Learning Center
We keep you up to date on the latest tax changes and news in the industry.

New Tip Deduction Eligibility: Occupations Announced

Exciting news for workers in the service industry! On September 2, 2025, the Treasury Department unveiled a draft list of 68 jobs now qualified for the "no tax on tips" deduction. This new tax relief measure is embedded within the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," enacted on July 4, 2025, and it is slated to affect federal taxes from 2025 through 2028. 

The deduction permits a maximum of $25,000 annually per person in qualifying tips. Structured as a “below-the-line” deduction, it's available to taxpayers opting for the standard deduction but is not a factor in adjusted gross income (AGI) calculations.

Image 1

Highlighted below is the Treasury’s draft list of eligible professions:

Beverage & Food Service: 

  • Bartenders
  • Wait staff
  • Non-restaurant food servers
  • Cafeteria attendants and bartender assistants
  • Chefs and cooks
  • Food preparation employees
  • Fast Food and Counter Workers
  • Dishwashers
  • Host staff for restaurants, lounges, and coffee shops
  • Bakers 
Image 2

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 (excluding radio)
  • Entertainers and performers
  • Digital content creators
  • Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
  • Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants

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
  • 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 photographers
  • Private event videographers
  • Event officiants
  • Pet caretakers
  • Tutors
  • Nannies and babysitters
Image 3

Personal Appearance and Wellness: 

  • Skincare specialists
  • Massage therapists
  • Barbers, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
  • 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

Schedule a Free Consultation
Let's set you up for financial success!
Here

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 personnel
  • Personal vehicle and equipment cleaners
  • Private and charter bus drivers
  • Water taxi operators and charter boat workers
  • Rickshaw, pedicab, and carriage drivers
  • Home movers 

The "no tax on tips" deduction offers significant relief and is available for tax years 2025 through 2028 exclusively. However, it's essential to note that this deduction is capped and phases out entirely for higher income brackets. 

Eligibility Criteria: To qualify for the deduction, workers need to satisfy these requirements:

  • Be a qualified tipped worker: Must have been in a position that customarily received tips before 2025. 
  • Receive qualified tips: Must be given by customers voluntarily, be they in cash, credit, or through a tip-sharing program. Mandatory fees do not count. 
  • Report tips properly: Use Form W-2 for employees or Form 1099 for contractors to disclose tips to the IRS. 
  • Joint filing requirement: Married claimants must submit a joint return. 
  • SSN inclusion: The filer’s Social Security Number must be on the tax return. 

Deduction Ceiling: While the top deduction is $25,000 annually, a phase-out commences at different income levels:

  • Single filers: Phase-out starts with modified AGI over $150,000. 
  • Married filing jointly: Phase-out begins with AGI over $300,000. 

Additional Points:

  • Exemption from payroll taxes: While deductible for income tax purposes, tips remain subject to Social Security, Medicare, or self-employment taxes for contractors.
  • Temporary nature: The deduction runs through December 31, 2028, only.
  • Not a tax exemption: It's a deduction; thus all tips, notwithstanding deduction, should be reported.
  • State-level impacts: State tax obligation depends upon specific state statutes. 

In summary, comprehending occupations eligible for tip deductions is vital for both workers and employers aiming to leverage tax advantages. Awareness of qualified tip criteria and how various professions fit this structure helps ensure tax compliance and optimize tax strategies. Keeping abreast of tax law modifications is always key to maneuvering tip income complexities effectively. For personalized assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable team.

Schedule a Free Consultation
Let's set you up for financial success!
Here
Share this article...

Want tax & accounting tips and insights?

Sign up for our newsletter.

I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .