President Donald Trump’s no tax on tips and overtime pay policy was one of his most popular pledges during the 2024 election campaign, and lawmakers in Congress are working to make his plans a reality.
The promise is included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the sprawling budget bill that outlines Trump’s economic agenda, which has been amended by Senate lawmakers this week.
While the total removal of these income tax requirements is not on the table, Republicans have proposed letting workers deduct their reported tip and overtime income from their federal income taxes—with the House and Senate considering slightly different ways of implementing the policies.
Nixing federal income taxes on overtime and tipped income was one of Trump’s top policy promises during his 2024 election campaign, an idea that has also been embraced by Democrats. It could affect millions of workers across the U.S.
The Senate Finance Committee’s proposal would limit tax breaks on tipped income and overtime pay. The House version allowed deductions on income up to $160,000 annually.
The Senate plan offers the same $25,000 deduction, but would begin to phase out for single filers earning, with a modified adjusted gross income, $150,000, and couples over $300,000.
The list of occupations that will be permitted to deduct tips from their federal income taxes would need to be published within 90 days of the rule becoming law: it is expected to include most service workers.
For overtime pay, Senate Republicans also propose a $12,500 deduction for single filers, doubled to $25,000 for joint tax returns. This would also phase out at the same levels as the tips policy.
Both plans would still be subject to FICA taxes, which pay for Social Security and Medicare, and both would be in place from 2025 to 2028.
