The tax rules you follow depend on when you file and what changed between administrations

Tax policy does not flip on and off with each presidency. Some rules from the Trump administration (2017–2021) are still in effect. Others expired or were changed by the Biden administration (2021–2025). What matters for your taxes is the year you are filing for and the specific rule in question — not which president is currently in office.

The largest and most visible change was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which lowered individual income tax rates, nearly doubled the standard deduction, and changed how many deductions work. Most of those changes were set to expire after 2025 unless Congress extends them. Some rules changed back already. Others are still in place. This guide walks through what is actually in effect for the tax year you are filing.

Key Takeaways

  • Individual income tax rates and the standard deduction from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act remain in effect through the 2025 tax year unless Congress acts before then.
  • The child tax credit was expanded temporarily under the American Rescue Plan in 2021 but returned to its 2017 level for the 2022 tax year and beyond.
  • The deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) is capped at $10,000 per year and remains in effect through 2025.
  • Tax rules change by the year you file, not by the current administration, so you need to check the specific tax year rather than assume all rules stayed the same.

Income tax rates and brackets for 2024 and 2025

The income tax rates set by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are still in effect. There are seven tax brackets ranging from 10 percent to 37 percent, and they explore to the 2024 and 2025 tax years. The brackets themselves adjust each year for inflation, so the income ranges that fall into each bracket change annually.

For example, in 2024, a single filer in the 22 percent bracket pays that rate on income between roughly $11,600 and $47,150. In 2025, that same bracket applies to income between roughly $12,000 and $48,475. The IRS publishes the exact brackets each January for the coming year.

These rates are scheduled to expire after December 31, 2025, unless Congress votes to extend them. If they expire, rates would revert to the pre-2017 levels, which were higher. Congress has not yet acted on whether to extend them, so the status for 2026 and beyond remains uncertain.

Standard deduction amounts through 2025

The standard deduction — the amount you can deduct without itemizing — nearly doubled under the 2017 law and remains elevated. For the 2024 tax year, the standard deduction is $14,600 for single filers, $29,200 for married filing jointly, and $21,900 for head of household. For 2025, those amounts increase slightly to $15,000, $30,000, and $22,500 respectively, adjusted for inflation.

Like the tax rates, the standard deduction is set to revert to lower amounts after 2025 unless Congress extends the current law. Before 2017, the standard deduction was roughly half what it is now.

Child tax credit and dependent exemptions

The child tax credit was $2,000 per child under the 2017 law and remains at that level for 2024 and 2025. The credit was temporarily expanded to $3,600 per child under age 6 and $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17 for the 2021 tax year only, under the American Rescue Plan. That expansion ended, and the credit returned to $2,000 for 2022 and has stayed there since.

The credit phases out at higher income levels. For 2024, it begins to phase out at $400,000 for married filing jointly and $200,000 for single filers. These thresholds also adjust slightly each year for inflation.

Personal exemptions — the deduction you could claim for yourself and dependents — were eliminated by the 2017 law and have not returned. This is one of the most significant changes from before 2017, and it remains in effect.

State and local tax (SALT) deduction cap

The deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) — which includes state income tax or sales tax, plus property taxes — is capped at $10,000 per year. This cap was introduced in the 2017 law and remains in effect for 2024 and 2025. It applies whether you are married filing jointly or single.

Before 2017, there was no cap on the SALT deduction. The $10,000 limit is scheduled to expire after 2025 along with most other provisions of the 2017 law, but Congress has not yet decided whether to extend it.

Deductions and credits that changed after 2017

The deduction for pass-through business income (Section 199A) allows may be able to access self-employed people and business owners to deduct up to 20 percent of may have access to business income. This was introduced in 2017 and remains in effect through 2025. It is also scheduled to expire unless Congress extends it.

The earned income tax credit and the child and dependent care credit have not changed significantly since 2017, though the amounts adjust annually for inflation. The education credits — the American Opportunity Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit — also remain largely unchanged from 2017.

Some provisions did change under the Biden administration. The American Rescue Plan in 2021 temporarily expanded the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit for that year only. The Inflation Reduction Act in 2022 created new tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements and electric vehicles, which are in effect for 2024 and 2025.

What happens after 2025

Most of the major provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — including the income tax rates, standard deduction, child tax credit at $2,000, and SALT cap — are set to expire on December 31, 2025. Congress would need to pass new legislation to extend them. As of now, no action has been taken, so the rules for 2026 and beyond remain uncertain.

If the provisions expire without an extension, tax rates would increase, the standard deduction would decrease, and the SALT deduction cap would be removed. However, this is not automatic — it depends entirely on what Congress does before the end of 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I file taxes differently depending on who is president?

No. You file based on the tax rules in effect for the specific year you are filing. Tax law changes when Congress passes new legislation, which can happen under any administration. The year matters far more than who is in office — the rules for 2024 are the same whether you file in 2024 or 2025.

Will my tax rate go up after 2025?

It may, but only if Congress does not extend the current tax rates. The rates from the 2017 law are scheduled to expire after 2025. If they do expire and are not extended, rates would increase. Congress has not yet decided, so the status for 2026 remains uncertain.

Is the $10,000 SALT cap still in place?

Yes, for 2024 and 2025. The cap on state and local tax deductions remains at $10,000 per year. Like other provisions from 2017, it is scheduled to expire after 2025 unless Congress extends it.

Did the child tax credit stay at $2,000?

Yes. The credit was temporarily expanded to $3,600 or $3,000 per child for the 2021 tax year only. It returned to $2,000 for 2022 and has remained there through 2025. The $2,000 amount is also scheduled to expire after 2025 unless Congress acts.

Where can I find the exact tax brackets for my filing year?

The IRS publishes tax brackets each January on its website (irs.gov) for the coming tax year. You can also find them on your tax software or in IRS Publication 505. The brackets adjust annually for inflation, so you need the brackets for the specific year you are filing.