What’s Happening to Federal Taxes

The following email from The Tax Foundation is a good starting place to understanding what is going on in Washington on taxes:

Today is a big day in tax reform. Minutes ago, a coalition of House, Senate, and Administration officials known as the “Big Six” released a joint framework for tax reform.

This isn’t the first plan we’ve seen surface, but it’s an important one.

This is the first unified statement of principles and policies from the parties directly responsible for overhauling our tax code and it means we’re one step closer to lasting reform.

Here’s an inside look at what’s on the table:

Personal Income Taxes
Tax brackets
Consolidates the current seven tax brackets into three brackets, with rates of 12 percent, 25 percent, and 35 percent. Leaves room for lawmakers to add a higher fourth bracket rate, to apply to high-income taxpayers. Suggests that brackets should be indexed to “a more accurate measure of inflation,” which may refer to chained CPI.

Standard deduction
Increases the standard deduction to $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married filers (currently: $6,350 for single filers and $12,700 for married filers). Eliminates the additional standard deduction and the personal exemption for filers.

Itemized deductions
Calls for the elimination of several itemized deductions, without identifying specific provisions. Calls for preserving the mortgage interest deduction and charitable deduction.

Family tax credits
Replaces the personal exemption for dependents with an expanded nonrefundable portion of the child tax credit (amount not specified) and a new $500 nonrefundable credit for non-child dependents. Increases the phaseout thresholds for the child tax credit.

Other tax credits
Calls for preserving tax credits for work and higher education, which probably refers to the earned income tax credit and the American opportunity tax credit.

Capital gains and dividends
No proposal regarding the tax treatment of capital gains and dividends. Calls for preserving tax benefits for “retirement security,” which probably refers to the current tax treatment of 401(k), IRA, and defined benefit plans.

Alternative minimum tax
Eliminates the alternative minimum tax.

Business Income Taxes
Corporate tax rate
Lowers the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent. Eliminates the corporate alternative minimum tax.

Pass-through tax rate
Creates a new maximum tax rate on pass-through business income, of 25 percent. Calls for, but does not specify, rules for combating abuse of a top tax rate on pass-through business income that is lower than the top tax rate on wage income.

Capital investment
Allows full expensing for capital investment for at least five years.

Tax treatment of interest
Calls for a partial limitation of the interest deduction for C corporations, with no additional details. Provides no details about the treatment of interest paid by pass-through businesses.

Business credits and deductions
Eliminates the section 199 manufacturing deduction. Calls for the elimination of other business credits and deductions, without identifying specific provisions. Calls for preserving the research and development credit and the low-income housing tax credit.

International income
Moves to a territorial tax system, in which foreign-source profits of U.S. companies are not generally subject to U.S. tax upon repatriation. Calls for, but does not specify, a global minimum tax intended to protect the U.S. tax base from cross-border income shifting.

Deemed repatriation
Enacts a one-time tax on previously accumulated foreign-source earnings. Calls for a lower tax rate on liquid foreign assets and a higher tax rate on illiquid foreign assets, but does not specify either rate.

Other Taxes
Estate tax
Eliminates the estate tax and generation-skipping taxes


Comments

What’s Happening to Federal Taxes — 12 Comments

  1. State and local income and property taxes are eliminated as deductions from the mix.

  2. So then if that’s true, Cindy, we will actually be DOUBLE TAXED by having to pay
    taxes on those three items you listed which we already pay taxes on.

    That’s a no go for me.

    This will also drive more homeowners out of Illinois because of outrageously high
    taxes we already have to pay on everything.

  3. The federal tax code on estates is complex, but the exemption amount is $5.5 million.

    That means til your estate exceeds $5.5 mil, your estate pays no tax at all.

  4. Just don’t go to California, New York, or New Jersey, Abe.

    They are the only three that will have it worse than us here.

  5. The link of Cindy’s post includes the following:

    “Also, the standard deduction would nearly double to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for married couples.”

    How many average homeowners would not come out ahead with this deduction increase compared to losing the property tax and state income tax deductions?

    Would this not level the playing field for people who rent?

    Maybe local tax expert, Steve Reick, can weigh in on this one?

  6. Questioning? I believe that would be more like gambling winnings. You were allowed to deduct your losses equalto your winnings but somehow it always meant you are going to pay. Sounds ok but ends up differently than you thought. Game is rigged. Period. Income tax is illegal anyhow. It’s all based on lies just like much of goverenment.

  7. Income pays the bills, your property is a $$$$$ pit.

    If any tax should be made illegal, it’s the subjective value property taxation.

    Bring on a local flat income tax with no deductions to pay for local services.

  8. Quick math: Woodstock homeowners who are FAIRLY assessed in a $200,000 home with a homestead exemption:

    $200,000-$18,000=$182,000

    $182000 X .042= $7644

    $7644 property tax no longer can be deducted, and that exceeds the amount standard deduction raised.

    (Doesn’t even address amounts paid in OTHER IL taxes (income taxes, sales taxes) which ALSO can no longer be deducted.

    This tax revision is a DISASTER for local real estate.

    (Some might say, buy a cheaper home?

    D200 school taxes $9000 per pupil per year.

    Do the math, you get breakeven property tax per household required is over $8000, so homes will just get cheaper naturally even as nominal tax obligation keeps rising steeply as in the past decade.)

  9. Or, if you are a Pritzker, disconnect a toilet and get an 80% assessment reduction obtained by certain lawfirms.

  10. Susan made me laugh so hard I inhaled my coffee!

    She’s hit the nail on the head!

  11. A very good reason to cut back the spending of Illinois and local governments.

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