← Guides · November 9, 2026
Track Your Tips and Overtime Now: What to Keep for Your 2026 Return
The new tip and overtime deductions are only as good as your records. With two months left in 2026, now is the time to check that you can prove what you earned.
What to keep
- Tips: card tips on your pay stubs, plus a daily note of cash tips.
- Overtime: hours paid above 40 a week and the rate you were paid. Only the premium (the extra half of time-and-a-half) counts for the deduction.
- Year-end forms: check that your W-2 or pay records show these amounts. If they do not, ask your employer.
A simple monthly log
| Month | Overtime hours | Regular rate | Premium (hours × rate × 0.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep | 20 | $24 | $240 |
| Oct | 25 | $24 | $300 |
| Nov | 30 | $24 | $360 |
Three months at those hours add up to $900 of overtime premium. At a 12% marginal rate, that is about $108 less tax, and the same habit applied to a full year grows quickly.
Limits and income phase-outs apply, so enter your own figures in the calculator and check the details with a tax professional.