# Trump's tax bill: who really won

> Republicans tout sweeping tax cuts ahead of midterms, but benefits landed unevenly across income levels.
- Title: Trump's tax bill: who really won · CNBC | Shortify
- Summary: Republicans tout sweeping tax cuts ahead of midterms, but benefits landed unevenly across income levels. Trump's tax breaks helped millions, but upper-income…
- Keywords: donald trump, tax cuts, working families tax cuts, one big beautiful bill act, republicans, midterm elections, tax policy, salt deduction, income inequality, tax refunds, business, finance
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/17/tax-breaks-trump-big-beautiful-bill.html
- Author: Kate Dore, CFP®, EA
- Published: 2026-09-17T19:12:38+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: donald trump, tax cuts, working families tax cuts, one big beautiful bill act, republicans, midterm elections, tax policy, salt deduction, income inequality, tax refunds, business, finance
## Republicans push Trump's tax win
As midterms approach, Republicans are touting Trump's "big beautiful bill" to voters. The legislation made his 2017 tax changes permanent while adding new breaks for tips, overtime, seniors, and auto loan interest.
## 64 million claimed new tax breaks
More than 64 million tax returns claimed at least one of Trump's new deductions for tips, overtime, auto loan interest, or enhanced senior benefits. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the bill delivered relief directly to millions of low and middle-income Americans.
## Making 2017 cuts permanent mattered most
The legislation's biggest benefit came from making Trump's 2017 tax changes permanent, not the new deductions. Without extensions, 62% of Americans would have faced tax increases in 2026 when those provisions expired.
## Tips and senior deductions averaged $7,000
The average tips deduction was over $7,000 and the average senior deduction exceeded $7,500, according to Treasury data. But deductions only help if you owe taxes, so lowest earners saw minimal benefit.
## SALT deduction jumped to $40,000
The SALT deduction cap increased to $40,000 for 2025, up from $10,000. This break phases out at $500,000 income, making it most beneficial to upper-middle and upper-income earners in high-tax states like California and New Jersey.
## Average refund up 11.5% year over year
The average tax refund for the 2026 filing season was $3,276 as of May 8, up 11.5% from the prior year. But refund size depends on withholdings and earnings changes, not just tax law changes.
## Nearly half don't understand the bill
Nearly half of Americans say they can't explain Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to a Politico poll of 2,100 adults in July. Policy experts say it's difficult to predict whether the tax breaks will sway voters in midterm elections.

> Nearly half of Americans say they can't explain Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act
## Key takeaway

Trump's tax breaks helped millions, but upper-income earners and those with specific income sources gained the most, while lowest earners saw minimal benefit from deductions.