The concept refers to a potential policy where earnings from hours worked beyond the standard workweek would not be subject to taxation. This would effectively increase the take-home pay for individuals who frequently work beyond 40 hours per week. As an example, an employee earning time-and-a-half for overtime would receive that premium pay without the deduction of federal, state, or other applicable taxes on that specific overtime amount.
Such a policy could be argued to incentivize productivity and reward hard work. Proponents might assert that this would provide a financial boost to working-class families and stimulate the economy. Historically, arguments around taxation have often centered on the balance between government revenue and individual economic well-being, with different administrations taking varying approaches.