Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to the media after the House narrowly passed a bill forwarding President Donald Trump’s agenda at the Capitol on May 22, 2025.
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As Senate Republicans debate trillions of tax breaks advanced by the House, some business owners could be blocked from part of the proposed windfall, policy experts say. The House GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” aims to raise the federal deduction limit for state and local taxes, known as SALT, to $40,000, phasing out once income exceeds $500,000.
The bill would also boost a tax break for pass-through businesses, known as the qualified business income, or QBI, deduction, to 23%. However, the measure would end a popular state-level SALT cap workaround for certain pass-through business owners, which could significantly impact their tax liabilities.
Understanding the SALT Deduction Cap ‘Workaround’
Enacted via the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or TCJA, of 2017, there’s currently a $10,000 limit on the SALT deduction for filers who itemize tax breaks. This cap will expire after 2025 without changes from Congress. The SALT deduction was unlimited before TCJA, but the so-called alternative minimum tax reduced the benefit for some higher earners.
However, most states now have a “workaround” to bypass the federal SALT deduction limit for pass-through business owners, explained Garrett Watson, director of policy analysis at the Tax Foundation. As of May 9, some 36 states and one locality, New York City, have enacted a workaround — the pass-through entity, or PTE, level tax — since the 2017 TCJA limitation, according to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or AICPA.
How the SALT Workaround Could Change
Certain white-collar professionals — doctors, lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, and others — known as a “specified service trade or business,” or SSTB, can’t claim the qualified business income deduction once income exceeds certain limits. As advanced, the House bill would block SSTBs from using the SALT deduction workaround, which would be “substantial” for those impacted, Watson said.
Meanwhile, some non-SSTB pass-through businesses would have two benefits under the House-approved bill. Depending on income, they could qualify for the bigger 23% QBI deduction. They could also still claim an unlimited SALT deduction via the PTE workaround, experts say.
The revised provision has faced some pushback among certain organizations. “This loophole is likely expensive, and lawmakers and the public should demand a clear accounting of the fiscal cost to bless workarounds for this favored group,” New York University Tax Law Center deputy director Mike Kaercher said in a statement after the revised House bill text was released in late May.
Some industry groups, such as AICPA, have urged the Senate to maintain the SALT deduction workaround for SSTBs. If the House bill is enacted as written, SSTBs would be “unfairly economically disadvantaged” by existing as a certain type of business, AICPA wrote in a May 29 letter to the Senate.
Impact on Business Owners
The proposed changes to the SALT deduction workaround could have significant implications for business owners, particularly those in high-tax states. It is essential for them to stay informed about the developments and potential changes to the tax laws. For more information, readers can visit Here
Smart Tip for Readers
To navigate the complexities of the SALT deduction and potential workarounds, it’s crucial to consult with a tax professional or financial advisor who can provide personalized guidance and help you make informed decisions about your business’s tax strategy. By doing so, you can ensure you’re taking advantage of available tax savings and minimizing your liability.
