What tax policy is in effect depends on when a law was passed and whether Congress has changed it since
Tax law does not flip on and off with each presidency. Some rules from the Trump administration (2017–2021) remain in place because Congress has not repealed them. Others have been changed or allowed to expire. The key is knowing which rules applied when, and which ones are still active today.
The largest Trump-era tax changes came from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed in December 2017. That law lowered individual income tax rates, increased the standard deduction, and changed how businesses are taxed. Many of those provisions are still the law right now. However, some were written to expire on specific dates — and some of those dates have already passed.
This guide explains which Trump-era tax rules are still in effect, which have expired, and which ones Congress has actively changed. It does not cover every provision, but it covers the ones that affect most households and businesses.
Key Takeaways
- Individual income tax rates from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act remain in effect through 2025, after which they are scheduled to expire unless Congress extends them.
- The standard deduction is still higher than it was before 2017, and it increases each year for inflation.
- The child tax credit was expanded to $2,000 per child under Trump and remains at that level, though some families saw the credit reduced in 2022 when temporary enhancements expired.
- The corporate tax rate was cut from 35 percent to 21 percent in 2017 and has not changed since.
- Some provisions, like limits on state and local tax deductions and changes to business deductions, are still in place but may be modified by future legislation.
Individual income tax rates: still in place, but expiring in 2026
The Trump administration's 2017 tax law lowered income tax rates for most individuals. For example, the top rate dropped from 39.6 percent to 37 percent. Middle-income brackets also fell. These rates apply to your 2024 and 2025 tax returns.
However, these rates were written to expire on December 31, 2025. That means unless Congress passes new legislation before then, tax rates will revert to their pre-2017 levels starting in 2026. Congress will have to vote to extend them if it wants them to stay. This is not automatic — it requires action.
The expiration date is one reason tax policy may change in the coming years. Whether rates stay, rise, or change depends entirely on what Congress does, not on who is president.
Standard deduction: higher than before, adjusted yearly
The standard deduction — the amount you can deduct before calculating tax — increased under the 2017 law. For 2024, the standard deduction is $14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for married couples filing jointly. These amounts are higher than they were in 2016.
The standard deduction is adjusted each year for inflation, so it rises slightly annually. This adjustment happens automatically and is not tied to any expiration date. Unless Congress changes the law, the standard deduction will continue to increase with inflation every year.
Child tax credit: $2,000 per child, with a history of temporary changes
The Trump-era tax law increased the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000 per child under age 17. That $2,000 amount is still in effect for the 2024 tax year. Like the income tax rates, this provision is scheduled to expire after 2025 unless Congress extends it.
The child tax credit has had a complicated recent history. In 2021, Congress temporarily expanded it further — to $3,000 per child (or $3,600 for children under 6) — and made it fully refundable for one year. That temporary expansion ended, and the credit returned to $2,000 in 2022. It has remained at $2,000 since then.
Families with lower incomes may receive less of the credit if their income is below certain thresholds, depending on how many children they have. The credit begins to phase out at $400,000 for married couples and $200,000 for single filers.
Corporate tax rate: 21 percent, unchanged since 2017
The 2017 tax law cut the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. This rate applies to C corporations — the standard business structure for larger companies. The 21 percent rate has not changed and remains in effect today.
This rate does not expire on a set date like the individual income tax rates do. It is permanent unless Congress votes to change it. Some proposals have suggested raising the corporate rate, but no change has been enacted.
State and local tax deduction cap: $10,000 limit still in place
Before 2017, there was no limit on how much you could deduct for state and local taxes (SALT) — property taxes, income taxes, and sales taxes combined. The 2017 law capped this deduction at $10,000 per year. This cap is still in effect for 2024 and 2025.
Like the income tax rates, the SALT cap is scheduled to expire after 2025. If Congress does not extend it, the limit will disappear and you could deduct unlimited state and local taxes again. This change would primarily affect people in high-tax states like California, New York, and New Jersey.
Business deductions and pass-through entities: mostly unchanged
The 2017 law created a 20 percent deduction for income from pass-through entities — businesses like sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations, and LLCs. This deduction allows owners to deduct up to 20 percent of their business income from their personal taxes, subject to certain limits.
This deduction is still in place and is scheduled to expire after 2025. It has been controversial because it can significantly reduce taxes for business owners, and there have been proposals to limit or eliminate it. However, no change has been enacted, and it remains available for 2024 and 2025.
What happens after 2025: the expiration cliff
Many of the Trump-era tax changes were written as temporary provisions that expire on December 31, 2025. This includes individual income tax rates, the child tax credit at $2,000, the SALT cap, and the pass-through deduction. The corporate tax rate of 21 percent does not have an expiration date.
Congress will have to vote to extend these provisions if it wants them to remain in effect. This decision will likely happen in 2025, but it is not may provide. Tax policy after 2026 depends on what Congress does, not on the current administration.
If Congress does not act, tax rates will automatically rise for most individuals, the child tax credit will drop to $1,000, the SALT deduction cap will disappear, and the pass-through deduction will end. This scenario is sometimes called the "tax cliff."
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Trump's tax cuts still in effect right now?
Most of them are. The lower income tax rates, higher standard deduction, $2,000 child tax credit, and 21 percent corporate rate all remain in effect for 2024 and 2025. However, many of these provisions expire after 2025 unless Congress extends them.
Will my taxes go up in 2026?
They may, depending on what Congress does. If lawmakers do not extend the expiring provisions, individual income tax rates will rise, the child tax credit will shrink, and some deductions will change. But Congress could extend the current rules, modify them, or let them expire — that decision has not been made yet.
Did Biden's administration change any Trump tax rules?
Congress, not the president, changes tax law. The Biden administration did not repeal the 2017 tax cuts, but Congress did pass the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, which made some changes to business taxes and created new tax credits for clean energy and electric vehicles. The core individual tax rates and credits from 2017 remain unchanged.
Is the corporate tax rate permanent?
The 21 percent corporate tax rate does not have an expiration date, so it is permanent unless Congress votes to change it. The individual tax rates and credits, by contrast, are set to expire after 2025.
Where can I find out what tax rate applies to me?
The IRS publishes tax tables and rate schedules each year on irs.gov. Your tax return instructions also show the rates that apply to your filing status. A tax professional or free tax preparation service can also help you understand which rates apply to your situation.