2024 Tax Law vs 2026 OBBB: Side-by-Side Comparison of Every Change
2024 Tax Law vs 2026 OBBB: Side-by-Side Comparison of Every Change
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), signed into law in 2025, represents the largest package of tax changes since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Some provisions extend existing rules, others are entirely new, and a few are phasing out. This guide provides a comprehensive side-by-side comparison of every significant change between the 2024 tax law and the 2026 OBBB law.
Data Notice: Figures, rates, and statistics cited in this article are based on the most recent available data at time of writing and may reflect projections or prior-year figures. Always verify current numbers with official sources before making financial, medical, or educational decisions.
Use this reference to understand exactly what changed, what stayed the same, and what it means for your 2026 filing.
Master Comparison Table
Income Tax Brackets (Single Filers)
The OBBB made the TCJA individual income tax rates permanent. Without the OBBB, rates would have reverted to the higher pre-2018 levels in 2026.
| Bracket | 2024 Law (TCJA rates) | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | Up to ~$11,600 | Up to ~$11,925 | Extended permanently; inflation-adjusted |
| 12% | ~$11,601 – ~$47,150 | ~$11,926 – ~$48,475 | Extended permanently; inflation-adjusted |
| 22% | ~$47,151 – ~$100,525 | ~$48,476 – ~$103,350 | Extended permanently; inflation-adjusted |
| 24% | ~$100,526 – ~$191,950 | ~$103,351 – ~$197,300 | Extended permanently; inflation-adjusted |
| 32% | ~$191,951 – ~$243,725 | ~$197,301 – ~$250,525 | Extended permanently; inflation-adjusted |
| 35% | ~$243,726 – ~$609,350 | ~$250,526 – ~$626,350 | Extended permanently; inflation-adjusted |
| 37% | Over ~$609,350 | Over ~$626,350 | Extended permanently; inflation-adjusted |
Key point: Without the OBBB, the top rate would have reverted to 39.6% in 2026, and the 12% bracket would have become 15%. The OBBB made the lower TCJA rates permanent. See our detailed tax brackets guide for MFJ, HoH, and other filing statuses.
Standard Deduction
| Filing Status | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | ~$14,600 | ~$16,100 | Extended permanently + inflation adjustment |
| Married Filing Jointly | ~$29,200 | ~$32,200 | Extended permanently + inflation adjustment |
| Head of Household | ~$21,900 | ~$24,150 | Extended permanently + inflation adjustment |
| Additional (age 65+ or blind) | ~$1,550 single / ~$1,550 MFJ per person | ~$1,600 single / ~$1,600 MFJ per person | Inflation-adjusted |
Without the OBBB, the standard deduction would have dropped to roughly ~$8,300 single / ~$16,600 MFJ (the pre-TCJA levels, inflation-adjusted). The OBBB prevented this by making the nearly doubled standard deduction permanent. See our standard deduction guide.
Brand-New Deductions (Did Not Exist in 2024)
These are entirely new provisions created by the OBBB. They did not exist under any previous tax law.
| Provision | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tips deduction | No deduction | Up to ~$25,000 above-the-line | Employees and self-employed; claimed on Schedule 1A |
| Overtime deduction | No deduction | Up to ~$12,500 single / ~$25,000 MFJ | Above-the-line; W-2 overtime wages only; Schedule 1A |
| Car loan interest deduction | No deduction | Up to ~$10,000 | U.S. final assembly vehicles only; Schedule 1A |
| Senior deduction | No deduction | ~$6,000 above-the-line | Age 65+; stacks with existing age-based standard deduction boost; Schedule 1A |
| Trump Accounts | Did not exist | ~$1,000 government seed per qualifying child | Opens July 2026; S&P 500 investment; Form 4547; ~$5,000/year contribution limit |
| Schedule 1A | Did not exist | New IRS form | Reports all OBBB above-the-line deductions |
Child Tax Credit
| Feature | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum credit per child | ~$2,000 | ~$2,200 | Increased by ~$200/child |
| Refundable portion (ACTC) | Up to ~$1,700 | Up to ~$1,900 | Increased refundability |
| Phase-out threshold (single) | ~$200,000 | ~$200,000 | No change |
| Phase-out threshold (MFJ) | ~$400,000 | ~$400,000 | No change |
| Qualifying age | Under 17 | Under 17 | No change |
| Duration | Was set to expire end of 2025 | Permanent | Made permanent by OBBB |
Without the OBBB, the CTC would have reverted to ~$1,000 per child with a lower refundable portion in 2026. The OBBB not only prevented the reduction but increased the credit to ~$2,200. See our Child Tax Credit guide.
State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction
| Feature | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SALT deduction cap | ~$10,000 | ~$40,000 | Quadrupled |
| Phase-out | None (hard cap) | Begins at ~$500,000 AGI | New phase-out added |
| Eligible taxes | State/local income, sales, property | Same | No change |
| Filing requirement | Must itemize | Must itemize | No change |
The SALT cap increase is the OBBB provision with the largest dollar impact for high-income taxpayers in high-tax states. A taxpayer paying ~$35,000 in state/local taxes who was previously capped at ~$10,000 can now deduct the full ~$35,000. See our SALT deduction guide.
Estate and Gift Tax
| Feature | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estate tax exemption | ~$13.61 million per person | ~$15 million per person | Increased and made permanent |
| Married couple exemption | ~$27.22 million (with portability) | ~$30 million (with portability) | Increased and made permanent |
| Top estate tax rate | 40% | 40% | No change |
| Annual gift exclusion | ~$18,000 per recipient | ~$19,000 per recipient (inflation-adjusted) | Inflation adjustment |
| Duration | Was set to revert to ~$7 million in 2026 | Permanent at ~$15 million+ | Major change |
Without the OBBB, the estate tax exemption would have been cut roughly in half (to approximately ~$7 million per person) in 2026. The OBBB made the higher exemption permanent and increased it further. See our estate tax exemption guide.
Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction — Section 199A
| Feature | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deduction amount | 20% of qualified business income | 20% of qualified business income | No change to rate |
| Taxable income threshold (single) | ~$191,950 (simplified calculation) | ~$197,300 (inflation-adjusted) | Inflation adjustment |
| Taxable income threshold (MFJ) | ~$383,900 | ~$394,600 | Inflation adjustment |
| Duration | Was set to expire end of 2025 | Extended permanently | Made permanent by OBBB |
The QBI deduction was one of the signature TCJA provisions for small business owners, and it was scheduled to expire. The OBBB made it permanent with no structural changes.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
| Feature | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum credit (3+ children) | ~$7,430 | ~$7,830 (inflation-adjusted) | Inflation adjustment |
| Maximum credit (no children) | ~$632 | ~$670 (inflation-adjusted) | Inflation adjustment |
| Investment income limit | ~$11,600 | ~$11,950 (inflation-adjusted) | Inflation adjustment |
| Structure | Unchanged since ARPA adjustments | No structural changes | TCJA-era rules made permanent |
See our EITC guide for full income thresholds by filing status.
Other Credits — Extended and Modified
| Credit | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption Tax Credit | ~$16,810 maximum | ~$17,280 (inflation-adjusted) | Extended permanently |
| Child and Dependent Care Credit | Up to ~$3,000/one child, ~$6,000/two+ | Same structure | Extended permanently |
| Lifetime Learning Credit | Up to ~$2,000/year | Same | Extended permanently |
| American Opportunity Tax Credit | Up to ~$2,500/year per student | Same | Extended permanently |
| Saver’s Credit | Up to ~$1,000 single / ~$2,000 MFJ | Same structure | Extended permanently |
Clean Energy and Electric Vehicle Credits
| Credit | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Vehicle Credit (new EVs) | Up to ~$7,500 | Phasing out — reduced to ~$3,750 in 2027, ~$0 by 2028 | Accelerated phase-out |
| Used EV Credit | Up to ~$4,000 | Phasing out — reduced by 50% in 2027, ~$0 by 2028 | Accelerated phase-out |
| Residential Clean Energy Credit | 30% of costs | Reduced to 26% in 2027, further reductions through 2032 | Accelerated step-down |
| Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit | Up to ~$3,200/year | Same for 2026; reduced starting 2027 | Phase-out begins 2027 |
Key point: If you are considering an EV purchase or home energy upgrade, 2026 may be the last year to receive the full credit amounts. The OBBB accelerated the phase-out of several clean energy incentives that were originally part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
Deductions — What Changed and What Didn’t
| Deduction | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage interest | Up to ~$750,000 of debt | Same | TCJA limit made permanent |
| Student loan interest | Up to ~$2,500 above-the-line | Same | No change |
| Educator expense | Up to ~$300 | Same (~$300, inflation-adjusted) | No change |
| Health Savings Account (HSA) | ~$4,150 single / ~$8,300 family | ~$4,300 single / ~$8,550 family | Inflation adjustment |
| IRA contribution limit | No change expected | ||
| 401(k) contribution limit | Inflation adjustment | ||
| Medical expense threshold | 7.5% of AGI | 7.5% of AGI | No change (TCJA level made permanent) |
| Charitable deduction (itemizers) | Up to 60% of AGI (cash) | Same | TCJA level made permanent |
| Personal exemptions | ~$0 (suspended by TCJA) | ~$0 (permanently eliminated) | Made permanent |
Penalties and Compliance
| Feature | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to file penalty | 5%/month, up to 25% | Same | No change |
| Failure to pay penalty | 0.5%/month, up to 25% | Same | No change |
| Underpayment penalty rate | Variable (IRS sets quarterly) | Same mechanism | No change |
| IRS enforcement funding | Inflation Reduction Act funding (~$80B) | Partially clawed back by OBBB | Reduced enforcement budget |
For a detailed breakdown of penalties, see our tax penalty guide and failure to file vs. failure to pay comparison.
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
| Feature | 2024 Law | 2026 OBBB | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMT exemption (single) | ~$85,700 | ~$88,100 (inflation-adjusted) | Extended permanently |
| AMT exemption (MFJ) | ~$133,300 | ~$137,000 (inflation-adjusted) | Extended permanently |
| AMT phase-out threshold (single) | ~$609,350 | ~$626,350 | Inflation-adjusted |
| Duration | Was set to revert to lower exemptions in 2026 | Permanent | Made permanent by OBBB |
Without the OBBB, millions more taxpayers would have been subject to the AMT starting in 2026 due to lower exemption amounts reverting to pre-TCJA levels.
What Was Extended (Not New, Just Made Permanent)
These provisions existed under the 2017 TCJA but were set to expire at the end of 2025. The OBBB made them permanent:
- Lower individual income tax rates (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%)
- Nearly doubled standard deduction (~$16,100 single / ~$32,200 MFJ for 2026)
- Elimination of personal exemptions (permanently ~$0)
- 20% QBI deduction for pass-through businesses
- Higher AMT exemptions and phase-out thresholds
- Higher estate tax exemption (~$15M per person, ~$30M per couple)
- Mortgage interest deduction limit at ~$750,000 of acquisition debt
- Increased Child Tax Credit (raised further from ~$2,000 to ~$2,200)
- Medical expense deduction threshold at 7.5% of AGI (vs. 10% pre-TCJA)
What Is Entirely New (Created by OBBB)
These provisions did not exist under any previous tax law:
- Tips deduction — up to ~$25,000 above-the-line
- Overtime deduction — up to ~$12,500 single / ~$25,000 MFJ
- Car loan interest deduction — up to ~$10,000 for U.S.-assembled vehicles
- Senior deduction — ~$6,000 for taxpayers 65+
- Trump Accounts — ~$1,000 government-seeded investment accounts for children
- Schedule 1A — new IRS form for OBBB deductions
- Form 4547 — Trump Account application form
- SALT cap increase to ~$40,000 (with ~$500,000 phase-out)
What Is Phasing Out
These provisions are being reduced or eliminated by the OBBB:
- Clean Vehicle Credit — full amount available 2026, reduced 2027, eliminated 2028
- Used EV Credit — same phase-out schedule
- Residential Clean Energy Credit — step-down from 30% to 26% in 2027
- Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit — reductions starting 2027
- IRS enforcement funding — partially clawed back from the Inflation Reduction Act allocation
How to Use This Comparison for Tax Planning
If you are filing 2025 returns (due April 2026):
The OBBB provisions do not apply. Use 2025 tax law: standard deduction ~$15,000 single / ~$30,000 MFJ, CTC at ~$2,000, no tips/overtime deductions, SALT cap at ~$10,000.
If you are planning for 2026 tax year (returns due April 2027):
All OBBB provisions apply. Use the 2026 figures in this comparison. Consider:
- Adjusting your W-4 withholding to account for new deductions you will claim
- Front-loading EV and clean energy purchases to 2026 before phase-outs begin
- Opening Trump Accounts for eligible children starting July 2026
- Reviewing whether itemizing is now worthwhile with the ~$40,000 SALT cap
For personalized calculations, see our OBBB tax savings calculator with five example taxpayer profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the OBBB change the tax brackets?
The OBBB made the existing TCJA tax brackets permanent and applied standard inflation adjustments. The bracket rates (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%) are unchanged from 2024. Without the OBBB, rates would have reverted to the higher pre-2018 rates (including a top rate of 39.6%).
Is the standard deduction going up or staying the same?
It is going up — to ~$16,100 single / ~$32,200 MFJ for 2026 — due to inflation adjustments. More importantly, the OBBB prevented it from being cut roughly in half, which would have happened if the TCJA provisions had expired.
When do the new deductions for tips and overtime take effect?
The tips deduction, overtime deduction, car loan interest deduction, and senior deduction all take effect for the 2026 tax year (returns filed in 2027). They are not available for 2025 returns filed in 2026.
Will the clean energy credits still be available in 2026?
Yes, the full Clean Vehicle Credit (up to ~$7,500) and other clean energy credits are still available for 2026. The phase-out begins in 2027. If you are planning an EV purchase or home energy upgrade, 2026 is the optimal year.
What happened to personal exemptions?
Personal exemptions (~$4,050 per person before TCJA) were suspended by the TCJA in 2018 and were set to return in 2026. The OBBB permanently eliminated them. The loss is more than offset by the higher standard deduction and expanded CTC for most taxpayers.
Does the OBBB affect my state taxes?
The OBBB is federal law, but many states automatically conform to the Internal Revenue Code. States that conform will likely adopt the new deductions automatically. States that decouple (like California, New York, and New Jersey) may not honor some or all of the new provisions. Check your specific state’s conformity status.
Tax information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a licensed tax professional for your specific situation.