Particle.news
Download on the App Store

New Tax Rules Take Effect for 2026 Filing, With Deductions for Tips, Overtime and Seniors

Tax pros urge early, careful filing given fresh deductions reshaping returns for 2025 income.

Overview

  • The IRS began accepting returns on January 26 with an April 15 deadline, and the changes apply to income earned in 2025.
  • Eligible service workers can deduct up to $25,000 in qualified tip income, and only the federally mandated premium portion of overtime is deductible, capped at $12,500 for single filers and $25,000 for joint filers with income limits and specific SSN and filing requirements.
  • Taxpayers 65 and older may claim an extra $6,000 deduction per person, phasing out above $75,000 in MAGI for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers, and ending at $175,000 and $250,000 respectively.
  • The Child Tax Credit rises to $2,200 per qualifying child for 2025 with inflation indexing, and a work‑eligible Social Security number is required to claim it.
  • Other shifts include a higher standard deduction ($15,750 single; $31,500 joint), a SALT cap increase to $40,000 for itemizers, and a new deduction of up to $10,000 in interest on qualifying 2025 new car loans assembled in the U.S., available through 2028.