One Big Beautiful Tax Bill Legislative Update

The “One Big Beautiful Tax Bill” became law earlier this month, and it has huge implications for financial planning and taxes. Introduced in July 2025, the bill discusses sweeping updates to child tax credits, overtime pay deductions, AMT thresholds, and more. To help you understand how these changes may affect you, Milestone will be presenting a webinar on August 8 at noon to discuss the relevant provisions (it will also be recorded). You can register for the webinar here:

In the meantime, we have prepared a table that compares current tax law to the provisions now enacted under the final version of the OBBBA.

Please note that this table is our current interpretation of the OBBBA and subject to change as more guidance on each provision is provided by the Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies.

Policy Previous Tax Law OBBBA – New Tax Law as of 7/4/2025
Individual Income Tax Rates Tax brackets ranging from 10% to 37% set to revert to pre-2017 rates, including top rate of 39.6%.
  • Makes the expiring individual provisions from the TCJA permanent.
  • Top rate of 37%, new inflation adjustment for 12% and 22% brackets.
Alternative Minimum Tax TCJA increased AMT exemption amounts and phaseout thresholds; both are adjusted for inflation annually.

AMT exemption amounts:

MFJ: $137,000

MFS: $68,500

All other taxpayers: $88,100

Phaseout thresholds:

MFJ: $1,252,700

MFS: $626,530

All other taxpayers: $626,530

Rate at which the AMT exemption phases out: 25%

  • Permanently extends the increased individual AMT exemption amounts and reverts the exemption phaseout thresholds to 2018 levels ($500,000 single/$1 million joint filers), indexed for inflation thereafter.
  • Increases the rate at which the AMT exemption phases out to 50%.
Standard Deduction Increased standard deduction is set to expire after December 31, 2025.
  • Makes TCJA standard deduction amounts permanent: $15,000 for single filer, $22,500 for HoH, $30,000 for married couples filing jointly.
  • For tax year 2025, increases the standard deduction to $15,750 for a single filer, $23,625 for HoH, and $31,500 for married couples filing jointly.
SALT Deduction $10,000 cap on SALT deduction.
  • SALT deduction cap of $40,000, with phaseout based on MAGI exceeding $500k+ (minimum deduction floor of $10k), becoming $10,000 in 2030.
Auto Loan Interest No deduction for auto loan interest.
  • Up to $10,000 deduction for qualified vehicle loan interest.
  • Phases out above $100k MAGI ($200k for married) and phases out completely at $150k ($250k for married).
  • Available 2025–2028, applies only to certain qualifying vehicles that were assembled in the U.S. and not purchased for commercial or resale purposes.
Tip Income Tips are considered taxable income.
  • Creates above-the-line deduction up to $25,000 for qualified tips received by an employee, phased out above $150,000 MAGI ($300k for married). Available 2025–2028.
Child Tax Credit Credit will decrease from $2,000 to $1,000 per child.
  • The nonrefundable child tax credit is increased to $2,200 per child beginning in tax year 2025 and indexed for inflation.
Credit for Other Dependents $500 credit for other dependents.
  • Makes credit for other dependents permanent.
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Maximum funding of Dependent Care FSA is $5,000.
  • Dependent Care FSA maximum increases from $5,000 to $7,500 starting in 2026.
Overtime Pay Overtime pay is considered taxable income.
  • Creates an above-the-line deduction up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint return) for overtime pay for employees, phased out above $150,000 MAGI ($300k for married).
Enhanced Deduction for Seniors No enhanced deduction for seniors.
  • $6,000 deduction for seniors (age 65+) with AGI below $75,000 ($150,000 joint). Available 2025–2028.
Tax Credit for Contributions of Individuals to Scholarship-Granting Organizations No current tax credit.
  • New tax credit for contributions to organizations that provide scholarships to K–12 students. The credit allowed to a taxpayer for a taxable year may not exceed the greater of 10% of the taxpayer’s AGI or $5,000.
529 Plan Expenses Tax-free withdrawals for K–12 and college tuition, books, supplies, and other qualified expenses with certain limitations.
  • 529 plans now allow for additional education expenses such as homeschooling and certain post-secondary credentialing expenses.
  • Annual 529 plan withdrawal limits increase from $10,000 to $20,000 for K–12 education expenses.
ABLE Accounts Additional contribution limit to Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts for individuals with a disability who are employed is equal to the lesser of (1) the applicable federal poverty level for a one-person household in the prior year or (2) the beneficiary’s compensation for the year; set to expire Dec. 31, 2025.

Saver’s Credit set to expire Dec. 31, 2025.

Ability to do tax-free rollover of amounts from Section 529 qualified tuition programs to qualified ABLE programs set to expire Dec. 31, 2025.

  • Permanently extends increased contribution limits and provides an additional year of inflation adjustment for the limit base amount.
  • The Sis increased by an additional $100 starting in 2027.
  • Permanently allows designated beneficiaries who make qualified contributions to ABLE accounts to qualify for the Saver’s Credit and permanently allows tax-free rollovers from 529 qualified tuition programs into qualified ABLE programs.
Casualty Loss Deduction Itemized deduction only for losses from federally declared disasters set to return after Dec. 31, 2025.
  • Permanently allows for the itemized deduction for only personal casualty losses resulting from federally declared disasters and expands the provision to include certain state-declared disasters.
Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions Individuals will be permitted to deduct until after Dec. 31, 2025.
  • Permanently eliminates miscellaneous itemized deductions and removes unreimbursed employee expenses for eligible educators.
Mortgage Interest Deduction $750,000 cap for mortgage interest to rise to $1 million after 2025.
  • Permanently lowers cap to $750,000 of debt.
  • Treats certain mortgage insurance premiums on acquisition indebtedness as qualified residence interest.
Itemized Deduction Limitation No reduction applies.
  • Beginning in 2026, high-income taxpayers must reduce their itemized deductions by 2⁄37% of the lesser of (1) total itemized deductions or (2) the amount their income exceeds the 37% tax bracket threshold.
Charitable Deduction for Standard Deduction Filers This provision was temporarily available up to $500 during tax years 2020 and 2021.
  • For taxable years after 2025, non-itemizers can claim a deduction of up to $1,000 for single filers/$2,000 for married filing jointly for certain charitable contributions.
Charitable Deduction No AGI-based floor on charitable contributions—eligible donations are deductible up to applicable percentage limits, without requiring contributions to exceed a minimum threshold.
  • Beginning in 2026, individual taxpayers can only deduct charitable contributions to the extent they exceed 0.5% of their AGI (contribution base)—a new “floor” that reduces the value of smaller donations. Contributions that do not exceed this floor are disallowed but may be carried forward to future years under modified carryover rules.
Gambling Losses Gambling losses deductible up to 100% of winnings.
  • Deductible gambling losses are limited to 90% of gambling winnings.
Qualified Business Income Deduction 20% deduction expires after 2025.
  • Makes permanent but stays at 20%. After much debate, there were no other changes to QBI eligibility.
HSA Catch-Up Contributions Separate accounts for spouses.
  • Not addressed in Senate.
HSA Contribution Limit Indexed annually.
  • Not addressed in Senate.
HSA Plan Types Affordable Care Act (ACA) Bronze plans not eligible for HSAs.

Temporarily allowed telehealth coverage before deductible through 2024.

Disqualified HSA eligibility for direct primary care.

Prohibited use of HSAs for direct primary care fees.

  • ACA Bronze plans are considered eligible plans for HSA contributions.
  • Permanently allowed telehealth coverage before deductible.
  • Direct primary care eligibility is allowed with some restrictions.
  • Use of HSAs for direct primary care fees allowed if monthly fee is less than or equal to $150 (or $300 for families), adjusted for inflation.
Third-Party Network (PayPal/Venmo/eBay, etc.) Transactions Form 1099-K required for payments exceeding $2,500.
  • Modifies requirements to exempt where more than $20,000 or 200 transactions.
Threshold for 1099 Reporting $600.
  • Raises to $2,000 and indexed for inflation after 2024.
Energy Credits Credits currently available.
  • Home improvement credits will continue through 2026, ends EV credits for vehicles purchased after Sept. 30, 2025, and tightens clean energy credits after 2025 but with some phaseout differences.
Estate Tax $13.9M estate/generation-skipping exemption, expires 2025.
  • Makes permanent, increases to $15M indexed for inflation.
Trump Accounts N/A
  • Effective starting in 2026.
  • No contributions will be allowed until 12 months after the date of enactment.
  • No withdrawals are allowed before the child reaches the age of 18.
  • Individual contributions are not tax-deductible; contributions by certain entities are allowed and may be tax-deductible.
  • When the child reaches age 18, the account is essentially converted into an IRA (unclear if it will be considered traditional or Roth).
  • Distributions starting at age 18 for education, job training, or a home down payment.
  • $5,000 annual contribution maximum, indexed for inflation after 2027.
  • $1,000 will be funded by the U.S. government for each child born between 2025 and 2029.
  • Employers can contribute up to $2,500 on behalf of their employees.
  • The term “eligible investment” means any mutual fund or exchange traded fund that (i) tracks the returns of a qualified index, (ii) does not use leverage, (iii) does not have annual fees and expenses of more than 0.1% of the balance of the investment in the fund, and (iv) meets such other criteria as the Treasury Secretary determines appropriate for purposes of this section.
Income Exclusion for Employer of Student Loans Excludes from income up to $5,250 per year of certain educational assistance provided by an employer under a qualifying educational assistance program.
  • Makes the exclusion for employer payments of qualified education loans permanent.
Student Loans Graduate and professional students could borrow up to the full cost of attendance through Grad PLUS loans.

Parents of undergraduates could borrow up to the full cost of attendance through Parent PLUS loans.

  • Terminates the federal Grad PLUS program starting on July 1, 2026. Grad PLUS loans received before June 30, 2026, can continue borrowing under current terms through the 2028–2029 academic year.
  • Allows schools to set even lower borrowing limits, provided they apply them consistently within each program.
  • No changes to current federal direct loan limits for undergraduate students.
  • Parent PLUS: $20,000 per year with $65,000 lifetime cap per student. Graduate students: $20,500 annually with $100,000 total limit. Professional students: $50,000 annually with $200,000 total limit.

As another reminder, the above table is our current interpretation of the “One Big Beautiful Tax Bill” and is subject to change as more guidance on each provision is provided by the IRS. If you have questions on how these laws may affect you, a financial advisor with tax expertise can help. If you’re looking for an advisor to talk with, please don’t hesitate to reach out at (603)589-8010 to see how we can help you.  

Disclaimer: This is not to be considered investment, tax, or financial advice. Please review your personal situation with your tax and/or financial advisor. Milestone Financial Planning, LLC (Milestone) is a fee-only financial planning firm and registered investment advisor in Bedford, NH. Milestone works with clients on a long-term, ongoing basis. Our fees are based on the assets that we manage and may include an annual financial planning subscription fee. Clients receive financial planning, tax planning, retirement planning, and investment management services and have unlimited access to our advisors. We receive no commissions or referral fees. We put our client’s interests first.  If you need assistance with your investments or financial planning, please reach out to one of our fee-only advisors.  Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Milestone and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

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