When Donald Trump was President, one of his signature talking points was that he kept his promises. From building the border wall to cutting taxes, the former President often touted his “Promises Made, Promises Kept” slogan. But one claim that continues to resurface is whether Trump included no tax on overtime in what he once called a “Big Beautiful Bill.”
As the 2024 election cycle gains heat, this topic has come up again. Supporters point to Trump’s economic vision for the working class. Critics question whether such a promise was ever made — or kept. So, let’s break it down in simple terms: Did Trump actually propose no tax on overtime? Was it part of a bill? And where do things stand today?
The Origin of the Claim: What Was the “Big Beautiful Bill”?
During his presidency, Donald Trump repeatedly mentioned a so-called “Big Beautiful Tax Bill,” a reference to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. This bill lowered corporate tax rates and offered temporary relief for individuals through 2025.
But while the TCJA was comprehensive, it did not include a provision for tax-free overtime pay. Still, the idea of making overtime pay tax-free floated around Trump rallies and was loosely connected to his broader promises for helping American workers.
So where did the idea come from?
- In various campaign speeches and interviews, Trump hinted at “tax relief for workers,” especially those doing extra hours.
- In 2020, some supporters believed that no tax on overtime was in the works.
- However, there is no official record of such a policy being signed into law or formally proposed in Congress.
Trump’s “Promises Kept” Record: What Does It Say?
Trump’s campaign website from 2020 included a section called “Promises Kept,” where he listed various achievements. These included:
- Lowering income taxes for working Americans
- Increasing standard deductions
- Raising the child tax credit
- Cutting regulations
- Renegotiating trade deals
But nowhere in the official documentation does it mention tax-free overtime.
Even though it wasn’t listed, that hasn’t stopped supporters and social media users from repeating the claim. In early 2024, several viral posts resurfaced suggesting that Trump made overtime pay tax-free for workers. This sparked debates across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and TikTok.
No Tax on Overtime: What Would It Mean?
Before diving further into Trump’s policies, let’s understand what “no tax on overtime” would actually mean.
Currently, under U.S. tax law:
- Overtime pay is treated like regular income.
- This means it’s taxed based on your total income bracket.
- The more overtime you work, the higher your income — and potentially, your tax rate.
If a no tax on overtime policy were passed, it would:
- Make all income from overtime exempt from federal income tax
- Increase take-home pay for hourly workers and employees who regularly work extra shifts
- Cost the federal government billions in lost revenue
- Require new legislation from Congress
It’s easy to see why such a policy might be popular with working-class voters. But as of now, it remains a theoretical idea — not a reality.
Was It Ever Proposed in Congress?
There is no record of Donald Trump or his administration formally proposing a bill to make overtime income tax-free.
That said, some members of Congress and conservative think tanks have floated similar ideas:
- In 2019, a GOP-backed bill suggested reducing payroll taxes for overtime work. But it never passed.
- Some lawmakers have supported “comp time” — offering workers time off instead of extra pay — but that’s a separate issue.
So while the idea aligns with Trump’s working-class rhetoric, it has not yet been introduced or passed as part of any federal law.
Campaign Hype vs. Legislative Reality
Donald Trump is known for making bold, crowd-pleasing statements at rallies. These don’t always become law. For example:
- He promised to “repeal and replace Obamacare,” but the law remains.
- He promised a fully funded wall paid for by Mexico, but U.S. taxpayers footed the bill.
- He promised to eliminate the national debt in 8 years, but it grew by over $7 trillion during his term.
The “no tax on overtime” falls into a similar category — an idea mentioned, but not acted upon legislatively.
What Trump Actually Did for Workers and Taxes
Even though overtime tax relief wasn’t passed, Trump did sign off on several tax-related policies during his term.
Tax Cuts for Individuals and Families
- Lowered individual tax rates temporarily until 2025
- Increased the standard deduction
- Doubled the child tax credit
Corporate Tax Cut
- Reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%
- Aimed to boost job creation and investments
Payroll Tax Deferral (Temporary)
- In 2020, Trump issued an executive order allowing workers to defer payroll taxes due to COVID-19
- It was only a deferral, not a permanent cut — and workers had to repay it later
While these measures offered some financial relief, they did not eliminate taxes on overtime.
Trump 2024: Is No Tax on Overtime Back on the Agenda?
As Trump campaigns for re-election in 2024, it’s unclear whether the no tax on overtime idea will become an official part of his platform. So far, his proposals include:
- Making Trump tax cuts permanent
- Cutting regulations
- Protecting Social Security and Medicare
- Tariffs on foreign goods
- Immigration enforcement
There’s no mention yet of tax-free overtime in his published 2024 agenda.
However, Trump has a habit of testing policies at rallies before formalizing them. So it’s possible he could revive the concept — especially if it resonates with blue-collar voters in swing states.
Public Reaction: What Are People Saying?
Opinions about this topic are deeply divided.
Supporters say:
- Trump fights for workers and had the idea of helping with overtime.
- Even if the bill didn’t pass, he was thinking in the right direction.
- Biden hasn’t done anything similar.
Critics say:
- It was never a real policy, just campaign hype.
- There’s no proof of such a law or signed bill.
- It’s misleading to say he “kept the promise” on overtime taxes.
Many voters are still confused, especially because viral posts online often lack citations. That’s why fact-checking this issue is so important.
Fact Check Summary: Did Trump Include No Tax on Overtime?
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| Trump passed a bill with no tax on overtime | False |
| Trump proposed no tax on overtime formally | Unconfirmed |
| Trump hinted at tax relief for workers | True |
| No tax on overtime was included in 2017 tax bill | False |
| Trump supporters claim he made overtime tax-free | True (misleading) |
Final Thoughts
So, did Donald Trump include no tax on overtime in a bill? The answer is no — at least not officially or legislatively. The “Big Beautiful Bill” he referred to was the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and it did not have a clause to make overtime pay tax-free.
While Trump did talk about tax relief for workers and floated big ideas during his campaign, there is no evidence that a bill to remove taxes from overtime was passed, proposed, or seriously pushed through Congress.
That doesn’t mean the issue is off the table forever. If Trump returns to the White House in 2025, it may resurface — especially if he wants to win back middle-class support. But for now, the claim falls more under myth than fact.
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