2010 Tax Relief Act
2010 Tax Relief Act - Personal Income Tax
Over the past year, I was presented with numerous questions
about the possibility of significant tax hikes beginning 2011. Those who asked know that I generally would
answer that nothing would surprise me but I believed the Bush tax cuts would be
extended for at least another year.
On December 17, 2010, The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010
was signed into law by the President. The personal income tax
provisions in this law provide for an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts
which were scheduled to expire at the end of 2010. The 2010 Tax Relief
Act temporarily extends most of the tax cuts for 2011 and 2012 only.
Income Tax Rates
Individual income tax brackets will remain unchanged for 2011 and
2012, keeping the current structure ranging from 10-35%. The capital
gains tax and dividend rates will also remain as is for the next two years.
Payroll taxes are reduced by 2 percentage points. Social Security tax
rate for the employee-portion will be reduced temporarily to 4.2% for
2011 only. The employer-portion will remain at 6.2%. The Social
Security wage base remains at $106,800 for 2011. Medicare tax rates
unchanged. Self-employment tax rate is temporarily reduced 2 percentage
points to 13.3% for 2011 only.
Extension of Tax Credits
The Act extended many personal tax credits through 2012. These
credits were either scheduled to expire or reverted back to previous
levels in 2011.
- Child Tax Credit
- Earned Income Credit
- Dependent and Child Care Credit
- Adoption Tax Credit
- American Opportunities Credit
Estate Tax
The Estate Tax Credit was enhanced under the Act. The 2011 Estate
Tax exempts the first $5.0 million ($10 million for a married couple) of the estate and then imposes a 35%
tax rate on the reminder. This is a significant change from the 2009
level of $3.5 million exemption and 45% tax rate. Further, without this
provision, the estate exemption level would have revert back to $1.0
million. In addition, the law re-unifies the estate tax and gift tax credits. These changes in the estate tax may be the most sweeping of all changes in this bill.
Other Deductions
- For higher-end taxpayers, there is a two year extension to
the elimination of the itemized deduction limitation and the personal
exemption phaseout. Both of the temporary repeals have been extended
until the end of 2012.
- Retention of marriage relief penalty for certain tax brackets.
- Deductions for educator expenses, student loan interest,
qualified tuition and state sales tax have all been extended for one or
two years.
Conclusion
We are still studying the affects of this bill, but it is obvious that the 2010 Tax Relief Act provides many tax saving
opportunities for individuals. Please contact us for further
information regarding your personal tax situation.
