So I know this was in the budget bill, and just like Trump’s tariffs, things change so much it’s hard to keep up with. But I have a legitimate question for the community here. This is not a troll, but legitimately trying to understand support for this.

No taxes on tips and overtime.. so where to start. A few years ago, Biden tried to pass broad student loan forgiveness. He did manage to get forgiveness for a lot of people who earned it under PSLF, as well as some folks who got scammed. But the biggest one, the $10/20k one was blocked. One of the biggest arguments I heard from people was either “I didn’t go to school, why should my tax dollars pay” or similarly “I worked my way through college and paid it off myself, you should do the same” (although some of these people undoubtedly went to college when it was $500/semester and not $5000).

Honestly if that’s the logic we want to use, it could follow similarly for this OT/Tips bill.

For tips.. that’s one entire segment of the work force that gets away from taxes entirely. Waitresses/Servers will basically just have entirely tax free income. Now some may say “serving isn’t that high paying of a job” but I beg to differ. I’ve known a lot of them and seen them make $200-300 in a 5 hour shift. I imagine some in some high scale places make even more. In fact, probably 12-14 years ago I asked a few of them if they would rather keep tips or get a flat $20 per hour (what I made at the time). Every single one of them said tips. Keep in mind, well over a decade ago, so pre-Covid inflation, at a small town Ruby Tuesday.

Now for overtime.. as a skilled salary worker, my kind got screwed over by Republicans blocking the loan forgiveness. Then, when it came to IT specifically, they again blocked Biden trying to reform OT rules so that skilled salary workers like myself would no longer be exempt. For example, in IT, you may not have a single direct report. You work on projects, you troubleshoot, you build. Really, we are not that different from other skilled workers like nurses or trades people. But for some reason, so many of us are marked exempt. Considering on-call and disaster recovery situations, there is the potential for loads of “free” work.

So we can’t even get OT, but everyone else would now have zero taxes on 1.5x-2x pay? How’s that fair or even make sense?
I could understand reporting OT income into a marked separate bucket, and at the end of the year having it taxed at your normal rate even if it pushed you into a new bracket, but NO tax at all?

So now I’m going to use the same argument that everyone used when things would have helped me. Why? Why should I have to pay more tax than you? Why should my tax dollars have to go further? Who’s going to cover this sudden massive loss of tax revenue? The tariffs? I thought the tariffs were a “negotiating tool” and that if all goes as planned, there won’t be any tariffs in the end?

So you dont like Trump and you are reaching for something to try and complain about. Got it. Nobody payed tax on tips until electronic payments became more common than cash payment. End of story.

Where does the no tax on SS stand? Old goobers want to know!!

That was also back when you could leave a 10% tip and not get your food spit in the next time you came. Now some of them look at you sideways if you leave “just” 20%. Or a self service vending machine trying to ask if you want to leave a tip.

But no, it’s legitimately a fair question. Why are select groups getting this tax boon? Why not an across the board tax cut for everyone in the middle to lower class?

I’m actually all for social programs, even if I don’t benefit. I’m just astounded that his base loves this so much because Republicans are not known for loving to give away free stuff.

Might shock everyone here to know this but I would agree with that.

Some people wouldn't be happy if you hung em with a gold rope....

I do agree that there should not be a line for tips on any kind on electronic payments. Back in the day, you would pay an expensive dinner with a credit card but also tipped separately with cash. I still do that so that the wait-staff does not skimmed by the management. I dont tip fast food or carry-out either.

wtf does that even mean? Who would even be happy to be hung in the first place? It could be diamond encrusted, but if I’m dead what would that do for me? Such a weird saying.

It means you are complaining about a good thing just because you dont like Trump. We understand. Its ok. You are a product of the Dept of Education, and we also know that. How do we know that? The student loan complaining you just did in your first post.

I dunno. Republicans raised such a fit about a one time forgiveness, but they’re pining for tax relief that arguably benefits them the most?

Kind of reminds me of those who criticize any sort of welfare but snatched up PPL forgiveness

Slippery slope. Tubbs said the fear is businesses may classify a lot of income as tips. I’m all for paying less tax but I think that’s one of the hangups with getting it passed. Somebody could take a job and get classified as working for tips, therefore tax free.Before yall get worked up and call me a communist I’m just the messenger. Tubbs said it, not me.

Loan forgiveness has nothing to do with no tax on tips or OT. No one forced you to take out a loan. Income taxes aren’t so voluntary. There’s all kinds of carve outs in the tax code for all manner of things. Not a fan of it but is what it is. I’m all for folks getting to keep more of the money they earn. If you want to take advantage of the loophole, go ahead and change careers if that tax break passes. The people you are talking about probably pay roughly 1-2% of all tax revenue so it’s not going to be a massive shortfall. Until they eliminate the income tax altogether, someone will always pay more than someone else. Sucks but that’s reality.

So you're pissed the Republicans want you to pay back the money you borrowed from US, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, and that you agreed to pay back when the loan was granted.

GFY.

Michael;
I agree with you on this one. Income is income and should be fairly and equally taxed. These rules will be manipulated. I voted for Trump and am conservative; but those were vote pandering pitches; IMO.
What's the difference between a hourly worker putting in 60 hours, 20 at 1.5 rate untaxed; and a salesmen putting in 60 hours to make extra commission and benefit his employer and the economy??
They are both hard working folks that should be treated the same.

I graduated with my bachelors in cybersecurity with a measly $7k in student loans. They aren’t breaking me. But some folks literally have to pay for the privilege to work a career that requires a degree. Teachers and nurses, doctors and lawyers, engineers, and many more. We wouldn’t have a functional society without them.

So yeah, I’m actually able to think about things BEYOND what affects only me.

Yes that’s exactly what I think too. It was pandering, if not an outright bribe.

Also agree that work is work. Selling cars, treating patients, building IT infrastructure or keeping it secure, working on an oil rig.. it’s all labor. The tax codes shouldn’t favor select industries, especially if those industries are someone’s base (overtime had every blue collar I know chomping to vote for Trump if they weren’t already).

10% flat tax for everyone, no exceptions. No deductions period.

No forgiveness of any student loans-period! If you serve in the US Military Honorably for a certain number of years, then maybe you get a student loan forgiven up to a certain amount.

The two parts to this discussion are totally unrelated, but here’s my take on it. If you borrow money for a student loan, you pay it back or take a job with an employer that will pay it back for you. It’s not the taxpayers responsibility to take care of your borrowed money. For the other part, if you take a job and don’t like the pay/hours/work load or any other part of it as compared to another job, go get another job. Seems pretty easy to me.

I was against the loan forgiveness during biduns term. For the same reason you listed, i didn't make the deal, why should I have to pay it. I am for no taxes on tips and wages. I think this country is taxed to death. I personally pay over 50% of my earnings in taxes, and think that ANYONE who doesn't have to pay them is better off. From a server to the ultra weathly, cut them all. Taxes should be the state can put upto but no more than a 10% sales tax on goods purchased. No other tax, no property tax, no income tax , no gas tax, nothing. The the state should give the federal government what they decide to give. Let the dirt bags fight it out. It's alot easier to go find your state rep, than a us senator, and then there would be some major cuts!

I HATE taxes!!!!! Lets just get rid of all of them!!!!!