Federal Tax Increases Could Affect Lower and Middle Income Families

Tax cuts that were put into place by the Bush Administration are scheduled to expire at the end of this year. There could be some significant changes that will take people by surprise. The public has been led to believe that only tax payers in the top two brackets will face higher federal income taxes when the Bush cuts are gone. This may not be the case if Congress and the President fail to act. There are currently six rate brackets - 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33% and 35%. They will be replaced by five new ones: 15%, 28%, 31%, 36% and 39.6%. A few months back it was thought that Congress would keep the old brackets to protect lower and middle-income families. It is now uncertain if this will happen.

There will be higher capital gains and dividends taxes.Right now, the maximum federal rate on long-term capital gains and dividends is only 15%. Starting next year, the maximum rate on long-term gains will increase to 20%. The maximum rate on dividends will skyrocket to 39.6% unless action is taken to limit the rate to 20%, as the President has repeatedly promised. For people in the lowest two rate brackets of 10% and 15%, the current rate is 0% for long-term gains and dividends. Starting next year, those people will pay 10% on long-term gains and 15% and 28% on dividends (compared with 0% now) unless a change is made. Otherwise, taxes on long-term gains and dividends will go up for everyone.

Currently, the standard deduction for married joint-filing couples is double the amount for singles, easing the so-called marriage penalty (see this link for more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_penalty) that can force a married couple to pay more in taxes than when they were single. Starting next year, the joint-filer standard deduction will fall back to about 167% of the amount for singles unless Congress takes action and the President approves. If that doesn’t happen many lower and middle-income couples will face higher tax bills. In the current system, the bottom two tax brackets for married joint-filing couples are exactly twice as wide as those for singles. That ratio helps keep the marriage penalty from biting lower and middle-income couples. Starting next year, the joint-filer tax brackets will contract, causing higher tax bills, unless a change is made.

The tax cuts in place now offer tax relief to most Americans who pay federal income taxes. The scheduled demise next year will raise the tax bill of nearly every taxpayer, unless Congress makes changes and the President jumps on board.

C. Cohn
Cohn-Reilly Report

___________Comments

Erin Thak said.....
In the short-term some of the Obama Administration‘s policies and regulations may appear to be more toxic than they really are. Like anything else, time may prove otherwise. I remember thinking that NAFTA was a good, progressive idea, which after 15 years, has proven to have a horrific impact the US. NAFTA commenced an huge increase in outsourcing resulting in the loss of 1.7 million jobs, as well as suppressed wages, due to the extremely low cost of doing business in Mexico. As brilliant as Bill Clinton is, he was unable to see the long-term ramifications of NAFTA, nor was any of the geniuses in his administration. So I remain guarded but hopeful that in the long run, the best interest of the country is being protected. This administration can’t do any worse than the previous one.
JULY 15, 2010 11:27 PM


Charlie said.....
I agree about NAFTA and the prior administration. However, I hope the new regulation laws do not have adverse affects on the many good companies that are not guilty of unethical practices and actually employ most of us. Also, as I mentioned above, I hope the President and Congress are aware of the impact that the reversal of the current tax cuts will have; not only on the wealthier citizens, but on the lower and middle-income tax payers as well.
JULY 16, 2010 10:55 AM

Katherine said.....
I agree 100% with Erin, as you well know Charlie, given our recent debate. However, Your point is well taken regarding the reversal of Bush's tax cuts. I cannot imagine that (with the dozens of economic and financial advisors on the Obama Administration's advisory board) no one is emphasizing this critical issue to the President. Although the Republicans are normally not cheerleaders for the middle class, this is one time that I hope the Republicans make this point loud and clear.
JULY 17, 2010 7:10 AM

Charlie said.....
I agree that the Administration has an ample supply of advisory personnel. However, the year is slipping away and with all the current distractions including a war, regulation, health care, etc., will there be enough time to mount sufficient effort to tackle this issue? Also, it is not just The Administration that must act - Congress has to move too. We all know that nothing gets done overnight in Washington and December 31 is closer than you think.
July 19, 2010 6:03 AM