What clients need to know about the Big Beautiful Bill

By now, you are probably familiar with the Big Beautiful Bill Act, but may have questions about the areas of the Act that your clients need to know about with regard to individual tax filing.

The Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, made permanent some of the individual tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and introduces new, temporary deductions for tips, overtime pay, car loan interest, and other areas. It also includes significant cuts to social programs such as Medicaid and food assistance (SNAP), and phases out certain clean energy tax credits.

We surveyed the Intuit® Tax Council to get their input on what they think clients should know about the Act; here is what they had to say.

Nick Boscia, CPA, EA—Boscia & Boscia PC/founder, The Balanced CPA

The #1 tax-saving conversation I’m having with clients in 2025 is around the temporary increase of the SALT deduction cap to $40,000. Based in New Jersey, many of our clients face high property taxes and state income taxes, so this change has the potential to create substantial deductions.

But here’s the catch: The expanded SALT deduction phases out for households with modified adjust gross income (MAGI) over $500,000, reducing by 30% of the excess income and never dropping below the old $10,000 cap. So it’s a big opportunity—but not a universal one. We’re actively modeling scenarios to help clients plan around the cap while it lasts through 2029.

Louise Cochrane, CPA—L.F. Cochrane & Associates

My guidance is to think bigger than just the tax savings. The Big Beautiful Bill reshaped many government-funded programs, and while we want to capture every available benefit, I also encourage clients to consider how those savings could create ripple effects in their community.

In my own family, we’re setting aside part of our savings to support our local food bank, where every $1 stretches into $7 worth of meals for families in need. We’re also looking at donating to our community medical clinic, where even $1 can translate into $3–$5 of essential care, from preventive screenings to critical medications.

When clients align their tax strategy with their personal values, the outcome is twofold: dollars saved on taxes, and dollars redirected into impact that lasts far beyond April 15.

Randy Crabtree, CPA—Tri-Merit

For 2025, the BBB created significant tax-saving opportunities through R&D expensing, extended and enhanced bonus depreciation, and updated renewable energy tax credits. Some incentive dates have shifted, accelerating the need to identify opportunities sooner, rather than later. Overall, the bill offers a tremendous chance for taxpayers to uncover meaningful savings.

Megan Leesley, CPA—Dark Horse CPAs

My #1 tax guidance for 2025 is not to get overwhelmed by the Big Beautiful Bill … and work with your tax advisor. Compared to the sweeping, complex changes we saw with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, this legislation is far less daunting. That being said, the details still matter.

The best way to maximize your tax position is to work closely with your tax advisor to identify which provisions apply most directly to you and/or your business, and adjust your planning accordingly. Broad changes grab the headlines, but the true savings come from tailoring the new rules to your specific situation. That’s where your advisor can provide real value.

Tatiana Tsoir, CPA—Linza Advisors

My advice would be to get your tax efficient structure set up right now because time is running out. Once the year is over, your tax planning options come down to retirement and your HSA. 

My #1 tax strategy is maximizing QBI, the Qualified Business Income Deduction, which has been made permanent. This is a great deduction geared toward helping US-based small businesses save money on tax. It’s an off-the-top 20% deduction, which gives you 20% of your net business profit back! You’ve got to plan for it. Many personal service businesses are excluded after fairly low thresholds, plus combining excluded and included activity into one entity will force you to lose the deduction completely, but splitting into two separate entities will allow for the deduction in at least one of them if done right.