Ms. Shield, who studies nuclear engineering, and Vetri Velan, who studies particle physics, have teamed up to draw attention to the tax bill provision.

They have produced a rudimentary online calculator that students can use to calculate how their taxes will change. Mr. Velan wrote a widely circulated memo, explaining the tax provision.

Ms. Shield, who earns $35,000 a year and lives in a house in Berkeley with four roommates, says the tax increase will stretch her already strained finances.

“I limit myself to three coffees a week from coffee shops,” she said.

She said she understands that writing a tax bill is a complex task. But removing the deduction for graduate students “just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Mr. Vetri, whose taxes would increase by around 30 percent under the House tax bill, says researching the tax code was akin to exploring an alternate universe for him.