Each year, April 15 is an unpleasant reminder of just how much hard-earned money American workers are forced to fork over to the government. But thanks to the tax cuts in President Donald Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts (also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, or OBBB), Tax Day 2026 is significantly less painful this year.
According to new data, the OBBB is already delivering major relief. As of late March, the average IRS tax refund was up nearly 11 percent, translating to about $350 extra on the average return. Taxpayers are also taking advantage of the new “No Tax on Tips” and “No Tax on Overtime” provisions, with more than 20 million workers claiming those deductions. According to the Treasury Department, nearly half of all filers have benefited from at least one provision in the OBBB.
The tax cuts have been so impactful, in fact, that even The New York Times is impressed, publishing a story earlier this month about “Trump’s supercharged tax season.”
The OBBB is particularly beneficial for small business owners. 12 million small businesses have seen an average tax reduction of $7,000, while the permanent extension of the 20 percent Qualified Business Income deduction is delivering $4,600 in average relief to eight million small business owners.
Another landmark provision of the OBBB was the creation of “Trump Accounts.” The program allows parents and legal guardians to open an account for any U.S. citizen children under the age of 18, starting by making an election when they file their taxes for 2025. Contributions to these accounts grow tax-free much like a Roth IRA, and the federal government will contribute $1,000 in seed money to each Trump Account for babies born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. The parents of more than four million children have already opted in to this historic opportunity.
The OBBB is also particularly beneficial for seniors, as it effectively eliminates taxes on Social Security for about 90 percent of recipients. In February, AMAC sent out a call for real-life stories from members about the impact of the new tax law and received more than 1,000 responses in a matter of hours. These members, who represented all 50 states, reported an average tax savings of $2,832, with nearly a third reporting savings of more than $2,500.
But perhaps the most significant aspect of the OBBB is the massive tax hike that it prevented.
During his first term, Trump’s signature legislative accomplishment was the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. That law set the stage for historic economic growth pre-COVID by lowering individual income tax rates and nearly doubling the standard deduction. Additionally, it lowered the corporate tax rate to keep the United States competitive with other developed nations, which helped increase real wages for workers.
Heading into 2026, however, the 2017 tax cuts were set to expire. That issue loomed large in the 2024 election, as Democrats indicated that they would not look to extend key provisions of the bill.
Americans thus faced the prospect of one of the largest tax hikes in history following four years of record inflation and economic turmoil under the Biden administration. In total, nearly 62 percent of Americans would have paid $4 trillion more in taxes had the 2017 law expired.
Trump promised to stave off that disaster. At his urging, Republicans passed the OBBB in time for the President to sign it on July 4 of last year.
Since then, Democrats have predictably lambasted the law as a tax cut for the wealthy – the same line they used to attack Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. But as IRS data showed, the 2017 law primarily benefitted working- and middle-class filers. In 2018, the first year that law was in effect, filers who made $15,000 to $50,000 enjoyed an average tax cut of 16 percent to 26 percent, while those who made $50,000 to $100,000 received a tax break of 15 percent to 17 percent, and those earning $100,000 to $500,000 saw a tax cut of 11 percent to 13 percent. No income group making more than 500,000 saw a tax cut in excess of nine percent.
In other words, everyone benefitted from the 2017 tax cuts, but those who made the least benefitted the most. Moreover, despite lower tax rates, federal tax revenues reached a new record high as Americans made more money.
The OBBB promises to deliver more of the same results – which is likely why, behind the scenes, Democrats have begrudgingly admitted that the legislation’s tax provisions are overwhelmingly popular.
Ultimately, what sets Trump’s reforms apart is the simple but powerful principle that Americans know how to spend, save, and invest their own money better than Washington ever will. By letting workers keep more of what they earn, the Trump tax cuts aren’t just easing the burden on Tax Day – they’re restoring a measure of financial freedom year-round.
In a nation built on individual liberty, that may be the most important return of all.
Shane Harris is the Editor-in-Chief of AMAC Newsline. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.
Thank you President Trump !!! You’re the best president we have ever had !!!
We all know that people love government, high taxes and giving their money away to somebody who will just waste it. Don’t forget to vote vote Democrat in the midterms you can have all of that in more. Including men in women sports.
I am a soon to be 77 year old senior, I don’t benefit from anything in this article.
The Democrats will grudgingly admit when something is popular with voters but they will never do such themselves because they don’t care about us! That’s okay because more and more of the voters are feeling the same way about them!
As I posted in the other article….. nothing beautiful about my tax bill. I have a pension and social security. My tax bill somehow doubled from last year. I’m glad for those whose bill went down but the person who helps me with my taxes said even though they did away with no direct tax on social security you still have to add the SS total to the pension and with the new tax levels my taxes went up. Seems no matter what they tell you, the politicians always find a way to pick your pocket. I see in reading the comments here that others are experiencing the same thing.
Citizens need to realize that POTUS truly does want what’s best for this country and her people. What other president takes no salary while in the WH?
Were he to curb his verbalizing dislike for some things or people, he likely would be more liked and supported. But the ‘establishment’ Democrats never will because his patriotism and working for what’s best for ‘his people’ isn’t in their playbook, or even in their imagination.
I unfortunately paid more than I ever have.
Of course the OBBB works. Only the democrats wanted more tax money to provide for the illegals to stay here to vote for the dems, and the power given forever to the democrats and to bring America down to a global communist nation. Where everyone obeys and nobody works but lives on a government stipend and roam the streets killing those still working because they want what they have. Only not working for it but taking to reach Equity. You cannot legislate DEI. We found that out under Obama when he tried to exclude the white race and more so under Biden. Who got us into an economic disaster we still are trying to get out of. President Trump succeeded in his first term to raise the economy with a flourishing job market. Not hiring federal employees to skew the jobs reports. In the private sector where it meant something. Trump fired all these excess employees hired by Biden and the job market stayed strong in spite of the whining and rhetoric of the dems. The tax cuts work because everyone benefited. Not the 1% Bernie was screaming about. He should have told his base the truth. And maybe even find a solution to the inflation that happened on their watch. But they have no solution. Even if they did they wouldn’t implement them. They want this country to fail. They want woke sheep to obey everything they propose and President Trump gets his policies done. And every democrat in power is falling on their sword for the things of their own creation. Swalwell and his deviant sex problems. Which they hid for a long time and here we are. Nancy should be next for the millions of dollars she made off insider trading. We, the people are finally getting what we the taxpayers deserve. Less taxes. My late husband used to say I will gladly pay taxes for that which is needed. Not putting tax money into the pockets of the politicians here or all over the world. We the people are ruling the country. The dems, representatives and Senators forget that once they take their seat in the House or Senate. You work for tge people and America not for yourself and your pocketbook.
In my opinion, if you got a refund Greater than $100 you should immediately file a new W-4, if you haven’t done so. Don’t wait for a refund 1 year from now, reduce the withholding by claiming more exemptions. Don’t wait for next years refund, put the money in your pocket now. The IRS is not a savings account.
You know how the Government works , they give you four Dollars then they take away three Dollars .
One thing is for sure. If the radical liberals get back into power in 2026, all of Trump’s efforts to lower taxes and regulations will be removed. These so-called Democrats will make sure our taxes and regulations will both greatly increased.
Wheres the refund checks??
i saved a wee bit over $1000 in my tax bill this year. THANK YOU DJT!
Our tax preparer said my spouse and I (having only received Social Security checks) did not qualify for any tax benefit money. Those tax prep TV ads acting like us Seniors are going to see some money was very misleading.
It would be nice if couples like us would get some supposed Tariff Rebate. Especially since finding out that my Medicare Advantage plan that had dental coverage is next to useless.
I certainly got left out! No one that I know did!
With the Dems forming a pact between blue states to give the electoral votes out based on popular vote the next election will go Dem anyway. VA just signed on, only 48 more electoral and they got it in the bag.
I just signed my return at my tax preparer’s office. I’m getting an extra $100 back compared to last year and that’s OK by me!
My return is now 22 days later than INTUIT said it would be sent. Can’t believe everything.
Nope, I’m a homeowner, a healthcare worker, left an abusive marriage, lost my only son to heaven, now single at 54. No breaks for divorce costs, attorney’s fees, mortgage interest or HELOC interest to pay off the ex or monthly payments I make to him, no funeral expense deductions, nope! I tried the small business route a few years ago. No tax help there. Had to close shop. Nope, Nothing. I owe $5000. So, no sir. Your article does NOT APPLY to me.
2026 tax season was the first time in years that I actually received money back. I usually have to pay more into the federal government. Thank you Mr. President for helping American’s keep more in their pockets.
I certainly got left out. Other people that I spoke to said the same!
At my age, I speak with the authority of one who knows for sure, President Trump is the best president in my long life. His greatness is what threatens the lower lifes of our government. They simply cannot keep up, they are soo out of ideas, all they can do is hate! And have been able to influence a dim witted constituency. Just a thought!