H.R. 5377House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed House

Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act

Introduced December 10, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 10:05 AM UTC

The Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act changes several parts of the tax code. It temporarily lifts or raises the limit on state and local tax deductions, especially for 2020‑2021, and removes the marriage penalty for 2019. It also boosts deductions for teachers and first responders and raises the top individual income tax rate to 39.6% for high earners.

Key Provisions

  • For tax years beginning in 2019, the SALT (state and local tax) deduction limit for joint returns is increased to $20,000, removing the lower $5,000 limit that applied to married individuals filing separately.
  • For tax years beginning in 2020 and 2021, the $10,000 cap on SALT deductions is suspended for all taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is $100 million or less; high‑income taxpayers above that threshold remain subject to the cap.
  • The above‑the‑line deduction for elementary and secondary school teachers is raised from $250 to $1,000.
  • A new above‑the‑line deduction of up to $1,000 is created for first responders (law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs) for tuition or fees for professional‑development courses and for uniforms.
  • The top marginal individual income tax rate is increased from 37% to 39.6%, with the income thresholds for that bracket and related brackets adjusted downward accordingly.
  • Related tax tables, definitions, and zero‑percent capital‑gain brackets are updated to reflect the higher rate and the new SALT and deduction rules.

Legislative Activity

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17 earlier actions
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

January 3, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 10, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

December 10, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

December 11, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 17.

December 11, 2019

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 116-345.

December 13, 2019

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 275.

December 13, 2019

HouseFloor

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 772. (consideration: CR H12270-12284; text: CR H12270-12271)

December 19, 2019 • 2:07 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5377.

December 19, 2019 • 2:09 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with further debate on H.R. 5377.

December 19, 2019 • 3:00 PM

HouseFloor

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

December 19, 2019 • 3:22 PM

HouseFloor

Mr. Rice (SC) moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Ways and Means. (text: CR H12281)

December 19, 2019 • 3:23 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rice (SC) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to strike and amend language in sections 2(a), 3(a), 4(a), 4(b)(2), 5(a), and 5(c) of the bill.

December 19, 2019 • 3:24 PM

HouseFloor

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

December 19, 2019 • 3:35 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 388 - 36 (Roll no. 699).

December 19, 2019 • 4:01 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 218 - 206 (Roll no. 700).

December 19, 2019 • 4:10 PM

HouseFloor

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 218 - 206 (Roll no. 700).

December 19, 2019 • 4:10 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

December 19, 2019 • 4:10 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

January 3, 2020

Amendments

2 amendments

Offered to this bill

Bill Text

4 versions available

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Referred in SenateIssued January 3, 2020

IIB

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5377

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 3, 2020

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

AN ACT

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the limitation on deduction of State and local taxes, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act.

2.

Elimination for 2019 of marriage penalty in limitation on deduction of State and local taxes

(a)

In general

Section 164(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(7)

Special rule for limitation on individual deductions for 2019

In the case of a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2018, and before January 1, 2020, if the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer for such taxable year does not exceed $100,000,000, paragraph (6) shall be applied by substituting ($20,000 in the case of a joint return) for ($5,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return).

.

(b)

Effective date

The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018.

3.

Elimination for 2020 and 2021 of limitation on deduction of State and local taxes

(a)

In general

Section 164(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 2, is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(8)

Suspension of dollar limitation on State and local taxes for 2020 and 2021

(A)

In general

In the case of any taxable year beginning in 2020 or 2021, subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) shall not apply.

(B)

Exception for certain high-income taxpayers

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any taxpayer for any taxable year if the adjusted gross income of such taxpayer for such taxable year exceeds $100,000,000.

.

(b)

Conforming amendments

Section 164(b)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

(1)

by striking For purposes of subparagraph (B) and inserting For purposes of this section;

(2)

by striking January 1, 2018 and inserting January 1, 2022;

(3)

by striking December 31, 2017, shall and inserting December 31, 2021, shall; and

(4)

by adding at the end the following: For purposes of this section, in the case of State or local taxes with respect to any real or personal property paid during a taxable year beginning in 2020 or 2021, the Secretary shall prescribe rules which treat all or a portion of such taxes as paid in a taxable year or years other than the taxable year in which actually paid as necessary or appropriate to prevent the avoidance of the limitations of this subsection..

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxes paid or accrued in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.

4.

Increase in deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers

(a)

Increase

Section 62(a)(2)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking $250 and inserting $1,000.

(b)

Conforming amendments

Section 62(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

(1)

by striking 2015 and inserting 2019;

(2)

by striking $250 and inserting $1,000; and

(3)

in subparagraph (B), by striking 2014 and inserting 2018.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2018.

5.

Above-the-line deduction allowed for certain expenses of first responders

(a)

In general

Section 62(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(F)

Certain expenses of first responders

The deductions allowed by section 162 which consist of expenses, not in excess of $1,000, paid or incurred by a first responder—

(i)

as tuition or fees for the participation of the first responder in professional development courses related to service as a first responder; or

(ii)

for uniforms used by the first responder in service as a first responder.

.

(b)

First responder defined

Section 62(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(4)

First responder

For purposes of subsection (a)(2)(F), the term first responder means, with respect to any taxable year, any individual who is employed as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, paramedic, or emergency medical technician for at least 1,000 hours during such taxable year.

.

(c)

Inflation adjustment

Section 62(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 4, is further amended by striking the $1,000 amount in subsection (a)(2)(D) and inserting the $1,000 amount in each of subparagraphs (D) and (F) of subsection (a)(2).

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.

6.

Increase of top marginal individual income tax rate under temporary rules

(a)

In general

The tables contained in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E) of section 1(j)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are each amended by striking 37% and inserting 39.6% and—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

by striking $600,000 each place such term appears and inserting $479,000; and

(B)

by striking $161,379 and inserting $119,029;

(2)

in subparagraph (B)—

(A)

by striking $500,000 each place such term appears and inserting $452,400; and

(B)

by striking $149,298 and inserting $132,638;

(3)

in subparagraph (C)—

(A)

by striking $500,000 each place such term appears and inserting $425,800; and

(B)

by striking $150,689.50 and inserting $124,719.50; and

(4)

in subparagraph (D)—

(A)

by striking $300,000 each place such term appears and inserting $239,500; and

(B)

by striking $80,689.50 and inserting $59,514.50.

(b)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Section 1(j)(4)(B)(iii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

(A)

in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking 37 percent and inserting 39.6 percent;

(B)

in subclause (II), by striking 37-percent bracket and inserting 39.6-percent bracket; and

(C)

in the heading, by striking 37-percent bracket and inserting 39.6-percent bracket.

(2)

Section 1(j)(4)(C) of such Code is amended—

(A)

in clause (i)(II), by striking paragraph (5)(B)(i)(IV) and inserting paragraph (5)(B)(iv); and

(B)

by amending clause (ii) to read as follows:

(ii)

the amount which would (without regard to this paragraph) be taxed at a rate below 39.6 percent shall not be more than the sum of—

(I)

the earned taxable income of such child, plus

(II)

the maximum dollar amount for the 35-percent rate bracket for estates and trusts.

.

(3)

The heading of section 1(j)(5) of such Code is amended to read as follows: Application of zero percent capital gain rate brackets.

(4)

Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 1(j)(5) of such Code are amended to read as follows:

(A)

In general

Subsection (h)(1)(B)(i) shall be applied by substituting below the maximum zero rate amount for which would (without regard to this paragraph) be taxed at a rate below 25 percent.

(B)

Maximum zero rate amount defined

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term maximum zero rate amount means—

(i)

in the case of a joint return or surviving spouse, $77,200;

(ii)

in the case of an individual who is a head of household (as defined in section 2(b)), $51,700;

(iii)

in the case of any other individual (other than an estate or trust), an amount equal to ½ of the amount in effect for the taxable year under clause (i); and

(iv)

in the case of an estate or trust, $2,600.

.

(5)

Section 1(j)(5)(C) of such Code is amended by striking clauses (i) and (ii) of.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.

(d)

Section 15 not To apply

Section 15 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall not apply to any change in a rate of tax by reason of any amendment made by this section.

Passed the House of Representatives December 19, 2019.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk.