In what years did Social Security Benefits, unemployment insurance become taxable?

1983

If the taxpayer's combined income (total of adjusted gross income, interest on tax-exempt bonds, and 50% of Social Security benefits and Tier I Railroad Retirement Benefits) exceeds a threshold amount ($25,000 for an individual, $32,000 for a married couple filing a joint return, and zero for a married person filing separately), the amount of benefits subject to income tax is the lesser of 50% of benefits or 50% of the excess of the taxpayer's combined income over the threshold amount. The additional income tax revenues resulting from this provision are transferred to the trust funds from which the corresponding benefits were paid. Effective for taxable years beginning after 1983.

1

Taxation of Social Security benefits began for tax years after 1983 (so 1984 for most people).

Taxation of unemployment benefits began in 1978.

The original legislation in 1935 excluded both benefits from taxation.

Social Security Disability Help - http://disabilityhelp.siopu.com/?wTw

The internet is your friend.

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=98339,0...

This will answer the one about SSA benefits (so would the SSA site).

As for the other, I'm too tired to track it down for you. Unemployment started in the US in 1935. It got it's own line on the tax form in 1979. (Which means wikipedia's assertion that it was added in 1987 is flat out wrong.) Chances are it was listed under "other income" before 1979.

Social Security benefits are not taxed. Unemployment is taxed. Look at the Dept of Labor website and hunt for that info. I dont know.

http://www.dol.gov/