What is it?
The Overtime Premium Deduction is a new tax benefit available for tax years 2025 through 2028 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). It allows eligible workers to deduct the "premium" portion of their overtime pay from their federal taxable income.
What is the "Premium" Portion?
When you work overtime, you typically earn 1.5ร your regular rate. The "premium" is the extra 0.5ร portion above your regular rate. For example:
- Regular rate: $25/hour
- Overtime rate: $37.50/hour (1.5ร)
- Premium portion: $12.50/hour (0.5ร) โ This is what's deductible
Deduction Limits:
- Single filers: Maximum $12,500 per year
- Married filing jointly: Maximum $25,000 per year
- Married filing separately: Maximum $12,500 per year
- Head of household: Maximum $18,750 per year
- Qualifying widow(er): Maximum $25,000 per year
Income Phase-Out:
The deduction begins to phase out if your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) exceeds certain thresholds:
- Single filers: Phase-out starts at $150,000 MAGI
- Married filing jointly: Phase-out starts at $300,000 MAGI
- Married filing separately: Phase-out starts at $150,000 MAGI
- Head of household: Phase-out starts at $225,000 MAGI
- Qualifying widow(er): Phase-out starts at $300,000 MAGI
- For every $1,000 above the threshold, the deduction is reduced by $100
Example:
A single filer with $160,000 MAGI is $10,000 above the $150,000 threshold. Their deduction would be reduced by $1,000 ($10,000 รท $1,000 ร $100). If their calculated premium is $10,000, their eligible deduction would be $9,000.
Important: This calculator provides estimates only. Consult with a tax professional for personalized advice and to ensure you meet all eligibility requirements.