Majority Leader | Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSR...Skip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNE×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUFacebookXInstagramFacebookXInstagramVisit Leader Thune's South Dakota Site Here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board02.02.26Americans Begin to Feel the Benefits of the Working Families Tax CutsWith Tax Filing Season Underway, Americans of Every Age and Income Bracket Are Keeping More of Their Hard-Earned Money and Enjoying New Opportunities to Chase Their American Dream WITH HIGHER RETURNS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP THEIR MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS, AMERICANS ARE ALREADY BENEFITING FROM REPUBLICANS’ WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUTS“Every year, tax refunds mark the biggest payday of the year for millions of Americans. Typically, 75% of Americans receive refunds each year.” (USA Today: Tax refunds are expected to be huge this year. How to get yours ASAP – 1/25/26)“The average refund last year was $3,167. This year, analysts have projected it could be $1,000 higher, thanks to changes in tax law.” (Associated Press: Here’s when you’ll get your tax refund from the IRS – 1/29/26)“This is the first filing season reflecting changes from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law last summer.” (Axios: IRS tax season is here — and new rules could affect refunds – 1/26/26)“[B]ecause many of these changes took effect retroactively to the beginning of 2025, Americans will see supersized refunds this tax filing season, which the U.S. Department of the Treasury estimates will reach $100 billion in total.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Finance: Working Families Tax Cuts Bring Bigger Paychecks – 1/16/26)“Congress made a bevy of tax changes for 2025 – e.g., offering a new tax break on car loan interest, a portion of tips and overtime pay; and a $200 increase per child in the child tax credit, etc.” (CNN: Why federal tax refunds may be bigger than usual – 1/26/26)“A larger standard deduction: The standard deduction is taken by the vast majority of filers. Congress boosted it by $750, to $15,750 for single filers; and by $1,500, to $31,500 for married couples filing jointly.” (CNN: Why federal tax refunds may be bigger than usual – 1/26/26)“Americans 65 and older who pay taxes on Social Security income can claim a new $6,000 federal deduction, available through the 2028 tax year. Married couples where both spouses qualify can deduct up to $12,000.” (Axios: IRS tax season is here — and new rules could affect refunds – 1/26/26)“Eligible workers can deduct qualified overtime pay, capped at $12,500 per return ($25,000 for joint filers), with the benefit phasing out at higher incomes.” (Axios: IRS tax season is here — and new rules could affect refunds – 1/26/26)“The law temporarily eliminates federal income taxes on tips, allowing tipped workers to deduct up to $25,000 a year, and interest paid on qualifying car loans.” (Axios: IRS tax season is here — and new rules could affect refunds – 1/26/26)REPUBLICANS’ WORKING FAMILIES TAX CUTS LAW PROVIDES TAX RELIEF TO AMERICANS IN EVERY SINGLE INCOME BRACKET AND GIVES THE LARGEST PROPORTIONAL BENEFITS TO THOSE MAKING LESS THAN $50,000Thanks to Republicans preventing a tax increase on the American people of over $4 trillion, tax filers in every income bracket will see lower rates:“A single adult with two kids, making $40,000: Tax cut of $2,010”“A married couple filing jointly, with two kids, making $85,000: Tax cut of $2,425”“A married couple filing jointly, with three kids, making $110,000: Tax cut of $3,580” (U.S. Senate Committee on Finance: Working Families Tax Cuts – accessed 2/2/26; U.S. Senate Committee on Finance: Working Families Tax Cuts Bring Bigger Paychecks – 1/16/26; Tax Foundation: 2026 Tax Calculator: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Tax Changes Will Affect You – 10/1/25)The Working Families Tax Cuts created new opportunities for workers, including no tax on tips and no tax on overtime:“A single adult, making $30,000, of which $10,000 are qualified tips: Tax cut of $1,462”“A single adult, making $75,000, of which $10,000 is qualified overtime: Tax cut of $4,192” (U.S. Senate Committee on Finance: Working Families Tax Cuts Bring Bigger Paychecks – 1/16/26; Tax Foundation: 2026 Tax Calculator: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Tax Changes Will Affect You – 10/1/25)“According to a distributional analysis from the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT)—which previously estimated the tax bill provides more than $600 billion in new tax relief to middle-class households—the largest proportional tax benefits go to workers and families making less than $50,000.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Finance: One Big Beautiful Bill: New Tax Relief Overwhelmingly Benefits Working Class – 7/1/25)EVERY DEMOCRAT VOTED AGAINST THIS HISTORIC TAX RELIEF“Senate Democrats will fight this bill in committee, on the floor, and in the court of public opinion, every step, every day, and every possible way.” – Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)“Republicans talk about this tax break like it’s all about the corner stores and auto mechanics people think of when they hear the phrase ‘small business,’ but the truth is, it’s just another Trojan horse…” – Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)“It’s disgraceful—we should all be a HELL NO on this bill!” – Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)“I will fight this, tooth & nail.” – Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)“We’ll keep fighting against this bill…” – Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)By opposing the Working Families Tax Cuts law, Democrats broke their past promises not to raise taxes on those making less than $400,000:“The resolution will make sure that there are no tax increases for families under $400,000 and no tax increases for small businesses. This is about rebuilding the middle class and creating jobs. And we will change our tax policy far different than what our Republican friends did.” – Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)“We cannot, and I will not, raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 a year.” – Former Vice President Kamala Harris“Senate Democrats made it very, very clear that we were strongly against taxing those in our country with incomes under $400,000.” – Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)PrintEmailTweetNextPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER THUNEFacebookXInstagram
