Senate unexpectedly passes the No Tax on Tips Act in a unanimous vote

by UB Center for Urban Studies · 05/21/2025

Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., called up the bipartisan bill for immediate passage, and no senator objected. The measure now goes to the House.

In a surprise move, the Republican-led Senate quickly passed the No Tax on Tips Act on Tuesday, giving its official stamp of approval to an idea that has gained traction since President Donald Trump campaigned on it last year.

The legislation would create a tax deduction worth up to $25,000 for tips, limited to cash tips that workers report to employers for withholding purposes on payroll taxes. The tax break would also be restricted to employees who earn $160,000 or less in 2025, an amount that will rise with inflation in coming years.

It was introduced in January by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and a bipartisan group of co-sponsors including Nevada’s two Democratic senators, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto.

Rosen brought the bill up in the Senate for a “unanimous consent” request Tuesday, which means any senator can block it. The process is typically used for more mundane matters, and bills are routinely called up and thwarted by objections. Consequential tax bills usually follow a more complex process. But none of the 99 other senators objected to Rosen’s proposition, which led to the legislation’s passing.

By: Sahil Kapur, Frank Throp V and J.J McCorvey May 20, 2025

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