Tax Benefits for Tipped Professionals Revealed

On September 2, 2025, the Treasury Department unveiled a draft list of 68 professions now eligible for the recently introduced "no tax on tips" deduction. Originating from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which was signed into law on July 4, 2025, this tax deduction applies to federal income taxes for the period spanning 2025 to 2028. 

This deduction allows for up to $25,000 in qualifying tips per individual each year. Structured as a "below-the-line" deduction, it favors taxpayers who opt for the standard deduction without impacting the calculation of the adjusted gross income (AGI).

Highlighted below is the Treasury’s draft list of occupations:

Beverage & Food Service

  • Bartenders

  • Wait staff

  • Food servers, non-restaurant

  • Dining room attendants and bartender helpers

  • Chefs and cooks

  • Food preparation workers

  • Fast Food and Counter Workers

  • Dishwashers

  • Host staff, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop

  • Bakers 

Entertainment and Events

  • Gambling dealers

  • Gambling change persons and booth cashiers

  • Gambling cage workers

  • Gambling and sports book writers and runners

  • Dancers

  • Musicians and singers

  • Disc jockeys (except radio)

  • Entertainers and performers

  • Digital content creators

  • Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers

  • Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants 

  • Image 1

Hospitality and Guest Services

  • Baggage porters and bellhops

  • Concierges

  • Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks

  • Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Home Services 

  • Home maintenance and repair workers

  • Home landscaping and groundskeeping workers

  • Home electricians

  • Home plumbers

  • Image 2
  • Home heating/air conditioning mechanics and installers

  • Home appliance installers and repairers

  • Home cleaning service workers

  • Locksmiths

  • Roadside assistance workers

Personal Services 

  • Personal care and service workers

  • Private event planners

  • Private event and portrait photographers

  • Private event videographers

  • Event officiants

  • Pet caretakers

  • Tutors

  • Nannies and babysitters

Personal Appearance and Wellness 

  • Skincare specialists

  • Massage therapists

  • Barbers, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

  • Image 3
  • Shampooers

  • Manicurists and pedicurists

  • Eyebrow threading and waxing technicians

  • Makeup artists

  • Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

  • Tattoo artists and piercers

  • Tailors

  • Shoe and leather workers and repairers

Recreation and Instruction 

  • Golf caddies

  • Self-enrichment teachers

  • Recreational and tour pilots

  • Tour guides and escorts

  • Travel guides

  • Sports and recreation instructors

Transportation and Delivery

  • Parking and valet attendants

  • Taxi and rideshare drivers and chauffeurs

  • Shuttle drivers

  • Goods delivery people

  • Personal vehicle and equipment cleaners

  • Private and charter bus drivers

  • Water taxi operators and charter boat workers

  • Rickshaw, pedicab, and carriage drivers

  • Home movers 

For the "OBBB" tip exclusion, specific temporary tax deductions are available to qualified tipped workers for the tax years 2025 through 2028. These deductions are taken on individual tax returns and are subject to income thresholds. 

Eligibility Requirements: To claim this deduction, workers need to meet the following criteria: 

  • Be a qualified tipped worker: Must be either an employee or an independent contractor in a field that has traditionally received tips prior to 2025. Refer to the draft list above for qualifying occupations.

  • Have qualified tips: Tips must be voluntarily provided by customers. This encompasses tips in cash, those charged on credit cards, or tips gathered through pool arrangements. Service charges that are mandated do not qualify.

  • Accurately report tips: These should be declared to the IRS using either Form W-2 (employees) or Form 1099 (independent contractors).

  • File jointly if married: Couples must file a joint tax return to access the deduction.

  • Provide a Social Security Number (SSN): Claimants must list their SSN on their tax filings. 

Deduction Limitations: These are bound by maximum limits and diminish for higher-income taxpayers: 

  • Maximum deduction: Capped at $25,000 annually.

  • Income phase-out: Reductions commence for those with a modified AGI above set thresholds:

    • Single filers: Begins to phase out for MAGI exceeding $150,000.

    • Married filing jointly: Begins to phase out for MAGI surpassing $300,000. 

Additional Considerations:

  • Excludes payroll taxes: While deductible from federal income calculations, tips remain subject to Social Security, Medicare, and, for contractors, self-employment tax.

  • Temporary provision: Set to conclude on December 31, 2028.

  • Not tax-free: It's a deduction—not an exemption. All tip revenue must still be reported, but it will then be adjusted by the deduction.

  • State tax impact: Varies by state regulations and tax policies. 

In wrapping up, understanding which occupations qualify for tip deductions is vital for workers and employers aiming to make the most of tax incentives. Staying informed about qualification criteria and conforming to the specified guidelines ensures both compliance and efficiency in tax strategy. Keeping abreast of legislative shifts and consulting tax professionals can aid in navigating the intricacies of tip income and its deductibility.

Feel free to reach out to our office for further assistance and inquiries regarding your tax concerns.

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