Tax season usually means sending more of your paycheck to Washington. As a part of North Carolina’s US House delegation, I believe those in this state know how to spend their own money better than those people in Washington do. So this year, folks are seeing something a lot different.
I’m hearing from families across my district and the state who are getting bigger refunds, better deductions, and more money staying in their pocket. The numbers back that up. The average refund is up nearly 11% this year, topping $3,500. And as people adjust their withholding under the lower tax rates we made permanent, millions are already seeing more in their take-home pay.
That didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of the Working Families Tax Cuts that I was proud to help shepherd through Congress.
One of the biggest changes is simple: If you work more, you should keep more. That’s why we eliminated taxes on overtime. More than 23 million Americans have already claimed that benefit. Whether it’s a construction worker putting in extra hours, a police officer covering a long shift, or a firefighter working overtime, that paycheck now goes further.
We did the same thing with tips. For millions of workers, tips are essential income. Nearly six million Americans have already taken advantage of No Tax on Tips. That’s real money going back into the pockets of drivers, servers, and hospitality workers who earned it.
Families are benefiting as well. We increased the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 per child. And parents of more than four million children have already claimed Trump Accounts, giving the next generation a real stake in our economic future and the power of compounded interest over time.
Small businesses are seeing the impact too. Nearly 12 million small business owners are getting an average tax reduction of about $7,000. We made the 20% small business deduction permanent, delivering roughly $4,600 in average relief to eight million entrepreneurs. That kind of certainty matters. It gives our local business owners the confidence to hire, invest, and grow.
Farmers and rural communities are benefiting as well. For a lot of families in North Carolina, land is more than property; it is a way of life passed down through generations. These tax cuts make it easier to keep farms in the family by maintaining strong estate tax protections, lowering borrowing costs for rural land, and encouraging new investment in small towns. That means farmers can focus on growing their operations instead of worrying about losing them.
We also restored immediate deductions for research and development, unlocking about $100 billion in prior-year deductions. And with full expensing, companies can write off investments right away, improving cash flow and fueling expansion here at home.
When you step back, the picture is clear. Lower taxes. Bigger paychecks. Stronger businesses. More opportunity.
That’s what happens when you focus on commonsense solutions and put working families first.
For millions of Americans, this tax season won’t feel like the usual burden. It will feel like progress, and a reminder that when Washington gets out of the way and lets you keep more of what you earn, the entire country moves forward.
