The IRS has released new guidelines to help taxpayers understand the Big Beautiful Bill, a sweeping tax reform law now in effect for the 2025 filing season. Aimed at middle-class workers, boomers and retirees,

President Donald Trump has promoted a new $6,000 senior tax deduction and pledged to protect Social Security, and Commissioner Frank Bisignano has outlined efforts to modernize the system. Analysts have warned about risks of insolvency and unequal benefit distribution,

Until enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, officially P.L. 119-21, the availability of a below-the-line deduction that was not the standard deduction or an itemized deduction was a rare event. It was usually done for a specific policy reason related to the particular deduction.

The Trump bill — which was enacted in early July — introduces an additional tax deduction for taxpayers who are 65 or older. The deduction could be up to $6,000 for an individual tax filer and up to $12,000 for a married couple if both spouses qualify.