Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill cut taxes on tips. Why IL servers will still pay
Under a new federal policy in what’s popularly known as President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” U.S. workers can now temporarily deduct tips from their federal income taxes, up to a $25,000 limit. But Illinois is decoupling with the policy, so tipped income will still be taxed at the state level.
States have the authority to set their own income tax rates, or charge no income tax at all. Along with Illinois, New York, California and the District of Columbia are also decoupling from the federal policy change.
If Illinois were to institute a tax deduction for tips, it would cost the state an estimated $180 million annually in lost tax revenue, Frank Manzo IV, an economist with the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, told the News-Democrat in a recent interview.
The phrase “no tax on tips” is a “slight misnomer,” Manzo continued.
“It’s really no tax on some tips because workers can deduct up to $25,000 in tips from their taxable income at the federal level, and that deduction phases out for those earning $150,000 or more,” Manzo said.
Additionally, tipped employees will still pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on their tips. The current federal tip deduction is temporary and set to go through tax year 2028.
One major pro to eliminating taxes on some tips is to provide tax relief to working families and help address affordability, Manzo said, but since the federal provision is temporary, those benefits would only last a few years.
“The main issue with this type of provision is that first, food service and other hospitality employers now have less incentive to actually raise wages, because this is effectively a subsidy of labor costs,” Manzo said.
Illinois’ non-tipped minimum wage for employees age 18 and older is $15. The tipped minimum wage in Illinois sits at $9, and the minimum wage for those younger than 18 working less than 650 hours per calendar year is $13.
Another issue with the no tax on tips provision, in Manzo’s opinion, is it doesn’t provide tax relief for non-tipped, low-wage food service jobs such as fast food workers.
“If the state wants to provide working-class tax relief, there are generally better ways to do it,” Manzo continued.
Suggestions to provide tax relief without eliminating a tax on tips include increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit or increasing the personal exemption, Manzo said.
How to file your taxes in Illinois
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service offers free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs. Qualifying residents include taxpayers who generally make $67,000 or less per year, people with disabilities and those who speak limited English.
An IRS Free File option is available to those with an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less, utilizing tax software companies that partner with the federal agency. Taxpayers, regardless of income, can use fillable forms to file their taxes if they don’t need guidance.
Some private companies also offer free basic tax preparation to certain people, often limited by income, though many versions carry fees.
How long will your tax refund take to arrive?
If you file online, you can expect your Form 1040 return to be processed and any refund issued within about 21 days, according to the IRS, though it can take longer.
In Illinois, officials say filing early and electronically is the best way to receive a timely refund. You can check the status of your state refund with an online tool.
The Illinois Department of Revenue reports you can expect to receive your refund within about four weeks of filing electronically, or four to eight weeks after filing on paper.
“Filing your tax return electronically and requesting direct deposit is the fastest way to obtain your refund and helps prevent filing errors, such as incorrect math. There is NO ADVANTAGE to filing a paper Form IL-1040,” the Illinois Department of Revenue website says.
State officials recommend avoiding common mistakes that can delay return processing by double-checking your Social Security number, name spelling, address and direct deposit information, as well as including any required supporting documents, such as a W-2 form, and reviewing your form for accuracy.
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