Michael Jackson Has Timeless Hits As ‘Thriller’ Charts In Billboard Top 10 For Six Decades
The King of Pop now reigns as the first artist to break the Top 10 six decades in a row.
Michael Jackson has proved, yet again, that his musical legacy withstands the test of time.
The legendary King of Pop has returned to the Top 10 of the Billboard charts with his spooky hit, “Thriller.” The re-entry of his 1982 single has cemented a new record for the pop icon.
As “Thriller” found its way into the Top 10 following its revived popularity over Halloween weekend, the milestone made Jackson the first artist to score a top 10 hit across six decades. Despite the song’s release over 40 years ago, “Thriller” has since become a Halloween theme song.
Also an instant classic when it debuted back in the ’80s, Variety confirmed that the song’s 14 million streams and radio airplay audience of 9.3 million helped it climb the Billboard charts. While the song peaked at No. 4 during its heyday, its rise back to the Top 10 helped Jackson make history while showcasing his popularity in a new era of music.
Since the 1970s, Jackson has run his own race with music. He dominated the industry with chart-topping songs throughout each decade, even as music changed. His latest entry proves his art even has an impact through music streaming.
He now beats Andy Williams for the longest consecutive decade of placing in the Top 10 on the charts. However, the emergence of another piece of media surrounding Jackson may have led to the revival of the ’80s classic.
The long-awaited biopic on Jackson’s life, titled Michael, is set to hit theaters next April. A widely viewed teaser trailer for the musical film was released on Nov. 6, showcasing the professional achievements and personal journey of the “King of Pop.”
While securing this latest Billboard record, Jackson remains no stranger to the charts. Throughout his 40-year career, he earned 30 Top 10 hits, including 13 No. 1 singles. Currently, he and Drake are tied for 5th place among artists whose songs reigned at the top. Drake’s inclusion of Jackson’s posthumous vocals in his 2018 hit “Don’t Matter To Me” also paved the way for Jackson’s prior chart placement.
As fans sing-along to “Thriller,” they can catch the reenactment of how one of Jackson’s signature songs came to life once “Michael” hits theaters.
A Dream Deferred, Not Denied: ‘The Root’ Returns To Black Ownership
Only 4% of all media in the United States is owned by Black individuals, according to a report.
Ashley Allison didn’t expect that the news of her company, Watering Hole Media, acquiring The Rootwould create so much buzz. For her, it wasn’t out of the ordinary because acquisitions “happen all the time.”
However, for the community, this was something significant.
“The response to this deal has been huge. It was overwhelmingly humbling,” Allison tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The response from others reflects just how rare Black ownership in media has become. A report from NPR reveals that only 4% of all media in the United States is owned by Black individuals. Meanwhile, legacy media companies with verticals dedicated to coverage of Black communities gutted these departments and laid off staff.
Recently, NBC News dissolved its dedicated editorial team for NBC BLK, a platform that launched in 2015 and focused on telling stories about Black identity, politics, and culture. Teen Vogue and its publisher, Condé Nast, have recently come under fire for layoffs that disproportionately affected Black people and people of color.
“Gone is the political-cultural criticism of the fashion and culture industries by the Black women writers laid off today,” The NewsGuild of New York wrote in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter about the layoffs. “As of today, only one woman of color remains on the editorial staff at Teen Vogue.”
Allison’s purchase of The Rootcould not have come at a more dire time.
A Legacy Reclaimed
Since its launch in 2008 by Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and former Washington Post Company chairman Donald E. Graham, The Root has been a trusted voice in Black news, identity, and political discourse. Ownership shifted in 2015 when Univision purchased it from The Washington Post Company.
G/O Media purchased Univision’s portfolio of online brands, including The Root,in 2019, before Allison’s company, Watering Hole Media, purchased the publication for an undisclosed amount this past October. She is reportedly thefirst Black woman owner of The Root.
“I have always been a reader and an admirer of The Root … and it has always been a part of my story,” Allison says.
When the opportunity presented itself to acquire such a powerful platform over the summer, she knew instantly that: “This is it. No questions asked. Why wouldn’t we build on the legacy that it has had to date?”
A Vision for The Root’s Future
A study from Pew Research shows that Black Americans are skeptical about the U.S. news media. The skepticism is rooted in long-standing concerns about coverage, representation, and the media’s role in society.
Almost two-thirds of Black adults, or 63%, say news about Black people is often more negative than news about other racial and ethnic groups. More than half (57%) say the news only covers specific segments of Black communities and often misses essential information, and 43% said the coverage largely stereotypes Black people.
Allison says her goal with The Rootis to close this gap.
“We want to tell the stories that might not make it in other publications or on other channels,” she says. “I think we are able to do that with honesty, integrity, data, and facts with a journalistic rigor.”
She plans to expand the digital reach and coverage by investing in video and audio components to meet people where they are. An estimated 54% of U.S. adults access news through social media and video networks. There will be no shortage of opinions, commentary, and conversations with people readers may not always agree with.
Allison is clear that The Root will not platform people who cause harm to Black communities.
“There is a rigor that I think we should be able to have as Black people, to have a conversation and debate and still be able to work together in community,” says Allison. “We’re also going to be asking folks what they want to hear throughout the year to really get a sense of where our audience is.”
An average of 10 to 15 million people consume The Rooteach month. According to Allison, readers are not solely Black. Another goal for Allison is to ensure that The Root provides information for people who want to learn more about the Black experience.
A Dream Deferred Is Not a Dream Denied
What many may not know is that Allison wrote down her dreams of acquiring digital media properties in her journal in 2009. She envisoned it, then prayed about it, and waited.
Acquiring The Root is more than a business move. It’s destiny fulfilled. The Democratic strategist and former senior staff member in the Obama and Biden administrations urges anyone with a dream to push through, even when it feels impossible.
“The things that we sometimes fear or feel that no one will support, it’s often the exact opposite,” she says. “My dream was to buy media property, and I did it. People have been very receptive. If you have a dream, try it, because it’s probably been something everybody has been waiting for.”
Veteran’s Day Looks Different As Government Shutdown Impacts Veterans Affair Department
The government shutdown has halted many services managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Although Veterans’ Day honors the contributions of former military members, this year’s federal holiday may look a little different amid a government shutdown.
The shutdown has essentially halted many federal agencies and operations, from the release of SNAP benefits to those working at Air Traffic Control centers. While many federal workers have felt the effects of the shutdown, another group of service members and veterans has also taken a hit, even on their designated day of recognition.
Celebrated on Nov. 11, Veterans’ Day is an official day of remembrance for all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. However, the shutdown has stunted the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, leaving many of its services and employees on hold. The VA manages the rollout of healthcare, pensions, and other benefits to veterans nationwide.
According to USA Today, many VA employees were furloughed following the shutdown. Initial numbers presumed only 15,000 of the 460,000 employed under the VA would face furloughs. However, actual figures revealed that 37,000 employees were suspended or working without a full paycheck.
The staff shortage left many operations in limbo, including transition briefings for those leaving the Armed Forces. Career counseling for the approximately 100,000 veterans enrolled in the VA’s Readiness and Employment program has also been paused. Additionally, more than 50 regional benefit offices faced closures amid the shutdown.
With GI Bill hotlines unplugged as well as stalled placements of permanent headstones at almost 100 VA cemeteries, veterans have faced their own unique struggles as the government attempts to reopen. Those needing pre-need burial support are also waiting for Congress to pass a deal.
This is also threatening to the nation’s prominent Black veteran population. According to the Black Veterans Empowerment Council, there remain over 2 million Black vets across the country. This demographic accounts for 12% of the total number of former military men and women.
While benefits have continued to roll out, the discontinuation of several essential VA services has made this Veteran’s Day an outlier. Fortunately, VA medical centers and other services remain operational, including burials, housing benefits, compensation, and the review of veterans’ cases. Suicide prevention programs and the Veteran Primary Call Center, Crisis and Benefit Hotlines still operate.
However, the celebration of Veterans’ Day has been slightly overshadowed by the stifled VA services prompted by the federal crisis. While the government shutdown is nearing an end, departments from the USDA to VA will need time to recover from the halted operations.
Two Can Play That Game: Gov. Wes Moore Says Maryland ‘Wont Just Sit On Our Hands’ In Redistricting Fight
Moore announced the commission’s formation in early November in an effort to draw 'fair maps,' unlike his Republican counterparts.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says he is standing up to President Donald Trump and Republicans’ redistricting scheme by creating a committee that could potentially push out the only seat held by a Republican in the state, CBS News reports.
During a sit-down on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Moore said he’s “not sure why we should be playing by a different set of rules than Texas, or than Florida, or than Ohio or all these other places,” highlighting the headlining push from red-leaning states to give in to Trump’s demand. The Democratic governor says the state will prove to be one that’s not afraid to fight back. “I want this bipartisan commission to be able to actually speak with the people and to be able to go through their process and just simply say that if other states are going to go through this process, that we’re not just going to sit on our hands because Donald Trump tells us to,” Moore said.
“That’s not the way this process is going to work.”
Moore announced the commission’s formation in early November 2025 to draw “fair maps,” unlike his Republican counterparts. In July 2025, Texas answered Trump’s call to redistrict Democratic areas for the GOP. However, state Democratic leaders protested by leaving the state to avoid a vote that could advance the mission.
Maryland law outlines that congressional maps should be drawn by the state Assembly, a supermajority of Democrats. Moore would have to call a special session of the Assembly to move forward with the plan. Chaired by Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, the commission consists of Senate President Bill Ferguson, Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, former Attorney General Brian Frosh, and Cumberland Mayor Raymond Morriss.
However, leaders like Ferguson are seemingly opposed to the redistricting effort, citing high-risk legal issues in a letter. “Mid-cycle redistricting for Maryland presents a reality where the legal risks are too high, the timeline for action is dangerous, the downside risk to Democrats is catastrophic, and the certainty of our existing map would be undermined,” the Senate President wrote.
But Moore says that, for democracy, nothing is too risky, as both he and Ferguson agree that Trump has taken things to the limit, and it’s time for a change. “Where we differ is the urgency that this moment requires, the fight that this moment requires,” Moore said.
“And I personally am someone who is not going to allow Donald Trump to determine whether or not Maryland follows this idea of saying, are we going to do everything we can to make sure we’re preserving our democracy.”
The call for change comes after California voters’ historic vote to pass Proposition 50, according to The Hill, giving the state Legislature the green light to take over the state’s congressional maps until the state’s independent commission takes control in 2030.
Alabama State University Takes Home The Win At 10th Annual BE SMART HBCU Hackathon
The team’s winning App would address maternal health crisis in rural Alabama
As Black women are disproportionately affected by the nation’s maternal health crisis, students at Alabama State University (ASU) created a mobile app to address this and won first place at the 2025 BE SMART HBCU Hackathon.
“Winning this Hackathon is an incredible honor for our team. It reflects the hard work, creativity, and collaboration we’ve built together and highlights the strength of our school’s support for innovation,” said Oluwatodimu Jonathan Adegoke, a junior computer science major at ASU.
The 10th annual Hackathon, themed “Built Different, Built Brilliant,” returned to Charlotte Nov. 5 – 8, where Queen City Mayor Vi Lyles greeted students from more than three dozen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including two teams from Charlotte’s own HBCU, Johnson C. Smith University. She discussed the job opportunities available in the city.
“We need new engineers. We need people who are going to help us build a greater city,” Lyles told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We want people to come to Charlotte, North Carolina, especially these young people.”
American Airlines Vice President of Customer Intelligence Saba Beyene said that more than 50 former Hackathon participants have been hired by American Airlines, which returned as the Hackathon’s host sponsor. BLACK ENTERPRISE CEO Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., told the audience of more than 300 HBCU students about the importance of the Hackathon, which has helped fulfill a need over the past decade to recruit talented Black students into tech careers.
Preparing HBCU students for Tech Careers
On Nov. 6, Sponsor Day, students listened to sage advice and helpful tips from sponsors while also presenting their resumes during a career fair. Leaders from Verizon spoke to students about gaining visibility through intentional networking. Fidelity Investments leaders walked through useful tools for developing investment habits, and Toyota leaders shared professional and personal tips for building a meaningful career during the transition from college. Various leaders from American Air helped prep students for technical interviews and highlighted the company’s early-career talent development program, ADEPT. Representatives from each of these four companies also served as tech mentors and judges.
During the 24-hour coding competition from Nov. 7-8, each of the 62 teams was challenged with developing an app that solves an issue in their respective communities. Judges assessed the team’s application impact, technical complexity, and user-friendliness, and also rated teams on their pitch and presentation skills. All competitors were computer science, computer engineering, and cybersecurity majors.
A suite of prizes was offered to winners, including AAdvantage miles from American Airlines, savvy digital devices like laptops and gaming keyboards, branded blankets and bags, tumblers, and useful tech gear. Thanks to PepsiCo and McDonald’s, students from the top three winning teams collectively took home more than $100,000 in cash to split amongst team members. Additional sponsors for the 10th annual BE Smart Hackathon include The City of Charlotte, NASCAR, and Nationwide, marking the largest Hackathon sponsor pool to date.
Addressing Community Needs Through Technology
Via ASU’s proposed MomCare app, women in rural Selma, Alabama—some of whom team members said have to travel up to 100 miles to the nearest obstetrician—would receive expedited services via virtual consultations, answers on medication and food risks while pregnant, belly-bump photo assessments, and much more. The winning team members, in addition to Oluwatodimu Jonathan Adegoke, are Oluwakanyinsola Erinle, Abigiya Mesfin, George-Michael Kondoun, and Jamerio Robinson; all computer science majors, ranging from a sophomore to three juniors and one senior at the Montgomery, Alabama, HBCU.
Adegoke and Mesfin both competed in the BE SMART Hackathon last year and were excited for this year’s win.
“This experience motivates us to continue pursuing meaningful projects in tech that can have real-world impact,” said Adegoke, “and it inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our future careers.”
In second place was “Team Albert & Friends” from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. Their app allows users to locate food pantries by zip code and includes a feature that turns grocery store receipts into recipes.
In third place was “Team HackHouse” from Morehouse College in Atlanta. The quad developed Launchpad, an app that connects students to careers in technology, which was timely and relevant given the Hackathon’s objective to connect students to meaningful tech internships and career opportunities.
Team Albert & Friends from N.C. Central University placed 2nd at the 2025 BE SMART Hackathon.Team HackHouse from Morehouse College placed 3rd at the 2025 BE SMART Hackathon.
A team from Fisk University and from Grambling State University advanced to the top 5 and presented their apps on stage, after which the judges narrowed it down to the three winners.
See a complete list of winners’ prizes here. Prizes were also given to students who proudly represented their Hackathon experience in a major way on social media.
Follow Black Enterprise on Instagram to see highlights across the 2025 Hackathon.
SZA Partners With Jon & Vinny’s to Serve 1,400 Free Meals Amid SNAP Crisis
As millions of Americans face uncertainty over food assistance during the ongoing government shutdown, SZA’s NOT Charity teams up with a beloved Los Angeles restaurant to feed families in need.
As the nation’s most vulnerable brace for food insecurity amid a prolonged government shutdown, Grammy-winning artist SZA has stepped in to help. Her nonprofit organization, NOT Charity, has joined forces with the Los Angeles-based Italian eatery Jon & Vinny’s to provide 1,400 free meals to residents affected by the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
“Y’all know how much I love Jon and Vinny’s,” SZA wrote in a shared Instagram post with the restaurant on Nov 10. “But it ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none!!”
According to Jon & Vinny’s, the collaboration was born from SZA’s own outreach. “Last week [SZA] reached out to us with an idea and now, with her help, it’s a reality,” the restaurant announced. “Over the next seven days, we are partnering with her NOT Charity to provide 1,400 free meals (100 dinners for two per day) for Los Angeles community members who receive SNAP.”
Meals will be available for pickup at Jon & Vinny’s Slauson location from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily, beginning Nov. 11 through Nov. 17. The restaurant thanked SZA for “inspiring all of us to be there for our neighbors.” Recipients can sign up by emailing notcharity@jonandvinnys.com, with a limit of four meals per family.
The initiative comes as the future of SNAP remains uncertain for the 5.5 million Californians who rely on it. With the government shutdown now in its sixth week, many families are struggling to keep food on the table. The Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to maintain a freeze on full SNAP payments, despite lower court rulings requiring that benefits continue during the stoppage.
According to the Associated Press, the administration argues that resuming full funding could hinder negotiations in Congress. Meanwhile, the human toll is mounting — families skipping meals, food pantries stretched thin, and communities bracing for hunger just weeks before Thanksgiving.
On Monday, the Senate passed legislation to end the record-breaking shutdown and sent it to the House for approval. But as lawmakers remain gridlocked, SZA’s grassroots gesture offers immediate relief.
Military Vets Can Dine For Free At These Restaurants On Veterans Day
Each year, restaurants across America take time to honor individuals who have shown bravery and served the United States by offering them a free meal on Veterans Day. On Nov. 11, a host of chains and cherished local hangouts, from neighborhood diners and burger joints to coffee cafés and pizza kitchens, are paying it backward and forward. Feeding our former military service members is a collective thank you for their patriotism. Below are eight restaurants where veterans and active‑duty service members can enjoy a meal this Veterans Day.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar will present a full‑size entrée chosen from a select menu to veterans, National Guard members, Reservists, and active‑duty U.S. military personnel on Veterans Day. The promotion is dine‑in only and available nationwide at participating Applebee’s locations.
Chili’s Grill & Bar
In recognition of service, Chili’s Grill & Bar is providing a complimentary dine‑in meal from a special Veterans Day menu, giving vets a no‑cost dining experience. The free meal will be offered at participating Chili’s locations across the United States.
California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen will honor veterans and active‑duty service members with an entrée and beverage from a special menu at all participating locations across the country.
Olive Garden
Olive Garden hands out an entrée on Veterans Day to veterans and active‑duty service members. The offer appears at participating restaurants across the United States (double‑check whether the nearest spot is in on it).
Smoothie King
Smoothie King is extending a gratis 20‑ounce blend to veterans and active‑duty service members on Veterans Day, between noon and 3 PM (verify with your local store). This chilled, nutrient‑dense libation acts as a salute acknowledging their dedication.
In‑N‑Out Burger
On Veterans Day, In‑N‑Out Burger will treat veterans, active‑duty service members, reservists, and National Guard personnel to a burger meal, fries, and a beverage at all participating locations.
Denny’s
Denny’s offers free “Original Grand Slam” breakfasts (or similar free meals) to veterans and active-duty military personnel during breakfast hours on Veterans Day at participating restaurants.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack will hand out a “Big Shack” burger to veterans and active‑duty military personnel at participating locations across the United States a modest gesture meant to convey gratitude, for their service.
Formerly Incarcerated Man Warns How ‘5 Minutes Of Emotion’ Cost 20 Years In Prison
A resurfaced Facebook post by user “Felon Love” has sparked powerful online reactions after he shared how a single emotional decision led to two decades behind bars — and a lifetime of regret.
An Oct. 25 repost of a Dec. 21, 2024 Facebook post has gone viral for highlighting a vulnerable story from a user known as Felon Love about the events that led to him going to prison.
Felon Love began the original post, “5 minutes cost me 20 YEARS of my life because I made a permanent decision off a temporary emotion.”
He continued, “Here’s how it played out: 1 Minute: Felt disrespected. 3 Minutes: Fight broke out in the club. 1 Minute: Pulled the [gun].”
Felon Love then explained the result of the fight that escalated out of hand. He wrote, “20 Year Prison Sentence. Missed my son’s birth and his first 20 birthdays. Missed my daughters’ birthdays from ages 2-22. $100k in legal fees and a lifetime of “what ifs.”
Felon Love’s story has inspired an outpouring of emotional comments, with others offering their comforts, stories of their own, and pieces of advice.
One user wrote, “Controlling your emotions is not talked about enough! Hating someone more than loving yourself and your freedom is insane! I hope this post help others.”
Another agreed on the merit of the post to hopefully help other young men, writing, “A smart man learns from HIS mistakes, and wise man learns from OTHERS mistakes. Listen up youngstas.”
Some chimed in with stories of their own. “Yeah I just did 20 for something similar and owe more than that along with 15 years paper brother, but I am free and living right, keep ya head up fam we can make it right!”
According to Pew Research, nearly 47,000 people in the U.S. lost their lives to gun-related injuries in 2023, according to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The total — 46,728 deaths — marks the third-highest annual figure on record, including a record-setting 27,300 suicides. While overall gun deaths declined for the second year in a row, the numbers remain historically high. Firearms were involved in roughly 79% of murders nationwide, accounting for 17,927 of the 22,830 recorded homicides — one of the highest shares since 1968, when the CDC first began tracking such data.
Felon Love concluded his post with a piece of advice.
“ONE emotional decision cost me TWO DECADES away from my family, my freedom, and my life. Those 5 minutes of emotion can change EVERYTHING. The trade-off is never worth it. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT!!”
Roger Mayweather Placed One Boxer Ahead Of Legendary Nephew
"There is no fighter in the history of boxing to do what Ray Robinson has done."
Roger Mayweather, the uncle of undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr., revealed over 10 years ago that he believed his nephew was the second-best boxer in history behind Sugar Ray Robinson.
According to Boxing News Online, Roger Mayweather spoke about his choice in 2012 during a conversation with the media outlet. The elder Mayweather had a boxing record of 59-13 (35 knockouts) before turning his focus to training, including his nephew early in his career.
“[Floyd] is ranked right behind Sugar Ray Robinson. He won seven world titles, didn’t he? He beat everyone from 130 to 154 [pounds]. Where would you put him at? Ray Robinson is the greatest ever period. I don’t care what circumstance, Ray Robinson is the greatest fighter in the history of boxing.
“You know what his record was? 127-1. Do you know any other fighter with a record of 127-1? And the fighter that beat him, [Robinson] beat him six times, Jake LaMotta.”
He said that the only reason Robinson wasn’t undefeated was that LaMotta outweighed him by about 50 pounds. “Ray Robinson wasn’t even really a middleweight fighter but slowly he started putting that weight on and then he smoked [LaMotta] every time,” Roger Mayweather said.
Robinson, who died in 1989, actually ended his career with a record of 174-19 with six draws. During his career, he won the welterweight and middleweight division belts.
“There is no fighter in the history of boxing to do what Ray Robinson has done. But, fighters don’t fight that often anymore, [every] two weeks, three weeks, four weeks. Now they have that whole medical sh*t. Fighters can’t fight as often as they fought back in those days.”
Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired in 2017. According to TMZ, Roger Mayweather died in March 2020 at the age of 58.
Trump’s ‘No Tax On Tips’ Forces Restaurants To Shift Service Fees To Large Groups
Trump’s 'no tax on tips' policy may prompt restaurants to rethink service fees for large parties.
The new “no tax on tips” law could push many restaurants to reconsider their mandatory gratuity policies if they want qualified tips for employees under Trump’s latest tax regulations.
Under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, certain workers can deduct up to $25,000 in “qualified tips” per year from 2025 through 2028. However, this may pose a challenge for the restaurant and food service industry, as mandatory gratuities of 15% to 20%—commonly applied to parties of six or more—do not qualify for the deduction, CNBC reported.
Under the new policy, restaurants must process all tips through payroll, even if they hadn’t done so previously or had been incorrectly including service fees, so employees can take advantage of the deduction. This will increase pressure on restaurants to handle tips correctly. Jean Hagan of Eisner Advisory Group, which specializes in the restaurant industry, noted during a recent webinar for a major state restaurant association that many owners were surprised to learn that service fees should not be counted as tips.
“They’ve just always been doing it a certain way — passing on the service fees to employees as a tip,” Hagan said.
But under the OBBBA, that will now be required to change.
“They’ve got to clean their systems up and follow the law as it’s always been,” Hagan said. “If they don’t, the employee won’t get the full benefit of the new tax law.”
Changing the long-standing distinction between service fees and tips seems unlikely, despite efforts by restaurant advocates lobbying for a shift in how fees are treated. In September, the IRS issued proposed rules for the new “no tax on tips” deduction. While the rules are not yet final, there appears to be little flexibility, as the language in the OBBBA is clear: only voluntary tips qualify.
“Congressional intent is pretty clear,” said Andrew Lautz, director of tax policy for the Bipartisan Policy Center. “What’s unclear is how restaurants respond to that.”
The clock is ticking as restaurant owners and employees consider their options. With Trump’s OBBBA still new and the IRS finalizing regulations, restaurants and other businesses face a complex situation for employees seeking deductions in 2025.
The AICPA had requested that the Treasury Department and IRS provide a safe harbor for the 2025 tax year, which the IRS issued in early November. Under this guidance, employers will not face penalties for failing to separately account for amounts reasonably designated as cash tips or for the employee receiving them.
