Older adults are preparing to embrace a major, transformative change in their finances.
The first major piece of legislation the GOP congressional majority passed and President Donald Trump signed last year, during his first months back in office, was a bill to make their 2017 tax cuts permanent.
Every Democrat voted against the measure even though the cuts benefited the vast majority of Americans.
Now, the administration is touting another benefit for Americans 65 and older ahead of next year’s tax filing deadline.
A significant, though temporary, tax change for older Americans comes in the form of a new benefit known as the “senior bonus deduction.”
Included in the 2025 tax legislation, the provision is intended to provide additional tax relief for retirees and older taxpayers.
While the concept of a new deduction may seem straightforward, it has raised questions about who qualifies and how the deduction is applied, the Kiplinger Letter noted this week.
For example, taxpayers who are 65 or older and typically itemize their deductions may wonder if they can also benefit from the new senior bonus deduction.
Fortunately, the new deduction is highly flexible, noted the outlet.
Most taxpayers who claim the standard deduction can also take advantage of the senior bonus deduction in addition to the extra standard deduction available to those age 65 and older.
Taxpayers who choose to itemize their deductions are also eligible to claim the bonus.
“This bonus allows taxpayers age 65 and older to claim an additional deduction — up to $6,000 for singles, or $12,000 for married couples when both spouses qualify,” Kiplinger noted, adding some “key points” about the benefit:
Because the deduction is available whether you itemize or claim the standard deduction, it can benefit taxpayers who have enough deductible expenses to itemize while still providing an additional opportunity to reduce their taxable income.
But all said, the benefit isset to expire after the 2028 tax season unless it is renewed by Congress, Kiplinger noted.
Trump signed the legislation, known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill” on July 4, 2025.
Earlier this month, to mark the occasion ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday, the White House put out a press release touting the legislation’s accomplishments.
“The success of President Trump’s widely popular tax breaks, like No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Social Security and Made in America Car-Loan deductions, is undeniable,” the statement said.
“A look at the first-year’s results shows that nearly 70% of filers whoreceived a tax cut earned less than $100,000,” it added.
The release also included several things the legislation achieved:
She's Been Arrested — Secretary of State Marco Rubio Gives The Order To Go as ICE Arrests Sister of Top Cuban Regime...
Secretary of State Marco Rubio Orders ICE Arrest of Adys Lastres Morera, Sister of Sanctioned Cuban Regime Official, Citing National Security Threat
New York City, New York — Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced last week that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested Adys Lastres Morera in Florida. She is the sister of Ania Guillermina Lastres, a high-ranking official in Cuba’s communist regime.
Lastres Morera was taken into ICE custody and will remain detained pending deportation proceedings. Rubio personally revoked her lawful permanent resident status, determining that her presence in the United States posed a threat to American foreign policy interests.
She entered the country as a lawful permanent resident on January 13, 2023, during the Biden administration.
Rubio, who is of Cuban descent, stated that family members of repressive regimes and other adversaries will no longer receive a free pass to live in the United States.
“For far too long, the family members of terrorist organizations, repressive anti-American regimes, and other bad actors who would threaten the national security of the United States have been given a free pass to enjoy the privileges of living in the United States,” he said in a statement.
“Past Administrations have permitted the families of Cuban military elites, Iranian terrorists, and other reprehensible organizations to enjoy lavish lifestyles in our country funded by stolen blood-money, while the people they repress at home suffer in increasingly dire circumstances.”
“No longer. Under President Trump, we are removing from our country the family members of IRGC terrorists and Cuban regime elites.”
“Let me be very clear: if you threaten the national security of the United States, there will be nowhere on this earth — much less in our country — that you and your cronies can live lavishly.”
“We will find you, and we will hold you accountable.”
On X, Rubio added that Lastres Morera had been managing real estate assets in Florida while aiding Cuba’s regime.
“Adys Lastres Morera is the sister of the Executive President of GAESA, the Cuban military-controlled financial conglomerate that steals millions in aid for the Cuban people at the behest of the regime.”
“Morera was managing real estate assets and living in Florida, while also aiding Havana’s communist regime, until I terminated her permanent resident status.”
“I am pleased to announce that today, she was arrested and is now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
“There will be nowhere on this Earth – much less in our country – where foreign nationals who threaten our national security can live lavishly.”
ICE Homeland Security Investigations confirmed that her presence posed potential serious adverse foreign policy consequences.
“Adys Lastres Morera’s presence in the United States has potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for our nation, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has determined that she is removable under the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act,” said HSI acting Executive Associate Director John Condon.
“Allowing Lastres Morera to remain in the country would send a signal that Cuban regime-affiliated networks could continue to access the U.S.’s financial, educational and social institutions — but that is not the case.”
“HSI will continue to investigate those with ties to our nation’s adversaries and take appropriate actions to neutralize threats against our homeland.”
Ania Guillermina Lastres serves as president of Grupo de Administración Empresarial (GAESA), the military-controlled conglomerate that dominates approximately 70 percent of Cuba’s economy. The entity is accused of controlling tourism, remittances, and the Cuban doctor program, while holding up to $20 billion in illicit overseas funds.
The arrest reflects the Trump administration’s broader policy of tightening immigration enforcement against individuals linked to adversarial foreign governments.
