Year-End Tax Planning--Special Concerns for 2010
Year-end tax planning is as much about 2011 as it is about 2010. Often, there's a real opportunity for year-end tax savings when you can predict that you'll be paying taxes at a lower rate in one year than in the other. For example, under the right circumstances, deferring a year-end bonus or potentially accelerating deductions into the current year can pay off in a big way. Of course, to effectively plan, it helps to have a good idea of what next year's tax rates will be. Unfortunately, as 2010 draws to a close, 2011 brings some uncertainty in that regard.
Will there be higher tax rates in 2011?
Currently, there are six marginal federal income tax brackets: 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, and 35%. These brackets--the result of 2001 tax legislation--expire at the end of 2010. As things stand now, in 2011 the 10% bracket disappears, and the remaining brackets return to their pre-2001 levels: 15%, 28%, 31%, 36%, and 39.6%. Though it would take action by Congress, the president has indicated that he would like to permanently extend the 2010 rates for individuals earning less than $200,000 and married couples earning less than $250,000 (these dollar benchmarks would be reduced by an amount that reflected the standard deduction and exemption amounts), but allow the two highest brackets to return to 36% and 39.6% for higher earners.
What about long-term capital gains?
Currently, long-term capital gain is generally taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. If you're in the 10% or 15% marginal income tax bracket in 2010, though, a special 0% rate applies (in other words, you owe no tax on any long-term capital gain). The same rates apply to qualified dividends received in 2010.
These rates also expire at the end of the year. The maximum rate on long-term capital gain in 2011 will generally increase to 20%, with a 10% rate applying to individuals in the lowest tax bracket (special rules would apply to qualifying property held for five years or more). Qualifying dividends will be taxed as ordinary income. The president has proposed to permanently extend the 0% and 15% rates, with a new 20% rate applying to high-income individuals (those in the 36% and 39.6% tax brackets). Again, though, that all depends on what Congress does in the next few months.
Other considerations
* 2010 Roth IRA conversions: A special rule applies to Roth IRA conversions in 2010 that allows you to postpone paying federal income tax on the income that results from the conversion. Instead of including the taxable income that results from the conversion on your 2010 federal income tax return (still an option if you so choose), you can report half the income on your 2011 return and half on your 2012 return. Whether a Roth conversion makes sense for you depends on your individual circumstances, including your marginal income tax rate in 2011 and 2012.
* Alternative minimum tax (AMT): In a now-familiar pattern, legislation that temporarily increased AMT exemption amounts, forestalling a dramatic increase in the number of individuals ensnared by the tax expired at the end of 2009. Congress is likely to act, but the specifics are uncertain.
* Required minimum distributions (RMDs): The requirement to take minimum distributions from IRAs and defined contribution plans was temporarily suspended for 2009; minimum distribution requirements are once again in effect for 2010.
* Pending legislation: Legislation is pending to extend some popular provisions that had expired, including the ability to deduct state and local sales tax in lieu of income tax on Schedule A, the additional standard deduction for state and local real property tax, and the above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses. And additional legislation is likely, too, so stay up-to-date.
Provided courtesy of Taylor Financial
