The IRS has provided additional guidance on the “No Tax on Overtime” deduction created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). In order to claim the deduction, you must be an FLSA overtime-eligible employee, where FLSA stands for the Fair Labor Standards Act. Many full-time employees fit this category but some do not, so if you are unsure about your FLSA designation, check with your employer.

You may only claim the “No Tax on Overtime” deduction if you have a Social Security number (SSN) valid for U.S. employment. If you are married, you must file a joint tax return with your spouse. Note that the deduction applies only to “bonus” overtime pay above your normal salary or wage rate. For example, if your normal pay rate is $20/hour but you get paid $30/hour for overtime work (“time and a half”), then at most $10/hour of your overtime pay will be deductible. Your 2025 W-2 form might not clearly show your qualifying overtime pay, so you may need to obtain the information another way, such as logging into a portal created by your employer.

You do not need to itemize deductions in order to deduct overtime pay. The maximum deduction amount is $12,500, or $25,000 for joint filers if both spouses have qualifying overtime pay and valid SSNs. The deduction amount decreases for people with modified adjusted gross incomes above $150,000 (or $300,000 for joint filers). A tax professional can help you determine whether you qualify to deduct overtime, and if so, help you properly figure your deduction amount.