Inflation is high, interest rates are high, and life feels unaffordable. Yet, paychecks for regular Americans are set to be slashed. Taxes will rise on January 1, 2026, for virtually every taxpayer if Congress does not extend or make the 2017 tax cuts permanent.
How the 2017 Tax Cuts Helped You
Congress passed the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) during the first Trump administration. The TCJA delivered major wins for women, workers, households, and businesses of all sizes.
Households Prospered
- Median household income reached an all-time high of $68,703 in 2019.
- Real median household incomes grew by more than $5,000.
- The poverty rate fell to a record low.
- 4.2 million Americans were lifted out of poverty.
- Taxpayers spent 2 billion fewer hours on paperwork in 2020 compared to 2017—a time savings worth over $50 billion.
Workers Won
- U.S. companies added 4.7 million new jobs within the first two years.
- The unemployment rate reached a 50-year low of 3.5%.
- Black unemployment reached a historic low.
- Hispanic unemployment reached historic lows.
- Real wages rose by 4.9%—the fastest growth in twenty years.
Thousands of businesses nationwide gave bonuses, pay increases, and new benefits such as health care. Many women also enjoyed new family benefits, particularly paid family leave.