The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) specifies that only tips separately reported on a year-end tax document like a W-2 or 1099 form qualify for the new “no tax on tips” deduction. However, the current versions of those forms do not necessarily allow for reporting that complies with the OBBBA requirement. Therefore, the IRS will allow eligible tipped employees and self-employed people to use alternative methods to figure the deduction for 2025.

Under these special, temporary rules, qualifying tip recipients may be able to use any of the following as the basis for their deduction:

• Tips shown in box 7 of Form W-2 (Social Security tips)

• Tips properly reported to an employer, even if the tips do not separately appear on a W-2 form

• Tips recorded separately in detailed records of self-employment income, even if the tips are not specifically reported on a Form 1099

If you are eligible to claim the “no tax on tips” deduction, the maximum annual deduction is $25,000, subject to income limits, with a phase-out range beginning at a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $150,000 for individuals, or $300,000 for joint filers.