House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain marked Tax Day on Wednesday with a panel discussion featuring politicians, workers, small business owners, manufacturers, farmers and tax professionals who said the tax cuts for working families passed last year increased refunds, reduced taxes on tips and overtime pay, and provided relief to small businesses during the first tax filing season under the law.
The April 15 event, held alongside Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), came as Democrats used Tax Day to promote a different message focused on higher taxes for wealthy Americans.
Meanwhile, McClain, who has traveled to seven districts to promote the tax bill alongside local manufacturers and small businesses, used his Tax Day roundtable to focus on several provisions of the tax cuts for working families, including no tip tax, an expanded child tax credit, no overtime tax, relief for small businesses through Section 199A, bonus depreciation and incentives for research and development, and what Republicans described like bigger paychecks.
“For many families, the last few years felt like constant pressure. You worked more, but your money made less,” McClain said, stating that Republicans fought for tax cuts for working families because “a lot of people started to wonder if anyone really understood what that felt like. Republicans did.” Wittman said the law provides “historic relief that reaches all Americans, from seniors to families, small business owners, service industry employees and first responders,” while Womack said he was “incredibly proud” that workers in his district were “keeping more of their hard-earned money this tax season” due to the no-tax provision on tips, emphasizing that “every dollar counts.”
George Agurkis, vice president of government relations at H&R Block, saying According to the latest IRS data, refunds have increased about 11 percent this year. He added that the Treasury Department reported that more than four million taxpayers had claimed the no-tax provision on tips. Agurkis pointed to an example from Southern California, where “a tax professional prepared a return for a single mother who works at a bowling alley and was generally required to pay every year. And this year, claiming there is no tax on tips, she actually got a refund.”
Simmons, a full-time DoorDash driver who delivered McDonald’s told President Trump at the White House earlier this week that many Dashers had benefited from the tip tax-free provision. adding“They’re getting more money into their homes.”
Stacey Tyree, Great Clips employee, saying that after years of being terminated due to taxes, she received a refund this year due to the No Tip Tax provision, which allowed her to enroll her husband as a dependent on her health insurance “for the first time in her entire adult life.”
Amber Benamati and Ron Benamati, who work at Metallus, where their son Jacob Lacey also works, saying Tax cuts for working families changed the way their families view overtime work. 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 now I like working overtime.” Ron Benamati added: “It’s nice to be able to keep the money in your pocket where it belongs.”
Kaylee McGhee White saying his family benefited from the expanded child tax credit, which “would help us rebuild from inflation and the damage the Biden administration caused to our economy.”
Paola Hinton, owner of Five Senses Spa, Salon and Barber Shop, saying“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I can’t wait for Tax Day. This year, it’s different for small business owners and American workers.” She said she had heard in recent weeks from salon owners across the country, including a woman in California who received more than $38,000 in tax credits from two locations, Brandon in Texas, who was using her savings to fund 401(k) plans for 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 saying She and her husband own 12 Great Clips salons in northeast Tennessee, southwest Virginia and eastern Kentucky, said they had collected more than $1 million in tips as of 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 income. He said the savings were used to improve employee benefits packages.
Sarah White, managing partner of Westover Taco, who she described As a small restaurant in Arlington, he said his restaurant and its employees got bigger refunds this year and said: Just having the opportunity to look at our tax returns this year – seeing our staff light up when they see their tax refunds this year – has just been amazing.
Mike Twining, vice president of sales and marketing for Willard Agri-Service, saying The provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill and tax cuts for working families, particularly spending and investment incentives, reduced the initial cost of durable machinery, production facilities and other equipment needed for your business and your agricultural customers.
Buddy Henley, President of Henley Construction, saying“Small family businesses like mine need a tax policy they can count on,” adding that the provision establishing permanent deductions for small businesses gives companies like his greater certainty to reinvest in equipment, materials and workers without worrying about future tax increases.
Sarah Wellman of the Ryder system saying The allocation of EBITA and a 100 percent depreciation bonus “could not have come at a more crucial time,” as the trucking industry “has been enduring a multi-year freight crisis,” adding that the provisions “help drive long-term capital investments” and stimulate “investment and deployment of newer 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 permanent in agriculture would allow farms to make long-term decisions and manage risk more effectively. Hey saying“Being able to know that we have a way to invest and a way to level out our tax consequences year after year brings that longevity and a sense of permanence to our farms.”
