{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html","title":"Tax Filers Feel Trump's Uneven Cuts in Refunds","domain":"nytimes.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/6863190/pexels-photo-6863190.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"tax filing refund","category":"Sports","language":"en","slug":"da19ed83","id":"da19ed83-929b-4ce1-b934-863ccf9c853c","description":"Republicans' 2025 tax cuts now affect filings as Americans see refunds from new deductions.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-","summary":"## TL;DR\n- **Republicans' 2025 tax cuts** now affect filings as Americans see refunds from new deductions.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n- **Tips, overtime, seniors, SALT** get targeted breaks; most owe less but low-income less likely to benefit.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n- Benefits reshape finances unevenly, boosting some refunds amid tax season.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n\n## The story at a glance\nAmericans filing 2025 taxes are experiencing the effects of **Republicans' tax law** passed last year under **President Trump**, featuring deductions for **tips**, **overtime**, seniors, and others. The **New York Times** interviewed **three dozen** people across income levels to show uneven impacts. This matters now during peak filing season.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n\n## Key moments & milestones\n- **2024**: **Trump** campaigns on no taxes for **tips** and **overtime**; **Ashley Norwood** supports him for family benefits.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n- **July 2025**: **Republicans** pass tax law with new deductions; **Trump** signs it.[[2]](https://www.cato.org/briefing-paper/new-income-tax-deductions-tax-free-tips-overtime)\n- **2025**: Deductions apply to income, including **$40,000 SALT cap** for households under **$500,000**.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n- **April 2026**: Tax filing reveals effects; many see lower owed taxes or refunds.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n\n## Signature highlights\n- **Ashley Norwood**, **37**-year-old bartender in **Bluffton, S.C.**, and husband benefit from **tips/overtime** deductions for family of five.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n- New cuts for **tips**, **overtime**, extra deduction for those **65+**; savings vary by income and job type.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n- **SALT deduction** raised to **$40,000** max for **2025**, full for households under **$500,000**.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n- Low-income (<**$34,000**) see **16%** tax cut rate; middle incomes (**88-95%**) higher; benefits \"arbitrarily distributed\" per experts.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html)\n\n## Key quotes\n- \"**I got back every penny**,\" **Ms. Mendoza** said of filing her taxes.[[3]](https://www.reddit.com/r/EndTipping/comments/1sc8y08/interesting_nyt_article_on_the_2024_tax_law)\n\n## Why it matters\nThe tax cuts add trillions to deficits while targeting specific workers and groups, altering federal revenue long-term. Tip earners, overtime workers, seniors, and high-SALT state residents see concrete savings on 2025 returns, but others gain modestly. Watch state conformity to federal changes and 2028 expiration of temporary breaks.","hashtags":["#taxes","#trump","#economy","#deductions","#refunds","#uspolitics"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/business/economy/taxes-deductions-cuts.html","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.cato.org/briefing-paper/new-income-tax-deductions-tax-free-tips-overtime","title":""},{"url":"https://www.reddit.com/r/EndTipping/comments/1sc8y08/interesting_nyt_article_on_the_2024_tax_law","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-05T01:01:30.188Z","createdAt":"2026-04-05T01:01:30.188Z","articlePublishedAt":null}