Personal Taxes

AMT stands for Alternative Minimum Tax. The Alternative Minimum Tax was developed in 1969 to make sure that wealthy taxpayers didn't escape paying income taxes. The tax was meant to target high-income taxpayers who may have many deductions and can sometimes avoid paying any income taxes at all.
To make sure that all taxpayers with substantial income are not able to avoid paying tax, the law limits the benefit a taxpayer can receive from favorable treatment of certain deductions and preferences.
The Alternative Minimum tax is computed on IRS Form 6251.
If the Alternative Minimum tax calculation results in a higher tax then the Regular income tax, then the difference is added to the Regular tax computation.

The jury duty pay you receive is taxable and reportable on IRS Form 1040, line 21 as other income.
Any pay you gave to your employer during your jury duty period is deductible from Adjusted Gross Income on IRS Form 1040, line 21.

Your tax bracket is dependent on your filing status and your Taxable Income. Taxable Income is equal to your Gross Income, minus your itemized or standard deductions, minus your exemption amounts.
The tax bracket reflects the highest range of taxable income that your taxable income falls into and is taxed at that bracket rate. It does not mean that your "total" taxable income is taxed at that (10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%,) bracket rate.
Therefore your tax liability on your taxable income is a graduated calculation.
The bottom layer of income is taxed at the 10% rate and the next layer is taxed at the 15% rate and the next layer is taxed at the 28% rate and the next layer is taxed at the 33% rate and the last layer is taxed at the 35% rate. This yields an "effective" blended rate at which your total income liability is calculated.
The current year consisits of 6 tax brackets and 6 tax rates. Income tax rates for individuals for the current year are 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, and 35%.
The higher bracket and rates start at $8,701, $35,351, $85,651, $177,651, and $388,351 for a single person;
$17,401, $70,700, $142,701, $217,451 and $388,351 for married filing jointly and Qualifying Widower; $12,401, $47,351, $122,301, $198,0501 and $388,351
for head of household: $8,701, $35,351, $71,351, $108,726, and $194,175 for married filing separately.

Community property is property acquired after marriage in the states that follow the community property laws. These states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. The basis of the law is that both spouses form a partnership, and all property acquired during the marriage by the labor or skill of either spouse belongs to both spouses.

ER0 is the acronym for Electronic Return Originator. EROs have passed suitability and background checks by the IRS and are accepted into the Electronic Filing Program. This means that they can transmit tax returns via computer.

If you are insured for the full loss you incurred, but you do not file a claim, you cannot claim a deduction on your tax return.

Insurance policy premiums paid for the protection of your business covering such situaitons as embezzlement, burglary, accident, fire, storm, theft, workman's compensation, and public liability, are business expenses and are deductible.

You have three options for getting copies of your federal tax return information--tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts by phone, by mail, or online. The IRS online ordering method, Order a Transcript, is available and makes ordering simple. You may also request transcripts by calling 1-800-908-9946, or order by mail using IRS Form 4506-T. The IRS does not charge a fee for transcripts. A tax return transcript shows most line items from your tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. It does not reflect any changes you, your representative or the IRS made after the return was filed. A tax account transcript shows any later adjustments either you or the IRS made after the tax return was filed. This transcript shows basic data, including marital status, type of return filed, adjusted gross income and taxable income. If you need an exact copy of a previously filed and processed tax return and all attachments (including Form W-2), you should complete Form 4506, and mail it to the address listed in the instructions, along with a $57.00 fee for each tax period requested. The check or money order for the fee should be made payable to the "United States Treasury". Copies are generally available for returns filed in the current and past six years. Copies of jointly filed tax returns may be requested by either spouse and only one signature is required. Allow 60 calendar days to receive your copies.

If your name or social security number on your social security card is incorrect, or if you need to speak to the Social Security Administration, the phone number is 1-800-772-1213.