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2018 Individual Tax Rates | International Tax Lawyer & Attorney

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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 modified the tax brackets that existed in tax year 2017. In this short essay, I will discuss the new 2018 individual tax rates.

2018 Individual Tax Rates: Historical Background

Tax rates seem to change every time there is a new President. For example, when President Bush got elected in 2000, the Congress passed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 creating a new tax bracket and bringing the rest of the tax rates down; the top rate was gradually reduced to 35% from 39.6%.

Then, under the new administration of President Obama, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 increased the tax rates again with the top rate going back up to 39.6%.

2018 Individual Tax Rates: 2017 Tax Reform

Under President Trump, the Congress passed a major reform of the US tax system through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The tax rates were among the most important changes with respect to domestic US tax law.

While the tax reform preserves the same seven tax brackets for individual tax payers, it introduces new 2018 individual tax rates for almost each of them. Under the previous law, the tax brackets were 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, and 39.6%. Now, the new rates starting tax year 2018 are much lower: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%.

It is important to emphasize that these are not permanent changes. The new tax brackets will operate only through tax year 2025; starting January 1, 2026, the tax rates will return to those that existed in 2017.

2018 Individual Tax Rates: Income Thresholds for Tax Brackets Increase

In addition to lower tax rates, the 2017 tax reform also restructured the income thresholds that apply to most tax brackets. Generally, the income thresholds went up.

For example, in order to be subject to 39.6% tax in 2017, taxpayers filing a joint tax return must have had income in excess of $470,700. In 2018, in order to be subject to the top bracket’s tax rate of 37%, the same couple will have to have income in excess $600,000. The income of $470,700 would only trigger the 35% tax rate in 2018.

Sherayzen Law Office has long held the view that the increase in the income thresholds for tax brackets is especially important (perhaps, more so than the decrease in tax rates) to alleviate the tax burden of the middle class. However, we do note with alarm that the benefits might have been spread too widely to include the top 1% of the earners while the 10% bracket was kept essentially the same. We believe that this was one of the reasons why the Congress made the increase in income thresholds for tax brackets a temporary one despite the anticipated inflation pressures in the future.

Prepaid 2018 Real Property Taxes as a Tax Strategy | Tax Lawyers News

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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 radically changed the US tax system with respect to deductible state and local income taxes, including real property taxes. Starting tax year 2018, real estate, person property, income taxes and sales taxes are deductible only up to $10,000. This means that people with high property taxes have a big problem – they have an expense that is no longer deductible. A question arises for tax attorneys – can these taxpayers use prepaid 2018 real property taxes to lower their 2017 tax liability?

This issue of prepaid 2018 real property taxes is the subject of the latest IRS advisory issued on December 27, 2017. Let’s explore this advisory in more detail.

Prepaid 2018 Real Property Taxes That Were Assessed and Paid in 2017

The IRS advised that prepaid 2018 real property taxes may be deductible in 2017 under specific circumstances. In particular, the IRS stated that, in situations where 2018 real property taxes were assessed and paid in 2017, such prepaid 2018 real property taxes may be deductible.

Prepaid 2018 Real Property Taxes That Are Not Yet Assessed But Paid in 2017

On the other hand, if your real property taxes for 2018 were assessed only in 2018, the prepayment in 2017 will not be deductible in 2017. State or local law determines whether and when a property tax is assessed, which is generally when the taxpayer becomes liable for the property tax imposed.

Examples of Deductible and Non-Deductible Prepaid 2018 Real Property Taxes

The IRS provides the following examples of deductible and non-deductible prepaid 2018 real property taxes:

Example 1: Assume County A assesses property tax on July 1, 2017 for the period July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018. On July 31, 2017, County A sends notices to residents notifying them of the assessment and billing the property tax in two installments with the first installment due Sept. 30, 2017 and the second installment due Jan. 31, 2018. Assuming taxpayer has paid the first installment in 2017, the taxpayer may choose to pay the second installment on Dec. 31, 2017, and may claim a deduction for this prepayment on the taxpayer’s 2017 return.

Example 2: County B also assesses and bills its residents for property taxes on July 1, 2017, for the period July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018. County B intends to make the usual assessment in July 2018 for the period July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019. However, because county residents wish to prepay their 2018-2019 property taxes in 2017, County B has revised its computer systems to accept prepayment of property taxes for the 2018-2019 property tax year. Taxpayers who prepay their 2018-2019 property taxes in 2017 will not be allowed to deduct the prepayment on their federal tax returns because the county will not assess the property tax for the 2018-2019 tax year until July 1, 2018.

2015 Second Quarter IRS Underpayment and Overpayment Interest Rates

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On March 13, 2015, the IRS announced that the underpayment and overpayment interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2015, will remain unchanged. The rates will be:

three (3) percent for overpayments [two (2) percent in the case of a corporation];
three (3) percent for underpayments;
five (5) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
one-half (0.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.

How are the IRS Underpayment and Overpayment Rates Determined?

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points.

Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

What do the IRS Underpayment and Overpayment Rates Affect?

The most important impact of the IRS underpayment and overpayment rates is felt whenever the tax liability of a US taxpayer changes from the liability indicated on the original tax return. Most often, this happens as a result of an amended tax return filed voluntarily by the taxpayer or as a result of an IRS audit.

If, as a result of an audit or an amended tax return, the taxpayer is assessed with additional tax liability, the underpayment interest rate will be applied from the due date of the original tax return (usually, April 15) through the date of assessment of additional tax liability (or the date the amended tax return is filed). Conversely, if an amended tax return or an IRS audit produces a refund, then, the IRS is obligated to pay the overpayment interest rate on the refund due.

IRS Underpayment Rate and PFIC Calculations

The IRS Underpayment Rate has a surprising additional affect on a taxpayer’s liability. If a taxpayer owns a PFIC that is considered a Section 1291 fund, then, under the default PFIC method, he will need to calculate PFIC interest on the PFIC tax due. This PFIC interest is calculated at the IRS underpayment rates.

Estimated Tax Payments are due on June 15, 2012

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Estimated tax payments for the second quarter (April 1 –  May 31) of 2012 are due on June 15, 2012. The estimated tax payments should be made using Form 1040-ES. Note, if the due date for an estimated tax payment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the payment will be considered on time if it is made on the next business day.

Tax Lawyers Minneapolis | 7 Reasons To File Tax Return Even if You Do Not Have to Do It

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In some case, you may want to file a tax return even though you do not have to. Here are the top seven reasons for this course of action for the tax year 2010.

1. Tax Refund. If federal income tax was withheld from your paycheck, you made estimated tax payments, or had a prior year overpayment applied to this year’s tax, you may be entitled to a tax refund. You will only be able to get it if you file a tax return.

2. Making Work Pay Tax Credit. You may be able to take this credit if you had earned income from work. The maximum credit for a married couple filing a joint return is $800 and $400 for other taxpayers.

3. Earned Income Tax Credit (“EITC”). You may qualify for EITC if you worked, but did not earn a lot of money. Remember, EITC is a refundable tax credit; this means you could qualify for a tax refund.

4. Additional Child Tax Credit. This is also a refundable tax credit. It may be available to you if you have at least one qualifying child and you did not get the full amount of the Child Tax Credit.

5. American Opportunity Tax Credit. The maximum credit per student is $2,500 and the first four years of post-secondary education qualify.

6. First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. In order too qualify for the credit, you must have bought – or entered into a binding contract to buy – a principal residence located in the United States on or before April 30, 2010. If you entered into a binding contract by April 30, 2010, you must have closed on the home on or before September 30, 2010. The credit is a maximum of $8,000 or $4,000 if your filing status is married filing separately. If you bought a home as your principle residence in 2010, you may be able to qualify and claim the credit even if you already owned a home. In this case, the maximum credit for long-time residents is $6,500, or $3,250 if your filing status is married filing separately.

7. Health Coverage Tax Credit. Certain individuals, who are receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance, Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance, or pension benefit payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, may be eligible for a Health Coverage Tax Credit. The credit is worth 80% of monthly health insurance premiums when you file your 2010 tax return.

If you have questions with respect to whether you should file your tax return, contact Sherayzen Law Office NOW and discuss your case with an experienced Minneapolis tax attorney!