Author: taxteam_pjopel

TAX INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS¹

The Internal Revenue Service announced the tax year 2025 annual inflation adjustments, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. The tax year 2025 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2026.

The tax items for tax year 2025 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:

The personal exemption for tax year 2025 remains at 0, as it was for 2024. This elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 

Marginal Rates: For tax year 2025, the top tax rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $626,350 ($751,600 for married couples filing jointly). 

The other rates are:

• The Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount for exemption amount for tax year 2025 is $88,100 and begins to phase out at $626,350 ($137,000 for married couples filing jointly for whom the exemption begins to phase out at $1,252,700). For comparison, the 2024 exemption amount was $85,700 and began to phase out at $609,350 ($133,300 for married couples filing jointly for whom the exemption began to phase out at $1,218,700).
   
• The tax year 2025 maximum Earned Income Tax Creditamount is $8,046 for qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, an increase of from $7,830 for tax year 2024. The revenue procedure contains a table providing maximum EITC amount for other categories, income thresholds and phase-outs.
   
• For tax year 2025, the monthly limitation for the qualified transportation fringe benefitand the monthly limitation for qualified parking increases to $325, an increase of $10 from the limit for 2024.
   
• Health flexible spending cafeteria plans. For the taxable years beginning in 2025, the dollar limitation for employee salary reductions for contributions to health flexible spending arrangements increases to $3,300. For cafeteria plans that permit the carryover of unused amounts, the maximum carryover amount is $660, an increase of $20 from taxable years beginning in 2024.
   
• For tax year 2025 participants who have self-only coverage in a Medical Savings Account, the plan must have an annual deductible that is not less than $2,850, an increase of $50 from tax year 2024, but not more than $4,300, an increase of $150 from tax year 2024. For self-only coverage, the maximum out-of-pocket expense amount is $5,700, an increase of $150 from 2024.
  For tax year 2025, for family coverage, the annual deductible is not less than $5,700, an increase of $150 from tax year 2024; however, the deductible cannot be more than $8,550, an increase of $200 versus the limit for tax year 2024. For family coverage, the out-of-pocket expense limit is $10,500 for tax year 2025, an increase of $300 from tax year 2024.
   
• The annual exclusion for gifts increases to $19,000 for calendar year 2025, increased from $18,000 for calendar year 2024.
   
• Adoption credits. The maximum credit allowed for adoptions for tax year 2025 is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $17,280, increased from $16,810 for 2024.

RETIREMENT PLAN LIMITS^2,3

Retirement plan contributions are tax deductible. By putting money aside in a tax-advantaged retirement account, you are saving for your future and also reducing your taxable income. And remember, you have until April 15, 2025, to make your 2024 IRA plan contribution!

Catch-up Changes for 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plans³

The catch-up contribution limit that generally applies for employees aged 50 and over who participate in most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan remains $7,500 for 2025. Under a change made in SECURE 2.0, a higher catch-up contribution limit applies for employees aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 who participate in these plans. For 2025, this higher catch-up contribution limit is $11,250 instead of $7,500.

ROTH PLANS

For Roth accounts, you can only contribute to them if you make less than a certain amount of money. This salary amount was increased for 2025. Note that your contributions may be phased out at certain income levels so it is best to speak with your financial or tax advisor about your specific situation.

We know that proper tax planning is unique to every individual, and one strategy may not work for all. Our tax preparation services can help you optimize your taxes. Our certified tax preparers can not only help guide you through tax law changes but can also make sure you aren’t missing any deductions or credits.

The Tax Team provides the following services:

• e-file
• Same-day filing services
• 1040, 1040EZ, 1040x, Schedule A, C, & D
• Federal & State tax return preparation

CONTACT our tax specialists today to get started tackling your taxes.

SOURCES:

1.  ^{https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2025}
2. ^{https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/ira-year-end-reminders}
3. ^{https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-23500-for-2025-ira-limit-remains-7000}

Learn about what provisions are set to expire.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), enacted in 2017, represents a significant transformation of the U.S. tax code. As the most substantial tax overhaul in recent decades, it introduced numerous changes that have far-reaching implications for taxpayers. However, many of its key provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025, leading to concerns about what this “tax cliff” might mean for American households.

Key Features of the TCJA

• Effective Date: The TCJA became effective on January 1, 2018.
• Provisions Impacting Millions: The law affects numerous aspects of tax policy, including:
  • Changes to the standard deduction.
  • Alterations to the child tax credit.
  • Adjustments in income tax rates.
  • Modifications to various popular tax credits and deductions.

Potential Impacts of Expiration

• Tax Burden Increases: The Tax Policy Center estimates that approximately 53% of taxpayers could face an increased tax burden if key provisions expire.
• Tax Rate Changes:
  • For single filers with incomes over $38,700, the federal tax rate dropped from 25% to 22%.
  • Married couples filing jointly with incomes over $80,050 saw their rate decrease from 39.6% to 35%.
• Distribution of Benefits: Wealthier households (earning $450,000 or more) account for about 45% of the benefits from the TCJA, highlighting a trend where higher-income individuals receive more substantial tax reductions compared to lower-income taxpayers.

Major Provisions at Risk

• Standard Deduction:
  • Increased significantly:
    • Single filers: from $6,500 to $12,000.
    • Married couples: from $13,000 to $24,000.
  • Indexed for inflation but will revert to lower amounts if the TCJA expires.

• Child Tax Credit (CTC):
  • Increased from $1,000 to $2,000 per qualifying child.
  • Reverts to $1,000 and limits eligibility to children under 16 if the TCJA expires.
  • Changes to requirements regarding Social Security numbers may affect credit eligibility for some families.

• Personal and Dependent Exemptions:
  • Eliminated under the TCJA but will return if the law expires.
  • Prior to the TCJA, over 292 million people claimed these exemptions, representing significant potential savings.

• State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction:
  • Limited to $10,000, affecting taxpayers in high-cost areas like New York, New Jersey, and California.
  • Previously, there was no cap, allowing for unlimited deductions.

• Miscellaneous Deductions:
  • Changes include limiting deductible medical expenses and home equity loan interest.
  • Increased charitable contribution deduction rate from 50% to 60%.
  • Elimination of deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses, moving expenses (unless military-related), and others.

Implications for Higher-Income Taxpayers

• Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT):

• Income thresholds were raised, meaning fewer high-income individuals are subject to AMT.
  • The current threshold for 2024 applies to taxpayers earning above $232,600.

• Estate Tax Exemption:
  • Increased from $5.6 million to $11.2 million, with inflation adjustments bringing the current exemption to approximately $13.61 million.

Both the AMT and estate tax benefits will revert if the TCJA expires, potentially leading to higher taxes for wealthy individuals.

Business Tax Changes

The TCJA also implemented significant changes for businesses, including:

• Corporate Income Tax Rate:

• Reduced from 35% to 21%.

• Business Deductions:
  • Introduced a 20% deduction on qualified business income for pass-through entities.
  • Limited deductions for meals and entertainment expenses

• Immediate Expensing:
  • Businesses can fully expense certain qualifying assets immediately, a departure from previous depreciation rules. This provision allows companies to invest more upfront, which may lead to job creation and wage increases.

Future Considerations

The expiration of the TCJA’s provisions is a critical issue that will likely be debated in upcoming legislative sessions, particularly following the 2024 elections. Key points to consider include:

• Bipartisan Proposals: Various political figures have suggested expanding the Child Tax Credit and other provisions, indicating ongoing discussions about tax reform.
• Planning for Changes: Individuals should consult with tax planners to prepare for potential tax changes in 2026 and beyond.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has fundamentally altered the U.S. tax landscape, with significant benefits for many taxpayers. However, the looming expiration of many provisions raises concerns about future tax burdens and what changes may follow. As lawmakers consider the implications of the TCJA, taxpayers should stay informed and proactive in their financial planning.

It is practically a fact of life that you’ll eventually make some financial mistakes, if you haven’t already. Everyone makes some money missteps at some point in their lives, and sometimes these seemly simple mistakes can be significant.

Here are some of the biggest financial mistakes people make can end up hurting them in the long run, that you can learn from and hopefully avoid making yourself…

• Not Developing a Budget

Regardless of how old you are or your level of income, just about everyone should develop a budget and savings plan. Not having an official financial plan is a huge money mistake! Yet, according to a GALLUP survey, only 30% of U.S. households have a financial plan. Tracking your budget and savings on a spreadsheet allows you to see where you might be overspending and where you could be saving more, and can help you make better financial decisions.

• Skipping Health Insurance

If you are looking to save money, you may think about stopping your health insurance, especially when you realize you hardly go to the doctor at all. If you want to lower your health insurance costs, you may consider switching to a high deductible health insurance plan and start putting money into a health savings account (HSA) each month. This lets you save money you can use to cover the occasional doctor’s visit while also protecting you in the event of an emergency.

• Relying on Credit Cards

When you rely on credit cards just to get from one paycheck to the next, you are going to accumulate a lot of debt. If you do use credit card, make sure you pay them off in full at the end of each month to avoid building interest.

• Not Contributing to Retirement Funds

Procrastinating saving for retirement only hurts you in the long run. You should be making regular contributions towards your retirement. When you are in your twenties, you have a long way until retirement and the more you contribute now, the more your money can build over time.

Unfortunately, it is all too common to see the mistakes that people make when they are handling their finances. Living paycheck to paycheck is no way to meet your long-term goals. Making sense for your finances is an important life skill that requires knowledge and discipline.

Financial planning involves detailed savings and investing plans in order to realistically reach your goals and you may want to consider meeting with a financial advisor to help you develop your financial planning strategy. Work with one of our knowledgeable and experienced advisors to plan for your financial future.

CONTACT US to start getting your finances on track.

Have you clocked how your finances are doing?

Keeping your finances in order should be a full-time occupation — not that you should lose sleep over it, but that even while getting a healthy eight hours of shuteye, you should rest assured that your money is working for you as effectively as possible. Think of your wealth-protection plan the same way a fighter pilot assesses their personal security, as a clock face surrounding you from your 12 o’clock down to 6 and back again. A healthy financial wellness plan gives you the same 360 degrees of coverage.

This means more than just saving the hassle of getting your I.R.S. paperwork done correctly and on time. A certified tax preparer can keep you updated on changes to tax law, and help you find deductions and credits you didn’t know you had.

 The right insurance plans can protect your wealth, make your family more secure, and also generate income for you. Whether it’s a life insurance policy that guarantees a nest-egg for a stay-at-home loved one or a fixed annuity designed to provide steady return come what may, there are products out there that could play a key role in your financial well-being.

A good wingman watches your six, and a good financial advisor can talk you through all the goals you’d like to achieve … and all the challenges you might not expect. Could debt consolidation come with hidden costs, or could it lead to a surprising windfall? What hidden tools are in your reach that could pay for a kid’s college education or provide a little something extra every month? A regular checkup with a financial advisor might take a little time, but can also lead to a more profitable future.

Wherever you’re employed — at a 9-to-5 with a 401(k), a charitable non-profit with a 457 plan, or as an entrepreneur with a Roth IRA and a handful of other ways to save — there are always interesting options for making your money work for you. A financial wellness plan will look at those options and offer different ways to combine them to make the most of your long-term investments for the future.

Your financial wellness isn’t complete without taking into account those around you. Maybe you’ve got children or grandchildren looking forward to college. Maybe you’re the sole proprietor of a business with employees you think of as family. Maybe you’ve got a charitable cause you want to see flourish after you’re gone. It may be that you and your spouse are looking for the most effective way to combine your finances. Or it may be that you’ve inherited a small sum from a generous uncle and want to make the most of it. Any of these investments can flourish and make a difference as they grow. An advisor can help you encourage these family investments to flourish, and can help make transitions in wealth flow smoothly toward a positive future, bringing your financial wellness full circle.

CONTACT US

Sources: 

• https://www.legendlakewood.com/products-and-services is where the services come from
• https://www.investopedia.com/terms/v/variableannuity.asp Variable & fixed annuities.
• https://www.investopedia.com/articles/fa-profession/092316/why-financial-advisors-sell-life-insurance.asp adds more about insurance.

TAX INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS ¹

Recently, the Internal Revenue Service announced the tax year 2022 annual inflation adjustments, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes.

The tax year 2022 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2023.

The tax items for tax year 2023 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:

• The standard deduction for married couples filing jointly for tax year 2022 rises to $25,900 up $800 from the prior year. For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard deduction rises to $12,950 for 2022, up $400, and for heads of households, the standard deduction will be $19,400 for tax year 2022, up $600.
• Marginal Rates: For tax year 2022, the top tax rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $539,900 ($647,850 for married couples filing jointly). The other rates are:
  • 35%, for incomes over $215,950 ($431,900 for married couples filing jointly);
  • 32% for incomes over $170,050 ($340,100 for married couples filing jointly);
  • 24% for incomes over $89,075 ($178,150 for married couples filing jointly);
  • 22% for incomes over $41,775 ($83,550 for married couples filing jointly);
  • 12% for incomes over $10,275 ($20,550 for married couples filing jointly);
  • The lowest rate is 10% for incomes of single individuals with incomes of $10,275 or less ($20,550 for married couples filing jointly).
• The tax year 2022 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amount is $6,935 for qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, up from $6,728 for tax year 2021. The revenue procedure contains a table providing maximum EITC amount for other categories, income thresholds and phase-outs.
• For tax year 2022, the foreign earned income exclusion is $112,000 up from $108,700 for tax year 2021.
• Estates of decedents who die during 2022 have a basic exclusion amount of $12,060,000, up from a total of $11,700,000 for estates of decedents who died in 2021.
• The maximum credit allowed for adoptions for tax year 2022 is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $14,890, up from $14,440 for 2021.

Read the full list of tax adjustments for 2022 at the IRS website.

TAX BREAKS ^2,3 

The tax law changed and you may not be aware of all the tax breaks you are eligible to receive. Some standard deductions continue to climb in 2022 by $400 to $12,950 for single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately; $19,400 for heads of households, up $600; and $25,900 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses, up $800 from the prior year.

• School Teachers Expenses: In 2022, qualifying teachers can claim $300, up from $250 in 2021, for expenses paid or incurred for books, supplies (other than nonathletic supplies for courses of instruction in health or physical education), computer equipment (including related software and services) and other equipment, and supplementary materials used in the classroom.
• Student Loan Interest: The $2,500 deduction for interest paid on student loans begins to phase out when modified adjusted gross income hits $70,000 ($145,000 for joint returns) and is completely phased out when MAGI hits $85,000 ($175,000 for joint returns).
• Health Savings Account (HSA): For 2022 there are higher HSA contribution limits available. You can contribute $3,650 for individual coverage for 2022, up from $3,600 for 2021, or $7,300 for family coverage, up from $7,200 for 2021.
• Charitable Donations: The $300 charitable deduction ($600 for joint filers) that was available to non-itemizers in 2021 has not been extended for 2022.
   

RETIREMENT PLAN LIMITS ⁴ 

Retirement plan contributions are tax deductible. By putting money aside in a tax advantaged retirement account, you are saving for your future and also reducing your taxable income. And remember, you have until April 15, 2022 to make your 2021 IRA plan contributions!

ROTH PLANS

For Roth accounts, you can only contribute to them if you make less than a certain amount of money. This salary amount was increased for 2022. Note that your contributions may be phased out at certain income levels so it is best to speak with your financial or tax advisor about your specific situation.

YEAR-END TAX OPTIMIZATION TIPS

With tax season well underway and returns fresh on our minds, we may be looking to how to minimize how much we will pay next year. Many money-saving tax strategies need to be implemented by December 31st to have an effect on tax filing in the spring.⁵

If you’re looking for ways to increase your savings and minimize the amount of federal income tax you’ll pay for 2021, talk to your tax professional about implementing some or all of these savings and tax strategies:

• DEFER INCOME: Consider opportunities to defer income to 2022, particularly if you think you may be in a lower tax bracket then.
• ACCELERATE DEDUCTIONS: If you itemize deductions, making payments for deductible expenses before the end of the year (instead of paying them in early 2023) could make a difference on your 2022 return.
• MAKE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS: You can generally deduct charitable contributions, but the deduction is limited to 60%, 30%, or 20% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), depending on the type of property you give and the type of organization to which you contribute.
• INCREASE WITH-HOLDINGS: If it looks as though you’re going to owe federal income tax for the year, consider increasing your withholding on Form W-4 for the remainder of the year to cover the shortfall. 
• MAXIMIZE RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS: Deductible contributions to a traditional IRA and pre-tax contributions to an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401(k) can help reduce your taxable income. The window to make 2021 contributions to an employer plan generally closes at the end of the year, but you have until April 15, 2022, to make 2021 IRA contributions. 
• TAKE YOUR RMD: If you are age 72 or older, you generally must take RMDs from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The penalty for failing to do so is substantial: 50% of any amount that you failed to distribute as required.
• YEAR-END INVESTMENT MOVES: If you have realized net capital gains from selling securities at a profit, you might avoid being taxed on some or all of those gains by selling losing positions. Any losses above the amount of your gains can be used to offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income or carried forward to reduce your taxes in future years.

We know that proper tax planning is unique to every individual, and one strategy may not work for all. Our tax preparation services can help you optimize your taxes. Our certified tax preparer can not only help guide you through tax law changes, but can also make sure you aren’t missing any deductions or credits.

The Tax Team provides the following services:

• e-file
• Same day filing services
• 1040, 1040EZ, 1040x, Schedule A, C, & D
• Federal & State tax return preparation

Even if you didn’t make all these money moves by December 31^st for your 2021 taxes, you can start preparing to optimize your savings and taxes in 2022.

CONTACT our tax specialist today to get started tackling your taxes.

SOURCES:

1. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-provides-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2022
2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2021/11/10/irs-announces-2022-tax-rates-standard-deduction-amounts-and-more
3. https://www.ltcnews.com/articles/news/irs-reveals-2022-long-term-care-tax-deduction-amounts-and-hsa-contribution-limits
4. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-401k-limit-increases-to-20500
5. https://pensionmark.com/year-end-2021-tax-tips/