The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduced substantial revisions to the federal tax landscape. While many provisions impact businesses, estates, and specialized sectors, several key components directly affect individuals filing personal returns in 2025. The following five changes represent the most meaningful areas of taxpayer benefit and should be considered in personal tax planning for the upcoming year.
- Permanent Lower Tax Rates and Increased Standard Deduction
One of the most significant outcomes of the OBBBA for individual taxpayers is the permanence of the reduced income tax brackets established under the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. These lower rates were previously scheduled to sunset after 2025, which would have resulted in higher tax liabilities for most filers. Under the new legislation, the reduced brackets—such as 12%, 22%, and 24%—are now permanent.
In addition, the standard deduction—claimed by the majority of U.S. taxpayers—has been permanently preserved and increased for 2025 as follows:
- $15,750 for single filers
- $23,625 for heads of household
- $31,500 for married filing jointly
This change reduces taxable income, simplifies filing for many households, and minimizes the need to itemize deductions.
- Enhanced Child Tax Credit and Expanded Eligibility
Families with qualifying children receive increased tax relief beginning in 2025. Key enhancements include:
- An increase in the nonrefundable Child Tax Credit to $2,200 per child
- An increase in the refundable amount to $1,700
- Higher income phase-out thresholds of $200,000 for single filers and $400,000 for joint filers
- Inflation indexing going forward
These changes allow more families to qualify, reduce phase-out impact on middle-income earners, and provide more meaningful financial support. The $500 credit for other dependents also becomes permanent.
- Temporary $6,000 Senior Deduction
For tax years 2025 through 2028, qualifying senior taxpayers may claim an additional $6,000 deduction. Eligibility applies when the taxpayer (and spouse, if filing jointly) is age 65 or older and holds a valid Social Security number. The deduction phases out beginning at:
- $75,000 MAGI for single filers
- $150,000 MAGI for joint filers
This provision offers targeted relief for older taxpayers, particularly those on fixed or retirement-based income sources.
- New Deductions for Tips and Overtime Compensation
Individuals working in occupations where tips and hourly overtime are common may benefit from two newly introduced deductions:
- Up to $25,000 in qualified tips may be deductible
- Up to $12,500 in overtime compensation ($25,000 for joint filers)
These deductions:
- Are available to both itemizers and non-itemizers
- Begin to phase out at $150,000 single / $300,000 joint
- Require joint filing status for married taxpayers
This provision particularly benefits workers in hospitality, food service, personal services, and related fields.
- Increased SALT Deduction Cap for 2025
The state and local tax deduction cap increases from $10,000 to $40,000 for 2025, applicable to both single and joint filers. This offers significant relief for taxpayers residing in higher-tax jurisdictions. The allowable deduction phases down between $500,000 and $600,000 of MAGI, but remains advantageous for many homeowners and wage earners.
If you have any questions for your service team or would like to schedule tax planning, please don’t hesistate to reach out to our firm.