12/02/2025
📣 NEW 2025–2028 Overtime Pay Deduction: What Taxpayers Need to Know A major update just reshaped the landscape for millions of U.S. workers and as tax professionals, we must be ready.
The Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, introduces a brand-new, temporary deduction that allows eligible taxpayers to exclude a portion of their overtime pay from taxable income for the next four years.
Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead and guide your clients with confidence. ⬇️
🆕 What Is the New Overtime Deduction? For tax years 2025–2028, eligible individuals can deduct the premium portion of their overtime pay.
Meaning:
You cannot deduct the entire overtime wage…
Only the extra paid on top of the regular rate (for example, the “time-and-a-half” portion).
Deduction Amounts:
🔹 $12,500 — Single, HOH, or Married Filing Separately
🔹 $25,000 — Married Filing Jointly
This deduction directly reduces taxable income, which means more money staying in your clients’ pockets.
✅ Who Qualifies? To claim this deduction, taxpayers must:
✔️ Earn overtime pay during the tax year
✔️ Have the overtime premium clearly reflected on their pay statements or W-2
✔️ File within the eligible years (2025, 2026, 2027, 2028)
Self-employed individuals do not qualify for this deduction.
🔍 Why This Matters This new provision:
• Provides relief to millions of hourly workers
• Makes overtime work more financially rewarding
• Reduces taxable income (NOT adjusted gross income)
• Helps families recover from rising costs and inflation
As preparers, this is a major opportunity to:
➡️ Educate clients
➡️ Increase value
➡️ Maximize refunds
➡️ Strengthen client relationships
📌 Example for Clarity Let’s say a client earns:
• $20/hr regular pay
• $30/hr overtime pay
• Works 10 overtime hours
Their premium is the extra $10/hour.
$10 × 10 hours = $100 overtime premium
That $100 is deductible, up to the annual limit based on filing status.
📝 What To Tell Your Clients Now
• Keep every pay stub
• Track overtime hours carefully
• Ask employers for clear reporting of the OT “premium”
• Bring pay stubs + W-2 to your appointment
🚀 Stay Ready for Tax Season This deduction will be a talking point all year long. Make sure your clients know you are the professional who can walk them through it.