6. The tax bill also eliminated a two-year-old deduction for personal business income. Taxpayers could deduct up to $50,000 in business income that counted against their personal taxes. Instead of filing their own income, many small businesses and partnerships pay taxes by way of their owner's income tax statement. This is a break that was used by full-time workers who had outside business income - an office worker who picked up extra money mowing lawns on the weekends or a communication professional who took on occasional freelance assignments - as well as lawyers and doctors.