SALT saga continues with high-tax state reps angling for $62k cap

SALT saga continues with high-tax state reps angling for $62k cap
GOP lawmakers mostly representing New York, New Jersey, and California put Trump's multi-trillion-dollar tax agenda at risk.
MAY 12, 2025

The House tax committee’s draft bill to renew President Donald Trump’s tax cuts calls for increasing the state and local tax deduction to $30,000 for couples, but limits the write-off to households earning $400,000 or less, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Individuals earning up to $200,000 could claim $15,000 in SALT deductions under the proposal, the person said.

That’s just a fraction of what SALT advocates in the House want, according to another person familiar with the negotiations. A group of lawmakers — largely from New York, New Jersey and California — most committed to expanding the tax break want a $62,000 deduction cap for individuals, or twice that for couples, the person said. They also demand those levels are indexed for inflation in future years, and that the higher limits are available for taxpayers starting in 2025.

The language to raise the current $10,000 cap falls short of what many lawmakers in high-tax states have advocated. The imposition of income limits on the tax break is also likely to spark pushback among Republicans from high-earning districts.

The talks remain fluid as lawmakers continue to debate the details of the package, said another person, who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Monday that no final SALT limit had been set yet. The House Ways and Means Committee is slated to debate the legislation Tuesday. 

“There were lots of numbers discussed,” he said, following a meeting with lawmakers concerned about the tax break.

Several lawmakers — including New York’s Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, Andrew Garbarino and Elise Stefanik and Young Kim of California — have previously rejected a $30,000 SALT cap, calling it insufficient. 

Those lawmakers have said they would be willing to block Trump’s entire tax agenda if SALT is not increased substantially.

A lack of consensus on SALT threatens to sink the bill given narrow a Republican majority. 

The SALT issue has been one of the most contentious for the House GOP to resolve as party leaders try to ram a multi-trillion-dollar tax cut package through the House in May. The larger the cap adjustment is, the less money there will be for other tax cuts on the Republican agenda.

House Republicans are trying to keep revenue losses from their tax cut package down to a self-imposed limit of $4.5 trillion. They are also aiming for $2 trillion in spending cuts.

The ceiling must accommodate a nearly $4 trillion extension of the expiring 2017 Trump tax cuts as well as new cuts to taxes on tips and overtime. Republicans also want new tax breaks for seniors, car buyers and businesses building factories in the US. 

The amount of new tax cuts could be higher if the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee eliminates green energy tax breaks under its jurisdiction.

Latest News

Mesirow acquires part of flexPATH in second retirement deal of 2026
Mesirow acquires part of flexPATH in second retirement deal of 2026

Chicago-based Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions adds flexPATH's plan-level outsourced fiduciary book, boosting its retirement market reach to $164 billion.

Advisor moves: LPL lands $350M veteran advisor duo in Florida
Advisor moves: LPL lands $350M veteran advisor duo in Florida

Also, Raymond James's employee advisor channel adds breakaways from Wells Fargo and Stifel, while UBS welcomes an ex-Morgan Stanley duo in Indiana.

SEC accuses crypto firm founder of running $425 million Ponzi scheme
SEC accuses crypto firm founder of running $425 million Ponzi scheme

It promised guaranteed principal and 10% monthly returns. The SEC says it invested nothing.

MassMutual Ascend tops $2 billion in RIA annuity sales as advisors warm to income products
MassMutual Ascend tops $2 billion in RIA annuity sales as advisors warm to income products

Ten years after entering the fee-based annuity market, MassMutual Ascend says nearly half its lifetime sales came in the past two years alone – but barriers remain among fee-only advisors.

Fintech bytes: Wealth tech firms target advisor productivity with new integrations
Fintech bytes: Wealth tech firms target advisor productivity with new integrations

Amplify, WealthReach, Zeplyn and Zocks have unveiled partnerships aimed at automating portfolio management, content creation, account opening, and client communication.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income