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Itemized/Standard Deduction

2018-Itemized deductions-$10,000 State Property & Income tax Limitation

Asked Thursday, December 20, 2018 by an anonymous user
The combination of residential property taxes and Income or sales taxes is capped at $10,000.

Property taxes remain fully deductible for taxpayers in a business or for-profit activity, so taxes paid on rental realty can be taken in full on Schedule E.
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Adoption Credit & Expenses

2018-Adoption expenses

Asked Thursday, December 20, 2018 by an anonymous user
For 2018, the limit on the adoption credit as well as the exclusion for employer-paid adoption assistance is $13,810. The benefit phaseout range is modified adjusted gross income between $207,140 to $247,140.
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2018 Tax Law Changes

2018-Section 179 Expensing

Asked Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by an anonymous user
The PATH Act permanently extended the enhanced $500,000 maximum amount of expensing available (along with the $2,000,000 phase-out threshold) under §179.

Under the new law, for property placed into service in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, the maximum amount of expensing is increased to $1,000,000, and the phase-out threshold amount is increased to $2,500,000.

For tax years after 2018 these amounts will be indexed for inflation.
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2018 Tax Law Changes

2018-Adoption expenses

Asked Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by an anonymous user
For 2018, the limit on the adoption credit as well as the exclusion for employer-paid adoption assistance is $13,810. The benefit phaseout range is modified adjusted gross income between $207,140 to $247,140.
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2018 Tax Law Changes

2018-Estate and Gift Tax Changes

Asked Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by an anonymous user
For decedents dying and gifts made after 2017 and before 2026 the basic exemption equivalent exclusion amount is increased to $10,000,000 (with inflation adjustments).

For 2018, the exclusion amount is $11,200,000 per taxpayer or with proper planning $22,400,000 for a married couple.
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2018 Tax Law Changes

2018-Luxury Automobile Depreciation Limits

Asked Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by an anonymous user
Section 280F limits the §179 expensing and depreciation deductions (including bonus depreciation) with respect to certain passenger automobiles.

For passenger automobiles placed into service after December 31, 2017 the maximum amount of allowable depreciation is increased to $10,000 for the first year;
$16,000 for the second year; $9,600 for the third year; and $5,760 for the fourth and later years. Each of these amounts will be indexed for inflation in years after 2018.

The maximum first-year bonus depreciation (which was scheduled to reduce to $6,400 in 2018 and $4,800 in 2019) will remain at $8,000.

For property placed into service after December 31, 2017, qualified leasehold improvement, qualified restaurant and qualified retail improvement property will be subject to a 15-year recovery period and straight-line depreciation.
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2018 Tax Law Changes

2018-The Pass-Thru Entity Deduction

Asked Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by an anonymous user
One of the changes imposed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is the creation of new Section 199A, “Qualified Business Income”.
This new code section, non-corporate taxpayers (including trusts and estates) that have Qualified Business Income (“QBI”) from a partnership, S Corporation or sole proprietorship can take a deduction of up to 20% of the QBI.

QBI is generally defined as the net amount of income, gain, deduction and loss relating to a qualified trade or business and effectively connected to the conduct of the trade or business within the United States.

If the net amount is less than zero, the amount is treated as a loss from a qualified trade or business in the succeeding tax year.

Certain types of income are specifically excluded from being treated as QBI, and thus not eligible for the deduction. Investment income along with reasonable compensation payments, guaranteed payment to a partner for services rendered and payments for services to partners not acting in their capacity as partners are not included.

The deduction is a deduction from AGI in arriving at Taxable Income. It is not an or above the line deduction.

A limitation is imposed on income from certain specified service businesses, including businesses that perform services in the fields of health, law, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, consulting, athletics, financial services, brokerage services, investing and investment management, trading or dealing with securities and any trade or business where the principal asset of such trade or business is the reputation or skill of one or more of its employees or owners.

Specifically exempt from the definition of service business are engineering and architectural services.

For pass-through income from a service business, a limitation phases in when the owner’s taxable income (from all sources) exceeds $157,500 for single taxpayers and $315,000 for married taxpayers filing joint returns and is completely phased-out when taxable income exceeds $207,500 and $415,000 respectively.

A second limitation applies based upon W-2 wages and capital of a trade or business. In general, the deduction cannot exceed the greater of 50% of the W-2 wages of the business; or the sum of 25% of the W-2 wages paid plus 2.5% of the unadjusted basis, immediately after acquisition, of all “qualified property”.

Qualified property is defined as all tangible, depreciable property held by and used by the business at the close of the year.

The limitation based on W-2 wages and capital does not apply to any passthru entity owner with taxable income that does not exceed the $157,500/$315,000 threshold. Once income exceeds this amount, the W2/Capital limitation phases in and applies fully once the taxpayer’s taxable income exceeds the $207,500/$415,000 threshold
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2018 Tax Law Changes

2018-Earned income tax credit

Asked Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by an anonymous user
For 2018, the maximum credit amount is $3,461 for one qualifying child, $5,716 for two qualifying children, $6,431 for three or more qualifying children, and $519 for taxpayers who have no qualifying child. The phaseout ranges for the credit have been adjusted for inflation.
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2018 Tax Law Changes

2018-IRS mileage allowance

Asked Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by an anonymous user
The IRS standard business mileage rate for 2018 is 54.5 cents a mile
.
The rate for medical expense and moving expense for certain military personnel deductions is 18 cents a mile.

For charitable volunteers the mileage rate is unchanged at 14 cents a mile.
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2018 Tax Law Changes

2018-Premium tax credit

Asked Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by an anonymous user
For 2018, you are required to have minimum essential health coverage through an employer plan, a government program, or other plan, or pay a penalty. The mandate does not apply after 2018.

To help those of modest means pay premiums for coverage obtained from a government exchange (Marketplace), there’s a premium tax credit . Eligibility for this advanceable, refundable tax credit depends on your household income and other factors.

The credit continues to be available even though the individual mandate ends after 2018.
If you claimed the credit in advance when you obtained coverage for 2018, you have to reconcile what you already applied toward your premiums with what you are actually entitled to and the difference is reported on your tax return.

If you did not receive the credit in advance but are eligible for a credit, you can claim it on your return. If you do not claim the premium tax credit and qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), you may qualify for the health coverage tax credit of 72.5% of premiums
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