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What the Senate Republican tax and spending bill means for your money

July 1, 2025
05:36 PM
11 min read
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financeinvestmenteconomymoneywealthfinancial

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Senate Republicans have approved their version of President Donald Trump’s one “big beautiful” bill. Here’s what the provisions could mean for your money.

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11 min read

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investment

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July 1, 2025

05:36 PM

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CNBC

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financeinvestmenteconomymoneywealthfinancial

Senate staffers rest on the U

Capitol steps at sunrise as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass U

President Donald Trump's sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D. , July 1, 2025

Nathan Howard | Reuteenate Republicans on Tuesday apved their version of President Donald Trump's multi-trillion-dollar tax and spending package, which could broadly impact millions of Americans' wallets

Similar to the House's One Big Beautiful Bill Act advanced in May, the Senate legislation aims to make permanent Trump's 2017 tax cuts, while adding new tax breaks for tip income, overtime pay and auto loans, among other visions

If enacted, the bill could also slash spending on social safety net grams such as Medicaid and SNAP, axe tax credits tied to clean energy and overhaul student loans

More from Personal Finance:Americans say this financial milestone makes you an adultAverage 401(k) savings rate is at record-high levelsThese are the top private, public colleges for financial aid The spending package could still see changes as it returns to the lower chamber for apval

But a House floor vote could come as this week to meet Trump's July 4 deadline

Here are some of the key visions to watch — and how those measures could impact household finances

How to read this guide along from start to finish, or use the table of contents to jump to the section(s) you want to learn more. 'SALT' deductionSince 2018, the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction, known as 'SALT,' has been a critical issue for certain lawmakers in high-tax states New York, New Jersey and California

The SALT deduction — including state and local income and perty taxes — was unlimited for filers who itemized deductions before 2018

But the alternative minimum tax reduced the benefit for some wealthier Americans

A sticking point for some House lawmakers, the lower chamber apved a $40,000 SALT limit starting in 2025

The higher tax break would begin in 2025 and phase out over $500,000

The Senate version of the bill would also lift the cap to $40,000 starting in 2025, with the phaseout starting above $500,000 of income

Both figures would increase by 1% yearly through 2029 and the $40,000 limit would revert to $10,000 in 2030. "If you raise the cap, the people who benefit the most are going to be upper middle-income," since lower earners typically don't itemize tax deductions, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, previously told CNBC. — Kate DoreChild tax creditTrump's 2017 tax cuts temporarily boosted the maximum child tax credit to $2,000 from $1,000, an increase that will sunset after 2025 without an extension from Congress

If enacted, the Senate bill would permanently bump the biggest credit to $2,200 starting in 2025 and index this figure for inflation starting in 2026

Momo ductions | GettyMeanwhile, the House version of the bill lifts the top child tax credit to $2,500 from 2025 through 2028

After 2028, the credit's highest value would revert to $2,000 and be indexed for inflation

However, the posed bills wouldn't help 17 million children from low-income families who don't earn enough to claim the full credit, according to Elaine Maag, senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. — Kate DoreSenior 'bonus' deductionBoth the House and Senate called for a temporary enhanced deduction for Americans ages 65 and over, dubbed a "bonus," in their respective versions of the "big beautiful" bill

The Senate posed raising the deduction to $6,000 per qualifying individual, up from $4,000 posed by the House

The full deduction would be available to individuals with up to $75,000 in modified adjusted gross income, and $150,000 if married and filing jointly

Notably, the Senate version would phase out at a faster rate for taxpayers who are above those thresholds

Ultimately, middle-income taxpayers may benefit most from the enhanced deduction, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, recently told CNBC

The senior bonus is in lieu of eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, which had been touted by the Trump administration, since changes to Social Security are generally hibited in reconciliation legislation. — Lorie KonishMedicaid funding cuts As Republicans seek to slash federal spending, Medicaid, which vides health coverage for more than 71 million people, has been a target for those cuts in both House and Senate versions of the bill

The Senate version of the bill would cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, compared to more than $800 billion in cuts in the House version, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N. , at the House Democrats' news conference on Medicaid and SNAP cuts posed by the Republicans' reconciliation cess

Bill Clark | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty ImagesNew federal work requirements would require beneficiaries ages 19 to 64 who apply for coverage or who are enrolled through an Affordable Care Act expansion group to work at least 80 hours per month

Adults may be exempt if they have dependent children or other qualifying circumstances such as a medical condition

Notably, the Senate version of the bill posed stricter limits on exemptions for parents, limiting it to those with dependent children ages 14 and under

The posed Medicaid changes would also make it so states would have to conduct eligibility redeterminations for coverage every six months, rather than every 12 months based on current policy. 8 million people could become uninsured by 2034 due to Medicaid cuts, CBO has jected based on the House bill. — Lorie KonishReduced food stamp benefitsBoth Senate and House versions of the "big beautiful" bill pose cuts to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance gram, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps

The cuts in the Senate bill may ultimately affect more than 40 million people, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

That includes 16 million children, 8 million seniors and 4 million non-elderly adults with disabilities, among others, according to CBPP, a nonpartisan re and policy institute

Many states would be required to pay a percentage for food benefits to make up for the federal funding cuts

If they cannot make up for the funding losses, that could result in cuts to SNAP benefits or states opting out of the gram altogether, according to CBPP

The Senate posal also seeks to expand existing work requirements to include adults ages 55 to 64 and parents with children 14 and over

Based on current rules, most individuals cannot receive benefits for more than three months out of every three years unless they work at least 20 hours per week or qualify for an exemption

For 600,000 low-income households, food benefits could be cut by an average of $100 per month, according to CBPP. — Lorie KonishNew 'Trump accounts' for child savingsThe Senate's version of Trump's budget bill also included a new savings account for children with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government for those born in 2024 through 2028

Starting in 2026, so-called "Trump accounts," a type of tax-advantaged saving account, would be available to all children under the age of eight years old who are U

Citizens, largely in line with the House plan advanced in May

Pekic | E+ | Getty ImagesTo be eligible to receive the initial seed money, both parents must have Social Security numbers

Parents would then be able to contribute up to $5,000 a year and the balance will be invested in a diversified fund that tracks a U

Earnings grow tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are taxed as long-term capital gains

Republican lawmakers have said these accounts will introduce more Americans to wealth-building opportunities and the benefits of compound growth

But some experts say a 529 college savings plan is a better alternative because of the higher contribution limits and tax advantages. — Jessica DicklerLower student loan limits, fewer benefitsKey changes are in store for student loan borrowers

For starters, Republicans would limit how much money people can borrow from the federal government to pay for their education

Among other measures, the Senate plan would:Cap unsubsidized student loans at $20,500 per year (and $100,000 lifetime) for graduate students;Cap borrowing for fessional degrees ( those for doctors and lawyers) at $50,000 per year (and $200,000 lifetime);Add a lifetime borrowing limit for all federal student loans at $257,500;Cap parent borrowing through the federal Parent PLUS loan gram at $20,000 per year per student ($65,000 lifetime);Eliminate grad PLUS loans

These allow grad students to borrow up to their entire cost of attendance minus any federal aid;Going forward, there would be just two repayment plan choices for new borrowers: Student loan borrowers could either enroll in a standard repayment plan with fixed payments, or an income-based repayment plan known as the "Repayment Assistance Plan," or RAP

The bill would also nix the unemployment deferment and economic hardship deferment, both of which student loan borrowers use to pause their payments during periods of financial difficulty. — Jessica Dickler and Annie NovaCar loan interest deductionThe Senate bill creates a tax deduction for households on car loan interest, similar to a vision in the House bill

Certain households would be able to deduct up to $10,000 of annual interest on new auto loans from their taxable income

The tax break would be temporary, lasting from 2025 through 2028

There are some eligibility restrictions

For example, the deduction's value would start to fall once an individual's annual income exceeds $100,000; the threshold is $200,000 for married couples filing a joint tax return

Cars must also be U. -assembled

In practice, the tax benefit is ly to be relatively small, experts said. "The math basically says you're talking [financial] benefit of $500 or less in year one," based on the average new loan, Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, an auto market re firm, recently told CNBC. — Greg Iacurci Tax break on tip incomeThe Senate passed the No Tax on Tips Act in late May, a standalone legislation that would create a federal income tax deduction of up to $25,000 per year, with some limitations

The tax break would apply to workers who typically receive cash tips reported to their employer for payroll tax withholdings, according to the summary of the bill

Sdi ductions | E+ | Getty ImagesThe Senate version of the OBBBA Act includes a similar vision: If enacted, qualifying individuals can claim a deduction of up to $25,000 for qualified tips

However, the Senate version would not apply to taxpayers whose income exceeds $150,000, or $300,000 for joint filers

Should the bill go in effect as drafted, the Secretary of the Treasury will publish a list of occupations that typically received tips on or before December 31, 2024

The vision would apply to taxable years between December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2028. — Ana Teresa SoláOvertime pay deductionAnother campaign mise from Trump, the House and Senate bills would also vide a temporary tax break for overtime pay

The House-apved bill would create a deduction for "qualified overtime compensation" of $160,000 or less from 2025 to 2028

The deduction is "above-the-line," meaning the tax break is available regardless of whether you itemize deductions

By contrast, the Senate bill offers a maximum $12,500 above-the-line deduction ($25,000 for married couples filing jointly) for overtime pay from 2025 to 2028

The tax break begins to phase out once earnings exceed $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers). — Kate DoreEV, clean energy tax credits The Senate bill, its House counterpart, would axe consumer tax credits tied to clean energy

It would end a $7,500 tax credit for households that buy or lease a new electric vehicle, and a $4,000 tax credit for buyers of used EVs

These tax credits would disappear after Sept

Additionally, it would scrap tax breaks for consumers who make their s more energy-efficient, perhaps by installing rooftop solar, electric heat pumps, or efficient windows and doors

These credits would end after Dec

An aerial view shows solar panels atop the roofs of s on February 25, 2025 in Pasadena, California

Mario Tama | Getty ImagesMany tax breaks on the chopping block were created, ext or enhanced by the Inflation Reduction Act, a 2022 law signed by former President Joe Biden that vided a historic U

Investment to fight climate change

The tax breaks are currently slated to be in effect for another seven or so years, through at least 2032. — Greg IacurciSection 199A pass-through deductionAnother key vision in the House and Senate bills could offer a bigger deduction for so-called pass-through es, which includes contractors, freelancers and gig economy workers

Enacted via Trump's 2017 tax cuts, the Section 199A deduction for qualified income, or QBI, is currently worth up to 20% of eligible revenue, with some limitations

This will expire after 2025 without action from Congress

The House-apved bill would make the vision permanent and expand the maximum tax break to 23% starting in 2026

Meanwhile, the Senate measure would make the deduction permanent but keep it at 20%. — Kate DoreWhat the Senate Republican 'big beautiful' bill means for your moneyTable Of Contents.