For more than 100 years, IAFF members across the United States have benefited from the ability to deduct their state and local tax payments from their federal income taxes. This longstanding policy has played a pivotal role in easing the tax burden on fire fighters, especially for those forced to live within a certain proximity to their fire department, where property taxes may significantly reduce their take-home pay. The state and local tax (SALT) deduction not only cut individual tax burdens, but also played a crucial role in ensuring local governments had the revenue to maintain robust fire departments without imposing excessive property tax rates.

In 2017, President Trump and Congress significantly nearly eliminated this essential benefit by imposing a cap of $10,000 per year on the SALT deduction. This cap disproportionately affects IAFF firefighters in high-tax jurisdictions and forces them to endure double taxation on their property, income, and, in some instances, vehicles. Since this change, the IAFF has been actively leading the charge to reinstate the SALT deduction, advocating for the preservation of firefighters' hard-earned income.

As Congress develops a comprehensive tax package, it is imperative for them to recognize the urgency of restoring the SALT deduction. All IAFF members are strongly encouraged to reach out to their respective Members of Congress, emphasizing the critical need to end the unjust burden of double taxation on firefighters, and urging the restoration of the SALT deduction as an integral part of the upcoming tax package.