IFPTE Urges Representatives to Support Tax Fairness for Workers Act, Restore Tax Deductions for Union Dues and Work Expenses

Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA), a steadfast supporter of workers’ rights and issues that matter to working Americans, is preparing to reintroduce the Tax Fairness for Workers Act and IFPTE is asking Representatives to cosponsor the legislation. This bill would restore the federal income tax deduction for union dues as well as the tax deduction for unreimbursed business expenses, both of which were removed by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

The Tax Fairness for Workers Act allows union members to take an above-the-line tax deduction by subtracting union dues, ensuring that the tax code recognizes that union membership and collective bargaining are in the public interest and delivers benefits to union members, as well as nonunion workers in unionized industries and to the economy. IFPTE’s letter asking Representatives to cosponsor the Tax Fairness for Workers Act cites the public benefit of unions and cites the U.S. Congress's Joint Economic Committee report from 2022 titled Unions Provide Major Economic Benefits For Workers And Families, which notes that “There are broader spillover economic benefits for all workers in industries with high rates of unionization—even if individual workers are not themselves in a union,” that “increases the median Black household’s wealth by more than three times,” and that “hourly wages for female union workers are 4.7% higher than for their non-union counterparts.”   

The Senate companion bill was introduced by Senator Bob Casey in March this year.

Read IFPTE’s letter asking Representatives to support Tax Fairness for Workers Act.