IRS to phase out paper tax refund checks
IR-2025-94, Sept. 23, 2025
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service, working with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, today announced that paper tax refund checks for individual taxpayers will be phased out beginning on Sept. 30, 2025, as required by Executive Order 14247, to the extent permitted by law. This marks the first step of the broader transition to electronic payments.
The IRS will publish detailed guidance for 2025 tax returns before the 2026 filing season begins. Until further notice, taxpayers should continue using existing forms and procedures, including those filing their 2024 returns on extension of a due date before Dec. 31, 2025.
Income tax relief and deductions
No Tax on Tips
New deduction: Effective for 2025 through 2028, employees and self-employed individuals may deduct qualified tips received in occupations listed by the IRS as customarily and regularly receiving tips on or before December 31, 2024, and that are reported on a Form W-2, Form 1099, or other specified statement furnished to the individual or reported directly by the individual on Form 4137.
- “Qualified tips” are voluntary cash or charged tips received from customers or through tip sharing.
- Maximum annual deduction is $25,000; for self-employed, deduction may not exceed the individual’s net income (without regard to this deduction) from the trade or business in which the tips were earned.
- Deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers)
Taxpayer Eligibility: The deduction is available to both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers. Self-employed individuals in a Specified Service Trade or Business (SSTB) under section 199A are not eligible. Employees whose employer is in an SSTB also are not eligible. Taxpayers must:
- Include their Social Security number on the return
- File jointly if married, to claim the deduction
Reporting: Employers and other payors must file information returns with the IRS (or SSA) and furnish statements to taxpayers showing certain cash tips received and the occupation of the tip recipient.