Landmark Tax Bill Signed Into Law: What Businesses and Individuals Need to Know

On July 3, Congress passed the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This bill is a landmark tax and spending package that makes key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent, introduces significant changes for businesses and individuals, and redefines international tax and clean energy policy. The bill was signed into law by President Trump on July 4. 

With so many changes packed into one bill, understanding the immediate and long-term effects is essential. Below, we’ve outlined some of the most impactful provisions and what they could mean for you or your business. 

Key Takeaways at a Glance 

• TCJA extensions made permanent, including bonus depreciation and qualified business income deductions. 

• Enhanced tax relief for businesses—particularly around interest deductions, R&D, and pass-through income. 

• Clean energy incentives scaled back, with phaseouts on many recent credits. 

• Major changes for individuals, including updates to the SALT cap, standard deduction, and child tax credit. 

• Estate exemption increased to $15 million and made permanent. 

• New planning opportunities for qualified opportunity zones and small business stock; however, charitable giving faces new limitations, including a 0.5% floor for individual deductions.

What Businesses Need to Know Now 

If you own or manage a business, several provisions in the OBBBA could immediately improve cash flow and reduce tax liabilities: 

• 100% Bonus Depreciation Returns: Businesses can again fully expense qualified assets in the year they’re placed in service, beginning Jan. 20, 2025. 

• Business Interest Deduction: Reverts to the more generous EBITDA-based limitation calculation. 

• R&D Expensing: Domestic research costs can now be expensed immediately, and previously capitalized amounts from 2022–2024 can be accelerated. 

• Pass-Through Deduction (199A): Made permanent, with a wider phase-in range for income thresholds. 

• Charitable Giving Limits: A new 1% floor for corporations means only contributions above 1% of taxable income are deductible. 

Businesses should re-evaluate capital expenditures, R&D planning, and entity structure decisions in light of these changes. 

Major Clean Energy & Sustainability Credits Winding Down 

The OBBBA substantially scales back clean energy incentives introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): 

• EV, Solar, Wind, and Home Energy Credits are scheduled to terminate between 2025–2027. 

• Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Credits are narrowed, with stricter qualification rules. 

• New Transferability Rules for remaining credits give businesses more planning options. 

Consider fast-tracking clean energy investments and projects to ensure eligibility before key expiration dates. 

What the Tax Changes Mean for Individuals 

Key updates for individuals include: 

• SALT Cap Increased: Now $40,000 for joint filers through 2029, with phase-outs for high earners. 

• Standard Deduction & Tax Brackets Made Permanent: Increased for inflation, bringing stability to long-term planning. 

• Child Tax Credit: Increased and partially refundable, with further expansion in 2026. 

• Above-the-Line Deductions for Tips and Overtime: Temporary but potentially valuable for certain workers. 

• New “Trump Accounts”: Tax-advantaged savings accounts for children, including a $1,000 government-funded deposit for qualifying births. 

Now is the time to revisit your personal tax and wealth strategy, especially if you own a business, anticipate large charitable contributions, or are considering estate planning moves. 

Estate and Succession Planning Gets a Boost 

• Estate/Gift Tax Exemption Raised to $15 Million (per individual) and made permanent. 

• QSBS Gains Exclusion Enhanced: Potential for 100% exclusion now starts after 5 years of holding. 

• New Opportunity Zone Rules: Expanded benefits for long-term rural and urban investments, but with new requirements. 

Business owners and high-net-worth individuals should explore tax-efficient succession planning and legacy giving strategies with their advisors. 

What Should You Do Next? 

The OBBBA includes both immediate and long-term provisions. For many businesses, it could reduce estimated taxes as early as Q3 2025. But the real value comes from aligning your tax, business, and wealth strategies around these sweeping changes. 

We recommend: 

• Meeting with your tax advisor soon to understand how the OBBBA affects your unique situation. 

• Reviewing your 2025 tax projection in light of the changes. 

• Revisiting long-term planning goals, including expansion, R&D, charitable giving, and estate transfers. 

Questions? We’re Here to Help. 

Whether you’re navigating new compliance requirements or rethinking your business strategy, our team is ready to guide you through the opportunities and implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.