Deductions and Write-Offs

For tax years beginning after December 31, 2016 and before January 1, 2019, medical expenses, for all taxpayers, are deductible to the extent that they exceed 7.5% of AGI.

In addition, the AMT preference related to medical expenses is eliminated.

For contributions made in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026 the 50% limitation is increased to 60%. Any amounts in excess of the new limit can be carried forward and deducted for up to five years (as was allowed under prior law).

For any contribution made in a tax year beginning after December 31, 2016, the requirement of a charity to provide contemporaneous written acknowledgement as substantiation for any contribution of $250 or more is repealed.

Beginning in 2018, no charitable deduction is allowed for any payment to an institution of higher learning in exchange for which the contributor is given a right to purchase seats at an athletic event.

Prior to the enactment of the new law, charitable contributions were deductible with certain ceilings based upon a percentage of AGI. A 50% of AGI limit applied to cash contributions to public charities and certain private foundations.

Pursuant to the Act, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, a deduction will only be allowed for interest on a debt that qualifies as Acquisition Indebtedness. No deduction will be allowed for Home Equity debt.

In addition, the Act reduces the amount of eligible Acquisition Indebtedness borrowing to $750,000 for any debt incurred on or after December 15, 2017.

A taxpayer who entered into a binding contract before December 15, 2017 to close on the purchase of a residence before January 1, 2018, and who actually closes on the acquisition before April 1, 2018, shall be considered to have incurred the Acquisition Indebtedness before December 15, 2017.

ii. The old Acquisition Indebtedness limits continue to apply to taxpayers who refinance existing Acquisition Indebtedness as long as the indebtedness resulting from the refinancing does not exceed the amount of the original debt.

For 2017, the deduction for Qualified Residence Interest was limited to interest paid on up to $1,000,000 of borrowing that qualified as “Acquisition Indebtedness” and up to $100,000 of borrowing that qualifies as “Home Equity Indebtedness”.
Acquisition Indebtedness being defined as debt incurred to acquire, construct or substantially improve a principal residence or a second home, with no restriction on the use of Home Equity Indebtedness.

Personal casualty losses occurring in a tax year beginning after December 31, 2017 but before January 1, 2026 are not deductible, unless the loss is incurred as a result of a federally-declared disaster

Beginning on January 1, 2017, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be 53.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, 17 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations. Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates. A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle.

In 2016, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck is 54 cents per mile for business use, 19 cents a mile for medical or moving purposes and 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

For passenger automobiles (other than trucks or vans) placed in service during calendar year 2016, the depreciation limit under Sec. 280F(d)(7) is $3,160 plus $8,000 first year special allowance = $11,160.
For passenger automobiles (other than trucks or vans) placed in service during calendar year 2016, the depreciation limit under Sec. 280F(d)(7) is $3,560 plus $8,000 first year special allowance = $11,560 for the first tax year,

For trucks and vans, the limit is $3,560 for the first tax year, $5,700 ($5,600 if in 2015) the second year, $3,350 the third year and $1,975 each successive year.
If placed in service between 2010 and 2012 then the allowed amount is $1,875. If placed in service in 2009 then the allowed amount is $1,775. If placed in service between 2004 and 2008 then the allowed amount is $1,875.

Section 179 limits are now locked-in by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 which allows businesses to write-off up to $500,000 of qualified equipment each year.
If you elect to expense section 179 property, you must reduce the amount on which you figure your depreciation or amortization deduction (including any special depreciation allowance) by the section 179 expense deduction.
You may elect to deduct all or part of the cost of certain qualifying property in the year you place the asset in service as opposed to recovering the cost over the assets useful life(depreciation). This choice is called a Section 179 Election.
Any disallowed amount in the current year may be carried over to future years.
The 179 deduction is reportable on IRS Form 4562. You can elect to expense part or all (up to $500,000) of the cost of section 179 property that you placed in service during the tax year and used predominantly (more than 50%) in your trade or business.