Congress quietly expands religious exemption from Social Security taxes
H.R. 4389 — Religious Exemptions for Social Security and Healthcare Taxes Act · Filed by Troy Balderson (R-OH) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Jul 15, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill allows employees who are members of religious faiths that oppose participation in Social Security and Medicare taxes (such as certain Amish and Mennonite communities) to claim a tax credit or refund for the federal payroll taxes (FICA) withheld from their wages. The bill mirrors existing exemptions available to self-employed religious workers under Section 1402(g) of the tax code, extending similar relief to wage-earning employees in those faiths.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a tax credit/refund for payroll taxes withheld from employees in religious faiths that oppose Social Security/Medicare participation. It is a narrow religious accommodation carved into the tax code, not a broad policy reform.
What the text implies
- Employees who claim the exemption lose eligibility for Social Security retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, and Medicare coverage — shifting long-term financial security risk to individuals and families.
- The exemption reduces the tax base and benefit-eligible population for Social Security and Medicare, potentially affecting the actuarial balance of these trust funds if uptake grows beyond the current small population of qualifying religious communities.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Members of religious faiths opposing Social Security/Medicare participation (primarily Amish, Old Or