The massive tax and spending bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or Obbba, was signed into law by President Trump earlier this month. Given all the hugging and rewrites that have continued over the past few months, you may wonder if you made it exactly in the final law and what it means for your taxes and finances. Here is a summary:
Social Security revised deduction: Individuals who will submit their total deductions from 2025 of $23,750, including the standard deduction of $15,750, the existing advanced deduction $2,000, and the new $6,000 senior deduction. For those who are married and jointly submitting, the deduction is $46,700. This includes a standard deduction of $31,500, an existing senior deduction of $3,200, and a new $12,000 senior deduction for couples. These deductions are adjusted for inflation in the following years.
New deductions will expire from 2028 unless Congress votes to expand. If you want to avoid large taxes when submitting your tax return, you can submit a W-4V withholding 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly payments.
Temporary increase in state and local tax (salt) deductions: State and local tax credit caps will increase from $10,000 in 2025 to $40,000, and will increase by 1% each year until 2029. The cap will return to flat $10,000 in 2030.
Increased Child Tax Credit: This credit increased the largest in 2026 and was adjusted for inflation in the following years.
Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT) Exemption: The alternative minimum tax exemption has been extended and is permanent. OBBBA will increase the gradual outs of AMT exemptions by returning the gradual outs to a level of $500,000 for a single filer and $1 million in joint returns.
Auto Loan Interest Deduction: This is a new deduction on car loan interest up to $10,000, but applies from 2025 to 2028 on new cars assembled in the US.
Increase in real estate, gifts and GST tax exemptions: From 2026, federal real estate, gifts and generation skip transfer (GST) tax exemptions will increase to $15 million per individual, up from $13.99 million in 2025. For married couples, the combined exemptions will increase to $30 million in 2026, up from $27.98 million in 2025.
Charitable Donations: These changes will be effective in 2026. If you do not make an item on Schedule A, you will be allowed to deduct $1,000 for one filer and $2,000 for a joint return. From 2026 onwards, there will be new restrictions for individuals submitting itemized revenues under Schedule A. The limit allows a portion of the deduction equal to 0.5% of reported modified gross income (MAGI). Therefore, if your Magi was $200,000, you will not receive the initial $1,000 charity deduction reported in Schedule A.
Tax-free provision for tips: This provision in effect in 2025 allows single filers to deduct up to $12,500, up to $25,000 for joint revenues with income limit of $150,000 and income limit of $300,000.
There are no taxes on overtime provisions for eligible income: As part of this provision in effect in 2025, a deduction of up to a $12,500 for single filers up to a $150,000 income limit, and a $25,00 for joint revenues, allow revenues of up to $300,000.
Green Energy Provisions: New law changes the timing of previous provisions. You must use them by September 30, 2025 to receive tax credits for new or previously owned “clean” vehicles. The previous end date was the end of 2032. For energy-efficient home improvement credits, the deadline for receiving your credits is December 31, 2025.
Future Social Security Benefits: The new tax credits on Social Security do not address long-term issues related to funding future Social Security benefits. There is no way to maintain Social Security benefits at existing levels, unless Congress begins major changes. I would suggest you contact your council representative and place your top priority in addressing this issue in the near future. Otherwise, there is no way for Social Security to continue to provide benefits at existing levels.
Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at rapelliot@gmail.com.
