For a "Qualified Widow" filer, which income range leads to their Social Security benefits being completely non-taxable?

A "Qualified Widow" filer enjoys specific tax benefits under the tax code, particularly regarding the taxation of Social Security benefits. For individuals in this status, Social Security benefits are fully non-taxable if their combined income is below a certain threshold. The combined income refers to the total of adjusted gross income (AGI), nontaxable interest, and half of the Social Security benefits received.

In this case, the income range that results in Social Security benefits being completely non-taxable is from $0 to $25,000. Under this tier, the combined income does not exceed the minimum threshold set by the IRS for taxability of Social Security benefits. This means that a "Qualified Widow" filer can receive their Social Security benefits without facing any federal tax on that income, making it a key financial advantage.

Once a taxpayer's income moves above $25,000, specific percentages of their Social Security benefits may become taxable, depending on how much their income exceeds the threshold. Hence, in the context of the question, the range of $0 to $25,000 effectively maximizes the benefits of this filing status in terms of tax-free income from Social Security.