What “middle class tax cut”?

[IconoClast]

I'm a retired blue collar worker whose

Federal income tax bill increased by 0.618%!

Income tax 2024 = 8.547%

Income tax 2025 = 9.165%

[Tonster521]

IconClast, tax rates have decreased since 2018. Also, the Standard deduction and tax brackets are adjusted each year for inflation. Has your taxable income increased?

[GailL1]

@IconoClast 

Did you forget to take the extra $6000 in senior deductions to save yourself some Social Security taxes on benefits?

[IconoClast]

I find the question insulting!
An additional $6000 deduction for us old people does little to mitigate the cost imposed by Ronald Reagan increasing our taxes by eliminating the exemptions from Social Security and unemployment insurance income.

[Tonster521]

IconClast, it appears you do not understand the value of the Enhanced Deduction for Seniors which is $6,000/$12,000 Single/Married Filing Jointly. It is estimated that approximately 80% or more folks age 65 and older will not pay any federal income tax on their SS Benefits. The deduction is available for folks with Adjustable Gross Income below $75,000/$150,000 Single/Married Filing Jointly. If above this threshold, the deduction is reduced and is phased out at $175,000/$250,000 Single/Married Filing Jointly. 

FYI, if Single, qualifying for the $6,000 enhanced deduction is equivalent to a $50,000 deduction of taxable income if one is in the 12% tax bracket ($50,000 X .12 = $6,000). There are not many Single folks with SS Benefits that exceed $50,000. Double the math for Married Filing Jointly.

[IconoClast]

@Tonster521mused that it might appear I “do not understand the value of the Enhanced Deduction for Seniors” (my understanding is irrelevant) that's “… for folks with Adjustable Gross Income below $75,000/$150,000”.

I said nothing about amounts of income, deduction(s), or taxes. I mentioned the RATE of taxation without regard to any other thing. It matters little whether my gross or adjusted income was $100 or $100,000 from my union pension or Social Security or financial/trading income/losses or income from other sources such as rents, dividends, or interest.

@Tonster521asked “Has your taxable income increased?”
Of course the amount of tax paid on my taxable income that increased by 35% should be greater, even more than the billionaire president's $750. The RATE of taxation INcreasing by 0.618% is not a cut•←[that's an emphatic period.]

So my subject question stands: What “middle class tax cut”?

[SereneSeagull]

@IconoClast  Yes.  Looking forward to righting the apple cart.