Lisa McClain Highlights Working Families Tax Cuts on Tax Day as Democrats Push ‘Tax the Rich’
House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain marked Tax Day Wednesday with a panel discussion featuring lawmakers, workers, small business owners, manufacturers, farmers and tax experts who said the tax cuts for working families, passed last year, increased refunds, reduced taxes on tips and overtime, and provided relief to small businesses during the first filing season under the law.
The April 15 event, hosted alongside Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Steve Womack (R-AR), took place as Democrats used Tax Day to promote a different message focused on higher taxes for wealthy Americans.
Meanwhile, McClain, who traveled to seven districts to promote the tax law alongside local manufacturers and small businesses, used her Tax Day roundtable to focus on several provisions of the tax cuts for working families, including no tax on tips, an expanded child tax credit, no overtime tax, small business relief through Section 199A, depreciation bonuses and research and development incentives, and what Republicans described as higher salaries.
“For too many families, the last few years have been a constant strain. You worked more, but your money did less,” McClain said, saying Republicans fought for tax cuts for working families because “A lot of people started to question whether anyone actually understood what that meant. Republicans did.” Wittman said the law provides “historic relief that reaches all Americans — from seniors and families to small business owners, service industry employees and first responders,” while Womack said he was “incredibly proud” that workers in his district “kept more of their hard-earned money this tax season” due to the lack of a tax on tips, and stressed that “every dollar counts.”
George Agurkis, vice president of government relations for H&R Block, said that according to the latest IRS data, refunds are up about 11% this year. He added that the Treasury Department reported that more than four million taxpayers had requested no tax on tips. Agurkis cited an example from Southern California, where “a tax professional prepared a return for a single mother who works at a bowling alley and, typically, she had to pay every year. And this year, by claiming no tax on tips, she actually got a refund.”
Simmons, a full-time DoorDash driver who book McDonald’s to President Trump at the White House earlier this week said many Dashers had benefited from the no tax provision on tips, addition“They’re getting more money back into their house.”
Great Clips employee Stacey Tyree said that after years of having to pay taxes, she received a refund this year because of the No Tax on Tips provision, which allowed her to list her husband as a dependent on her health insurance “for the first time in her entire adult life.”
Amber Benamati and Ron Benamati, who both work at Metallus, where their son Jacob Lacey is also employed, said tax cuts for working families have changed the way their families view overtime. Amber Benamati said, “It’s been great for our family. It’s changed a lot of things. We actually got a tax return this year, which is nice. And I love working overtime now.” Ron Benamati added, “It’s nice to be able to keep the money in our pocket where it belongs. »
Kaylee McGhee White said her family benefited from the expanded child tax credit, which “would help us rebuild from inflation and the damage the Biden administration has done to our economy.”
Paola Hinton, owner of Five Senses spa, salon and hair salon, said“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I can’t wait for Tax Day. This year is different for America’s small business owners and workers.” She said that in recent weeks she has heard from salon owners across the country, including a woman in California who received more than $38,000 in tax credits from two places, Brandon in Texas who used her savings to fund 401(k)s for his employees and Brian in Georgia who was able to maintain health insurance for his team. Hinton added: “The impact is very, very real. »
Elizabeth Gartner, who said she and her husband own 12 Great Clips salons in northeast Tennessee, southwest Virginia and eastern Kentucky, said they collected more than $1 million in tips in September of last year and saved $76,000 when they filed their taxes this year because they no longer paid taxes on money that never reached their main line of business. She said the savings were used to improve employee benefits.
Sarah White, managing partner of Westover Taco, that she describe as a small restaurant in Arlington, said his restaurant and employees have seen larger refunds this year, saying, “Just having the opportunity to see our tax returns this year – to see our staff light up when they see their tax refunds this year – has been nothing short of amazing.”
Mike Twining, vice president of sales and marketing at Willard Agri-Service, said The One Big Beautiful Bill’s provisions and tax cuts for working families, particularly spending and investment incentives, have reduced the upfront cost of durable machinery, production facilities and other equipment needed by his business and his agricultural customers.
Buddy Henley, president of Henley Construction, said“Small family businesses like mine need a tax policy they can count on,” adding that the provision making small business deductions permanent gave businesses like his greater certainty to reinvest in equipment, materials and workers without worrying about future tax increases.
Sarah Wellman of Ryder System said The EBITA allocation and 100% bonus amortization “could not have come at a more crucial time” as the trucking industry “has been facing a multi-year freight downturn,” adding that the provisions “help spur long-term capital investment” and spur “investment and deployment of new equipment with safety and efficiency benefits.”
Matt Frostic, vice president of the National Corn Growers Association and a fifth-generation farmer, said making tax cuts in agriculture permanent would allow farms to make long-term decisions and manage risks more effectively. He said“Being able to know that we have a way to invest and level out our tax consequences from year to year brings that longevity and a sense of permanence to our farms.”
