In this article, we’ll share some of the highlights of the tax changes for 2018 as they relate to individuals. Use this as a type of checklist, and feel free to contact us on any point so we can provide additional details as to how it might impact your situation.
Tax Bracket Reorganization
There will continue to be seven tax brackets, but the rates and thresholds have changed:
- 10% rate for individuals making up to $9,525 or married filing joint up to $19,050
- 12% rate for individuals making between $9,526 to $38,700 or married filing joint from $19,051 to $77,400
- 22% rate for individuals making between $38,701 to $82,500 or married filing joint from $77,401 to $165,000
- 24% rate for individuals making between $82,501 to $157,500 or married filing joint from $165,001 to $315,000
- 32% rate for individuals making between $157,501 to $200,000 or married filing joint from $315,001 to $400,000
- 35% rate for individuals making between $200,001 to $500,000 or married filing joint from $400,001 to $600,000
- 37% rate for individuals making over $500,000 or married filing joint over $600,000
Above the Line Deductions
Moving deductions and reimbursements—suspended through 2025 except for military service members who are changing duty stations. Employer reimbursements (other than military) will be included as taxable wages
Alimony—for agreements or modifications entered into after 12/31/18, alimony will no longer be deductible by the payer, nor will it count as income to the recipient. For a pre-2019 divorce, the old rules apply (payer can deduct payments and the recipient must pay taxes on them. The law does permit ex-spouses to modify an earlier divorce agreement to adopt the new rule after it goes into effect in 2019, but both spouses would need to agree to the change
Educator expenses—there is no change to the law where a teacher is allowed to deduct up to $250 paid out of pocket for classroom supplies and professional development courses
Dependent care—there is no change to the law. An employee can exclude up to $5000 per year from their gross income to provide for dependent care assistance.
Education Provisions
All education provisions remain the same for the following:
- American Opportunity Credit
- Lifetime Learning Credit
- Coverdell Education accounts
- Higher Education interest
- Employer provided education assistance
- Exclusion of qualified tuition reduction
- Exclusion for interest on US savings bonds used for higher education expenses
The only exception is the 529 plan, which now allows for the tax-free withdraw of funds if used for qualifying expenses for K-12 private and religious schools.
Tax Credits and Exemptions
Exemptions–the $4050 exemption per person (taxpayer, spouse, dependents) has been suspended, but don’t panic because the standard deduction has increased to offset this change
The Child Tax Credit–expanded to $2000 per child under the age of 17. More taxpayers will qualify for this deduction, as the phase out now begins at $200,000 AGI for single filers or $400,000 for MFJ filers
Non-Child Dependent Credit–allows for a $500 credit per non-child dependent. The same income phase out as the Child Tax Credit applies
Electric Vehicle Credit—credit has been retained and continues to be a maximum credit of $7,500
Adoption Credit—credit has been retained and continues to apply to an adopted child under the age of 18, with a maximum credit of $13,570
Alternative Minimum Tax
While AMT was retained, the exemption phase out has increased substantially. Old tax laws were $160,900 for Married Filing Joint, $80,450 Married Filing Separate, $120,700 single or Head of Household filers. NEW laws are $1 Million for Married Filing Joint, and $500,000 for all others
Standard Deduction and Itemized Deductions
Standard deduction has nearly doubled:
- Single filers = $12,000 deduction (up from $6,350)
- Head of Household filers = $18,000 (up from $9,350)
- Married Filing Joint = $24,000 (up from $12,700)
Itemized Deductions
Medical deduction has been retained and improved—for 2018, the threshold for deductibility is now 7.5% of Adjusted Gross Income (used to be 10% of AGI)
Itemized deduction phase out—the deduction limitation phase out for higher income taxpayers has been suspended
SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction—the SALT deduction has been capped at $10,000. This is a combined total of your property taxes + state/local taxes + DMV fees. In the past, the deduction was not limited
Mortgage interest deduction—full interest deduction allowed for up to $750,000 of indebtedness on primary/secondary home mortgage. For loans originated prior to 12/15/17, mortgage indebtedness can be as much as $1 million to qualify for full interest deduction. Home equity (includes second mortgages) mortgage interest can still be deducted so long as funds from the equity loan was used to buy, build, or substantially improve the home that secures the loan. The total of all loans must not exceed $750,000 ($1 million for loans originated prior to 12/15/17)
Charitable contributions—the deduction amount has increased, but charitable contributions cannot exceed 60% of a taxpayer’s AGI (up from 50%)
Miscellaneous deductions (subject to 2% of AGI)—miscellaneous deductions have been suspended through 2025. Some examples of these types of deductions are unreimbursed employee business expenses, union dues, tax prep fees, investment expenses, casualty losses
Affordable Care Act
The shared responsibility payment (penalty for not having health insurance) has been repealed and will go into effect in 2019
Do any of these impact you? If so, feel free to reach out so we can do some tax planning to avoid surprises in April 2019.