Pass-through Entity Tax

Proposed federal tax legislation could significantly raise taxes on millions of small and mid-sized businesses by eliminating the deductibility of Pass-through Entity Taxes (PTET).

U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

Contact Your U.S. Senators

Members are encouraged to contact Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn by Friday, June 13. Assets for members usage are available below.

May 16, 2025

The proposed tax legislation from the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee released this week includes significant repercussions for accounting firms and all Specified Service, trades or businesses (SSTBs).

As currently drafted, the legislation takes away the ability to use the pass-through entity tax (PTET) deduction and would disadvantage SSTBs - including accountants, lawyers, dentists, and doctors - by subjecting them to the individual cap on state and local income tax deductions at the federal level. This would apply regardless of the partners’ or owners’ income level or the state in which they reside. By eliminating PTET, the proposed legislation indirectly raises taxes on millions of businesses.

The House Ways and Means Committee’s proposed tax legislation makes the situation worse for pass-through entities, while leaving their competitor corporations’ ability to deduct state and local taxes untouched. Corporations may fully deduct state and local income taxes in determining their taxable income. The federal deduction for state and local income taxes for individuals is currently capped at $10,000. This has a disproportionate impact on business owners who operate as sole proprietorships, disregarded entities, and pass-through entities.

Protect Texas CPAs and Small Businesses: Take Action Today

Proposed changes to the federal tax code could unfairly penalize CPAs and other professionals by eliminating the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction for Pass-through Entity Taxes (PTET). This would mean higher taxes for partners and owners of many service-based businesses — including accounting firms — and could discourage the formation and growth of these firms.

Help us protect Texas CPAs and the clients you serve

We urge you to contact your Members of Congress and share your concerns. Let them know that eliminating the PTET SALT deduction would deepen the inequity between pass-throughs and C corporations and place an undue burden on professionals who support local economies across Texas.

 

 


Topics:

You May be Interested in

  • The Verdict is In. The Texas Franchise Tax is GILTI, Raising New Questions and Potential Issues
    Beginning with the 2026 report year, the Texas Comptroller will align the franchise tax with the current Internal Revenue Code, likely requiring GILTI to be included in total revenue. This change raises sourcing, statutory and potential constitutional questions for businesses with foreign operations, creating new uncertainty and possible tax impacts.
  • NIL Income for Student-Athletes: Tax Implications and Emerging Pitfalls for Practitioners
    The expansion of NIL opportunities has created complex tax issues for student-athletes, whose income is generally treated as self-employment business income. Common pitfalls include unreported non-cash compensation, multi-state tax exposure, weak recordkeeping and limited financial literacy, all of which heighten audit risk. As IRS scrutiny increases and new reporting rules emerge, CPAs must understand these challenges to effectively advise this growing group of taxpayers.
  • Data Processing Services – SaaS and Software Licenses
    Cloud-based SaaS is treated as a taxable data processing service in Texas, with 80% of the sales price subject to sales tax, compared with 100% taxation for traditional software licenses. Taxpayers using SaaS in multiple states can further reduce Texas tax by allocating the software’s usage between Texas and non‑Texas locations. This often results in significant savings and may allow refunds for past overpayments.

Support the Next Generation

Donate to TXCPA scholarships and help aspiring accountants achieve their goals.