The Latest in Tax Reform: What You Need to Know About The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Highlights of this version of the bill are as follows:

There are 7 new tax brackets at 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%.

The child tax credit increases to $2,000, with $1,400 refundable to taxpayers if they have no tax liability.  The income threshold under which filers can claim the full credit has increased to $200,000 for single parents and $400,000 for married couples.

The standard deduction is increased to $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for married filing joint taxpayers.

The following deductions and exemptions are reduced or eliminated:

• State and local income taxes, sales taxes and real estate taxes combined are limited to $10,000
• Interest expense on new mortgage loans is limited to debt of $750,000
• Home equity loan interest deduction is eliminated
• Moving expense deductions are eliminated
• Employee unreimbursed business expenses and other miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the 2% floor are eliminated
• Personal exemptions are eliminated

The following deductions which originally were going to be eliminated under this bill have been restored:

• Medical expenses
• Student loan interest
• Educator expenses

The alternative minimum tax exemption has increased to $70,300 for single filers and $109,400 for married filing joint filers.

The estate tax exemption doubles to $11 million per person.

The owners of pass through entities would be eligible to deduct 20% of the income with certain limitations.

Personal service business owners would be eligible to deduct 20% of their pass through income if their total income is less than $315,000 if married, or $157,500 if single, with certain limitations.

The corporate tax rate would be reduced to 21%.

Alternative minimum tax on corporations would be eliminated.

The individual tax cuts would expire December 31, 2025.

The corporate provisions would be permanent.

The Affordable Care Act has been repealed so that health insurance coverage is no longer mandatory after 2018.

How does this impact you?

Alloy Silverstein’s accountants and advisors will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Contact your CPA to discuss how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act may affect your individual tax planning strategy.

Related:

• Gov. Christie Orders NJ Towns to Accept 2018 Property Tax Prepayments [12/28/2017]
• What Does the Proposed Tax Plan Mean for Me? [11/06/2017]