by striking  subsection (i)(1)  and inserting  subsection (h)(1) ; and
(II)
by striking  subsection (d)  and inserting  subsection (c) .
(ii)
Section 1131(b)(1) of such Act is amended by striking  section 201(g)(1)  and inserting  section 201(f)(1) .
(e)
Other conforming amendments to Social Security Act
(1)
Title II
Title II of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 401 et seq. ) is amended—
(A)
in section 202(x)(3)(B)(iii), by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as appropriate,  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ;
(B)
in section 206(d)(5), by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as appropriate  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ;
(C)
in section 206(e)(3)(B), by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ;
(D)
in section 208(b)(5)(A), by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as appropriate  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ;
(E)
in section 215(i)(1)(F)—
(i)
in clause (i)—
(I)
by striking  the combined balance in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  the balance in the Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(II)
by striking  and reduced by the outstanding amount of any loan (including interest thereon) theretofore made to either such Fund from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 201(l) ; and
(ii)
in clause (ii)—
(I)
by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(II)
by striking  (other than payments  and all that follows through  from that Account ;
(F)
in section 217(g)(2), by inserting after the first sentence the following:  For purposes of any such revision of the amount determined under paragraph (1) that occurs in a year after 2015, any reference in such paragraph to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund shall be deemed to be a reference to the Social Security Trust Fund. ;
(G)
in section 221(e)—
(i)
by striking  Trust Funds  each place it appears and inserting  Trust Fund ; and
(ii)
by striking the last sentence;
(H)
in section 221(f), by striking  Trust Funds  and inserting  Trust Fund ;
(I)
in section 222(d)—
(i)
in the section heading, by striking
Trust Funds   and inserting
Trust Fund  ;
(ii)
in paragraph (1), by striking  to the end that savings will accrue to the Trust Funds as a result of rehabilitating such individuals, there are authorized to be transferred from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  to the end that savings will accrue to the Trust Fund as a result of rehabilitating such individuals, there are authorized to be transferred from the Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(iii)
by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
(4)
The Commissioner of Social Security shall determine according to such methods and procedures as the Commissioner may deem appropriate the total amount to be reimbursed for the cost of services under this subsection.
 ;
(J)
in section 228(g)—
(i)
in the section heading, by striking
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund   and inserting
Social Security Trust Fund  ; and
(ii)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ;
(K)
in section 231(c), by striking  Trust Funds  each place it appears and inserting  Trust Fund ; and
(L)
in section 234(a)(1), by striking  Trust Funds  and inserting  Trust Fund .
(2)
Title VII
Title VII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 901 et seq. ) is amended—
(A)
in section 703(j), by striking  Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund,  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ;
(B)
in section 708(c), by striking  the  OASDI trust fund ratio  under section 201(l),  after  computing ;
(C)
in section 709—
(i)
in subsection (a), by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(ii)
in subsection (b)—
(I)
in paragraph (1), by striking  section 201(l) or ; and
(II)
in paragraph (2), by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(D)
in section 710—
(i)
in subsection (a), by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(ii)
in subsection (b)—
(I)
by striking  any Trust Fund specified in subsection (a)  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(II)
by striking  payments from any such Trust Fund  and inserting  payments from the Social Security Trust Fund .
(3)
Title XI
Title XI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq. ) is amended—
(A)
in section 1106(b), by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ;
(B)
in section 1129(e)(2)(A), by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as determined appropriate by the Secretary  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ;
(C)
in sections 1131(b)(2) and 1140(c)(2), by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ;
(D)
in section 1145(c)—
(i)
by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:
(1)
the Social Security Trust Fund;
 ; and
(ii)
by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
(E)
in section 1148(j)(1)(A)—
(i)
in the first sentence, by striking  the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  the Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(ii)
by striking the second sentence.
(4)
Title XVIII
Title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 ) is amended—
(A)
in section 1817(g), by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and from the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ;
(B)
in section 1840(a)(2), by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(C)
in section 1841(f), by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and from the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund .
(f)
Conforming amendments outside of Social Security Act
(1)
Budget
(A)
Off-budget exemption
Section 405(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 655(a) ) is amended by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund .
(B)
Sequestration exemption
Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 ( 2 U.S.C. 905(g)(1)(A) ) is amended by striking  Payments to Social Security Trust Funds  and inserting  Payments to the Social Security Trust Fund .
(2)
Tax
(A)
Taxable wages
 Section 3121(l)(4)  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund .
(B)
Overpayments
(i)
 Section 6402(d)(3)(C)  of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, whichever is certified to the Secretary as appropriate by the Commissioner of Social Security  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund .
(ii)
Subsection (f)(2)(B) of section 3720A of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, whichever is certified to the Secretary of the Treasury as appropriate by the Commissioner of Social Security  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund .
(3)
False claims penalties
Subsection (g)(2) of section 3806 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
by striking  Secretary of Health and Human Services  and inserting  Commissioner of Social Security ; and
(ii)
by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(B)
in subparagraph (C)—
(i)
by striking  Secretary of Health and Human Services  and inserting  Commissioner of Social Security ; and
(ii)
by striking  Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund .
(4)
Railroad Retirement Board
Section 7 of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 ( 45 U.S.C. 231f ) is amended—
(A)
in subsection (b)(2), by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ;
(B)
in subsection (c)(2)—
(i)
by striking  Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare  each time it appears and inserting  Commissioner of Social Security ; and
(ii)
by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund,  each time it appears and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund ; and
(C)
in subsection (c)(4), by striking  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund,  and inserting  Social Security Trust Fund .
(g)
Rule of construction
Effective beginning on January 1, 2027, any reference in law to the  Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund  or the  Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund  is deemed to be a reference to the Social Security Trust Fund.
(h)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2027.