What do a yoga instructor, a parking garage attendant, and an influencer have in common? They are all now exempt from paying income tax on their tips under President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
As part of Trump’s “no tax on tips” policy, streamers, online video creators, social media influencers, and podcasters are among the workers no longer required to hand over a portion of their tip income, according to a Treasury Department list released this week.
The policy—one of Trump’s key 2024 campaign promises—was written into the tax code when Congress passed the bill in July. At first, the conversation focused on restaurant servers. But the Treasury has since clarified that digital content creators also qualify, defined as people who “produce and publish on digital platforms original entertainment or personality-driven content, such as live streams, short-form videos, or podcasts.”
In total, 68 occupations are eligible, including bartenders, electricians, tutors, makeup artists, taxi drivers, and golf caddies.
For most influencers, tips are a relatively small slice of income compared to brand deals. Still, tipping is common on Twitch, where viewers buy “bits,” or on OnlyFans, where creators use “tip menus” for custom content. Under the “no tax on tips” policy—set to run from 2025 until 2028—creators can claim a deduction covering up to $25,000 of qualifying tip income.
The deduction phases out for those earning more than $150,000, meaning top Twitch or TikTok stars who make millions annually won’t see much benefit. But the large middle class of creators likely will.
The president had promised to reward creators after they helped boost his campaign and pave the way for his return to the Oval Office. Now, he’s making good on that pledge.
