Seniors Set To Receive Big Tax Relief Thanks to Trump, GOP
The first major piece of legislation the GOP congressional majority passed and President Donald Trump signed last year, during his first months back in office, was a bill to make their 2017 tax cuts permanent.
Every Democrat voted against the measure even though the cuts benefited the vast majority of Americans.
Now, the administration is touting another benefit for Americans 65 and older ahead of next year’s tax filing deadline.
A significant, though temporary, tax change for older Americans comes in the form of a new benefit known as the “senior bonus deduction.”
Included in the 2025 tax legislation, the provision is intended to provide additional tax relief for retirees and older taxpayers.
While the concept of a new deduction may seem straightforward, it has raised questions about who qualifies and how the deduction is applied, the Kiplinger Letter noted this week.
For example, taxpayers who are 65 or older and typically itemize their deductions may wonder if they can also benefit from the new senior bonus deduction.
Fortunately, the new deduction is highly flexible, noted the outlet.
Most taxpayers who claim the standard deduction can also take advantage of the senior bonus deduction in addition to the extra standard deduction available to those age 65 and older.
Taxpayers who choose to itemize their deductions are also eligible to claim the bonus.
“This bonus allows taxpayers age 65 and older to claim an additional deduction — up to $6,000 for singles, or $12,000 for married couples when both spouses qualify,” Kiplinger noted, adding some “key points” about the benefit:
You must be 65 or older by December 31, 2025.
The bonus amount tops out at $6,000 for individuals and $12,000 for married couples when both spouses are 65 and older.
This deduction phases out above a certain income level: Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) of $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for those married, filing jointly. It phases out completely for MAGI above $175,000 and $250,000, respectively.
The IRS says you must “include the Social Security Number of the qualifying individual(s) on the return, and file jointly if married, to claim the deduction.”
Because the deduction is available whether you itemize or claim the standard deduction, it can benefit taxpayers who have enough deductible expenses to itemize while still providing an additional opportunity to reduce their taxable income.
But all said, the benefit is temporary, set to expire after the 2028 tax season unless it is renewed by Congress, Kiplinger noted.
Trump signed the legislation, known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill” on July 4, 2025.
Earlier this month, to mark the occasion ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday, the White House put out a press release touting the legislation’s accomplishments.
“The success of President Trump’s widely popular tax breaks, like No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security and Made in America Car-Loan deductions, is undeniable,” the statement said.
“A look at the first-year’s results shows that nearly 70% of filers who received a tax cut earned less than $100,000,” it added.
The release also included several things the legislation achieved:
Millions of Americans received historic tax refunds this tax season with the average refund exceeding $3,400 — an 11% increase from last year.
American families and workers claimed $82 billion in direct tax relief, with 97% of filers receiving a tax cut.
More than 29 million workers claimed the No Tax on Overtime deduction with an average deduction of over $3,100.
More than 35 million seniors have claimed No Tax on Social Security with an average deduction of over $7,500.
Nearly 8 million workers claimed No Tax on Tips with an average deduction of over $7,000.
Over 1.4 million filers have claimed No Tax on Made-in-America Car Loan Interest with an average deduction of over $1,800.
Nearly 40 million families claimed the enhanced Child Tax Credit.
Nearly 6 million Trump Accounts have been opened, with 1.4 million eligible for the $1,000 pilot program contribution.
Fox News DRAMA - Maria Bartiromo's Attorney Drops Bombshell After 'Firing'
When Fox announced that Maria Bartiromo was gone after more than twelve years, the statement was a masterpiece of saying nothing: thanks for the work, best of luck on the next chapter, no reason given. Corporate language that smooth usually exists to cover something rougher underneath. The reporting that followed suggests it did.
Here is the reconstructed sequence, and it should be read as the reporting of Status and Puck’s Dylan Byers rather than confirmed fact — Bartiromo’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has since pushed back on the “fired” characterization, and the full story isn’t settled. With that caveat squarely in place: Bartiromo reportedly wanted to pursue a story tying China to 2020 election-security questions. For Fox that subject is radioactive. The network paid a historic settlement to Dominion Voting Systems over its 2020 coverage and still faces active Smartmatic litigation on the same ground. A Fox Business executive reportedly sent written guidance steering staff away from the topic, and most fell in line.
Bartiromo didn’t. According to the reporting, when Trump or a White House aide asked why Fox wasn’t covering the story, she confirmed her bosses had blocked it — and then forwarded the internal message proving it. Fox reportedly learned of the leak, concluded it violated her employment agreement, and pulled her off the air August 9.
Reports subsequently said she was “fired.” But according to her lawyer, Bryan Freedman, that’s not the case at all:
For many years, Maria Bartiromo hosted three number one rated television shows on Fox channels. She has been, without question, one of the hardest working journalists throughout her award winning career.
The irresponsible reports that have been published stating that Maria Bartiromo was fired or is no longer an employee of Fox are absolutely and unequivocally false. Make no mistake, we have the receipts and witnesses and they will come out whether through the courthouse or otherwise. Those reporting her firing or the incredulous facts supporting that fiction have exhibited a complete and utter reckless disregard for the truth.
We’ll keep you updated on this.
When Fox announced that Maria Bartiromo was gone after more than twelve years, the statement was a masterpiece of saying nothing: thanks for the work, best of luck on the next chapter, no reason given. Corporate language that smooth usually exists to cover something rougher underneath. The reporting that followed suggests it did.
Here is the reconstructed sequence, and it should be read as the reporting of Status and Puck’s Dylan Byers rather than confirmed fact — Bartiromo’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has since pushed back on the “fired” characterization, and the full story isn’t settled. With that caveat squarely in place: Bartiromo reportedly wanted to pursue a story tying China to 2020 election-security questions. For Fox that subject is radioactive. The network paid a historic settlement to Dominion Voting Systems over its 2020 coverage and still faces active Smartmatic litigation on the same ground. A Fox Business executive reportedly sent written guidance steering staff away from the topic, and most fell in line.
Bartiromo didn’t. According to the reporting, when Trump or a White House aide asked why Fox wasn’t covering the story, she confirmed her bosses had blocked it — and then forwarded the internal message proving it. Fox reportedly learned of the leak, concluded it violated her employment agreement, and pulled her off the air August 9.
Reports subsequently said she was “fired.” But according to her lawyer, Bryan Freedman, that’s not the case at all:
For many years, Maria Bartiromo hosted three number one rated television shows on Fox channels. She has been, without question, one of the hardest working journalists throughout her award winning career.
The irresponsible reports that have been published stating that Maria Bartiromo was fired or is no longer an employee of Fox are absolutely and unequivocally false. Make no mistake, we have the receipts and witnesses and they will come out whether through the courthouse or otherwise. Those reporting her firing or the incredulous facts supporting that fiction have exhibited a complete and utter reckless disregard for the truth.
We’ll keep you updated on this.
