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April/May 2026 | maconmagazine.com 33 STORY BY ELLEN KATZ | PHOTO BY MIKE YOUNG Recent tax changes may bring you a bigger refund Policy p erks for your p o cket The deduction begins to phase out when modified adjusted income hits $100,000 for singles and $200,000 for joint filers. Lease payments don't qualify. T h e s e n i o r d e d u c t i o n Under this tax break, taxpayers age 65 and older can claim an additional deduction of up to $6,000 on their federal returns for 2025 through 2028. If eligible spouses file jointly, the total can be up to $12,000. This is in addition to the regular standard deduction and any existing senior standard deduction provisions. The deduction begins to decrease once modified adjusted gross income is above $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for joint filers. It's no longer available at higher thresholds (above $175,000 for singles and $250,000 for joint filers). This deduction has been "super beneficial" for the clients of Joli Stuckey, a CPA and partner at Howard, Moore & MacDuffie in Macon. "Many are on fixed incomes so every little bit of tax savings can make a big difference," she says, adding you don't have to receive Social Security in order to qualify for the senior deduction. filers and $300,000 for joint filers. Like the provision on tips, the overtime tax break is temporary and limited. It creates a new deduction that can effectively reduce or eliminate federal income tax on qualifying overtime earnings for eligible workers. For 2025 through 2028, the overtime deduction covers up to $12,500 in overtime per year for individuals ($25,000 for joint filers). It begins to phase out at higher income levels ($150,000 modified adjusted gross income for singles and $300,000 for joint filers). Despite the restrictions, these tax breaks "resonate with taxpayers because they reward hard work," says Nicole Talton, an enrolled agent and the CFO at N.A. Jones & Associates in Macon. "That is meaningful for Macon households," she adds. N e w a u t o l o a n d e d u c t i o n There's also a new, temporary tax deduction for auto loans originated from 2025 to 2028. Eligible individuals can deduct up to $10,000 in annual interest on loans to buy new American-made vehicles. T his tax year may bring meaningful relief for some Maconites. The recent overhaul of the federal tax law includes a variety of tax breaks for individual taxpayers. While the changes passed in the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act span business incentives and national security funding, several of its provisions are aimed at everyday households. We asked women who are Macon tax experts to explain some of the best tax breaks and tips for individuals. Ta x b r e a k f o r s o m e t i p s a n d o v e r t i m e If you earn tips or overtime, you may benefit from new tax breaks. For tax years 2025 through 2028, you may be able to deduct up to $25,000 of reported tip income on your federal tax return. It's not a literal or permanent elimination of all taxes on tips for everyone. You must work in an eligible service industry job. And tips are still subject to other taxes, including Social Security and Medicare. It's also important to realize that the deduction begins to "phase out" or decrease when modified adjusted gross income reaches $150,000 for single