Addressing voters in Nevada, former President Donald Trump assured rally attendees that he wouldn’t “charge taxes on tips” for those who depend on them for their livelihood.
However, as president, Trump would not have the authority to alter taxation on tipped income. Such changes would require congressional action, and his campaign informed that he would request Congress to make these adjustments.
“For those hotel workers and people that get tips, you’re going to be very happy,” Trump stated during his Las Vegas rally. “Because when I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips.”
The former president’s campaign also criticized President Joe Biden for “aggressively” increasing IRS efforts to target tip workers. This criticism likely refers to the Service Industry Tip Compliance Agreement, or SITCA, a voluntary tip reporting program where service industry employers collaborate with the IRS.
“You do a great job of service. You take care of people. And I think it’s going to be something that really is deserved,” Trump remarked. “So those people that have jobs in restaurants, whatever the job may be, a tipping job, we’re not going after for taxes anymore.”
If re-elected, Trump would have the opportunity to oversee congressional lawmakers in revising tax policy as significant portions of his previous tax package are set to expire in 2025. The success of any such legislation would be more likely if the GOP retains its House majority and gains control of the Senate.
Trump’s promise regarding taxes on tipped wages could resonate with Nevadan working-class voters in a state that has consistently voted Democrat since Barack Obama’s election in 2008. This group includes many Latino voters, whom Trump has been actively appealing to in his campaign.
The CookPoliticalReport rates Nevada as a “toss-up” state, providing six electoral votes in a closely contested battle between Trump and Biden across roughly seven critical states in the upcoming election.
