Why Tax Season Was Different This Year

Dear friend, 

Over the past week, I’ve been on the House floor advancing commonsense legislation, while also meeting with leaders from across our state and country who are working to grow our economy, strengthen our communities, and keep America safe.

Here’s a look at what’s been going on in Congress

More Money in Your Pocket This Tax Season

Tax season usually means sending more of your paycheck to Washington. This year, I’m hearing something very different from folks across North Carolina.

Families are seeing bigger refunds, better deductions, and more money staying in their pockets. The average refund is up nearly 11 percent, now topping $3,500. And as people adjust their withholding under the lower rates we made permanent, millions are already seeing more in their take-home pay.

That didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts, which House Republicans passed and every Democrat voted against.

At the core of these reforms is a simple principle: if you work more, you should keep more.

That’s why we eliminated taxes on overtime. More than 23 million Americans have already benefited. Whether it’s a police officer picking up an extra shift, a firefighter working overtime, or a construction worker putting in long hours, that paycheck now goes further.

We took the same approach with tips. Nearly six million Americans are already benefiting from No Tax on Tips, putting real money back into the pockets of servers, drivers, and hospitality workers who earned it.

Families are seeing relief as well. We increased the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 per child, helping parents keep more of their hard-earned income. And more than four million children now have Trump Accounts, giving them a financial foundation and a chance to benefit from long-term growth.

Small businesses are seeing the impact. Nearly 12 million small business owners are receiving tax relief, averaging about $7,000. We made the 20 percent small business deduction permanent, giving entrepreneurs the certainty they need to hire, invest, and grow.

And in rural communities, these policies are helping protect family farms, lower borrowing costs, and encourage investment in small towns across our state.

Cutting Red Tape and Standing Up for American Workers

This week, House Republicans passed two commonsense bills to rein in Washington overreach and stand up for American workers.

First, we passed the RED Tape Act, which eliminates duplicative EPA reviews that slow down projects, delay investment, and hold back job creation. If a project has already gone through the proper environmental review, Washington shouldn’t force businesses to jump through the same hoop twice. This is about cutting unnecessary bureaucracy so we can build faster, grow our economy, and unleash American industry.

We also passed the FENCES Act, which ensures North Carolina communities and manufacturers aren’t penalized for pollution coming from foreign countries like China. For too long, the EPA has held American states accountable for emissions they didn’t create, while foreign polluters face no consequences. 

Meeting with North Carolina Leaders

Back in Washington, I’ve been meeting with leaders across key industries that directly impact North Carolina jobs, families, and communities.

I welcomed members of the North Carolina Pork Council to discuss the challenges facing our farmers, including burdensome regulations like California’s Proposition 12 and the importance of strong and fair trade agreements. I’ll continue working to protect our producers and ensure they can compete and grow.

I also met with textile manufacturers from across our state to talk about strengthening American manufacturing, enforcing fair trade, and expanding the use of American-made products. North Carolina’s textile industry remains critical to both our economy and our national security.

I sat down with biotech leaders whose companies are driving innovation, research, and job creation across the country, starting right here in North Carolina. As a member of the Energy and Commerce committee, I’m committed to protecting the robust industry that brings the best medical access and innovation to our state.

I met with leaders from the firearms and outdoor recreation industry to discuss protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens and ensuring businesses are treated fairly. We’re focused on commonsense policies that support safety, privacy, and the Second Amendment.

With the NFL  I met with leadership from the Carolina Panthers to discuss our student athletes and future professional talent in our state. Protecting athletes who bring so much pride and energy to our state is a priority to me.

Supporting Our Service Members

I had the opportunity to meet with a group of Army Special Forces soldiers visiting from Fort Bragg for professional development.

These are some of the best our country has to offer. They carry out some of the most demanding missions in the world, and I’ll always fight to ensure they have the support, training, and resources they need to succeed.

A Moment of Reflection

This weekend, I attended a faith retreat, taking time to reflect and stay grounded in the values that guide both my life and my work in Congress.

Ahead of National Prayer day, I am grateful to learn more about our God and give thanks for my family, our country, our military and all of you who remind me of the important issues to fight for you and your families up in Washington.  

We’re making progress, but there’s more work to do. I’ll keep fighting every day to cut red tape, unleash American energy, protect your rights, and ensure our state continues to lead in values, innovation, and numerous industries.

Until next time,

Congressman Richard Hudson