Not-Much.mp3
Not-Much.mp4
Not-Much-Pt-2.mp3
Not-Much-Pt-2.mp4
Not-Much-intro.mp3
[Intro]
Something
(Or not much of anything?)
[Verse 1]
No tax on tips
(If you forfeit $15,000)
When in fact it gyps
(Met with hollers)
[Bridge]
Something
(Or not much of anything?)
[Chorus]
Want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge?
(Over the insanity ridge)
How about Florida swamp land?
(Lost logic’s command)
[Verse 2]
No tips for busking
(Musicians dwell in the blues)
Forget about trusting
(The Man forces you to lose)
[Bridge]
Something
(Or not much of anything?)
[Chorus]
Want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge?
(Over the insanity ridge)
How about Florida swamp land?
(Lost logic’s command)
[Bridge]
Something
(Or not much of anything?)
[Chorus]
Want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge?
(Over the insanity ridge)
How about Florida swamp land?
(Lost logic’s command)
[Outro]
Something
(Or not much of anything?)
ABOUT THE SONG
It appears the “no tax on tips and overtime” changes won’t take effect until late 2026 and will expire in 2028, so the long-term impact may be limited. Here’s what we believe we know so far:
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Tax on Tips: Allows workers to deduct a portion of tip income from federal taxes.
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Deduction Limit (Tips): Capped at $25,000 per year.
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Phase-Out (Tips): Phased out for individuals earning over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers).
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Exclusions (Tips): Notably, “the performing arts” are reportedly excluded from claiming the tip deduction. As one source notes: “As was the case in the House bill, the Senate bill provides that workers in certain specified businesses are not eligible for the tip deduction.” This is one of the most backwards tax provisions I’ve seen—when most people think of tipped workers, musicians and performers are among the first that come to mind, yet they are apparently excluded from benefiting under this bill.
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Tax on Overtime Pay: Provides a temporary tax deduction for overtime earnings.
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Deduction Limit (Overtime): Capped at $12,500 per year ($25,000 for joint filers).
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Phase-Out (Overtime): Same phase-out thresholds as the tip deduction.
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Duration: These provisions expire at the end of 2028.
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Cost: The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over 10 years.
While marketed as relief for workers, these deductions are temporary, skew toward higher earners, exclude some of the workers who rely on tips the most, and add significantly to the deficit without addressing long-term fiscal sustainability.
ADDENDUM: The “No Tax on Tips” Gimmick: A Con Disguised as Help for Workers
People celebrating this “no tax on tips” gimmick don’t realize how it actually works—and why it will cost most workers money rather than save it.
Under the new law, the “no tax on tips” provision only applies if you itemize your deductions instead of taking the standard deduction, which is currently over $15,000 for individuals and more for joint filers. Most low-wage workers don’t itemize because they don’t have enough deductions to make it worthwhile. If they chose to itemize just to claim untaxed tips, they would lose the value of the standard deduction, which would often wipe out any potential savings or even leave them paying more in taxes.
There’s also a $25,000 cap on the untaxed tip deduction, making it useless for higher earners who would see their deduction phased out while also losing the standard deduction. Meanwhile, billionaires, gig workers, and others who can restructure their income streams could still exploit this loophole by reclassifying payments as “tips.” They could claim advisory fees, bonuses, or “consulting payments” as tips, reducing their taxable income to zero while still leveraging the infrastructure, programs, and services funded by taxpayers.
In reality, the “no tax on tips” provision is a clever marketing tool designed to mislead voters into thinking it helps workers while draining revenue from Medicare, Social Security, education, and infrastructure—programs these same workers rely on. At the same time, it creates a backdoor tax shelter for those who know how to manipulate the system, exacerbating inequality and deepening the deficit.
If lawmakers truly wanted to help workers, they could increase the minimum wage, strengthen wage theft enforcement, and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit—actions that would put real money into workers’ pockets without jeopardizing their access to essential services. Instead, the “no tax on tips” gimmick is another bait-and-switch policy, disguised as populism while serving wealthier interests in the background.
It’s not a gift to workers. It’s a con—and voters deserve to know the truth before it’s too late.