Ways and Means Committee, Education and Workforce Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This legislation significantly amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require employers to pay tipped employees the full federal minimum wage, thereby eliminating the current tip credit system. It mandates that all tips received by an employee must be retained by them, though it still permits tip pooling among employees who customarily receive tips. The bill also strengthens penalties for employers who unlawfully use or keep employee tips, ensuring greater protection for workers' earnings. Concurrently, the bill modifies the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by making the existing qualified tip deduction permanent and increasing the deduction limit for individuals filing joint tax returns. To prevent fraud and abuse, it specifies that tips from related parties or to employees with an ownership stake in the business are not deductible. Furthermore, for workers in hospitality, food and beverage service, or cosmetology, automatic gratuities can now be considered qualified tips under certain conditions, such as being a mandatory or suggested amount fully received by the employee or pooled among employees.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Taxation
TIP Improvement Act of 2026
USA119th CongressHR-7577| House
| Updated: 2/13/2026
This legislation significantly amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require employers to pay tipped employees the full federal minimum wage, thereby eliminating the current tip credit system. It mandates that all tips received by an employee must be retained by them, though it still permits tip pooling among employees who customarily receive tips. The bill also strengthens penalties for employers who unlawfully use or keep employee tips, ensuring greater protection for workers' earnings. Concurrently, the bill modifies the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by making the existing qualified tip deduction permanent and increasing the deduction limit for individuals filing joint tax returns. To prevent fraud and abuse, it specifies that tips from related parties or to employees with an ownership stake in the business are not deductible. Furthermore, for workers in hospitality, food and beverage service, or cosmetology, automatic gratuities can now be considered qualified tips under certain conditions, such as being a mandatory or suggested amount fully received by the employee or pooled among employees.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.