Alternative Minimum Tax

What is the AMT - Alternative Minimum Tax?

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

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.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit - Carryover

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

If the Child Tax Credit is larger than your tax liability, the unused part of the Child Tax Credit can be refundable as an additional Child Tax Credit.
The portion that is available for a refund depends on the number of children you have, your total earned income, and, sometimes, the amount of taxes you have paid over the year to Social Security and Medicare.
Use Form 8812 to claim the Additional child Tax Credit.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit - Amount allowed

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Taxpayers who make under the $110,000 / year are currently still allowed to claim $1,000 per child as their Child Tax Credit. Families making between $110,000 and $130,000 receive a reduced credit (specifically $50 per $1,000 made over $110,000).
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit - Age requirement

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

They must not have reached the age of 17 by the end of the tax year.
Children may be your blood children, grandchildren, step children, and / or adopted children. Foster children also fall under this category as long as they have lived in your home for the entire year in question.
Qualifying children must be citizens or residents of the United States who can be claimed as dependents by the taxpayer.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Child Tax Credit

What are the MAGI phase-outs in claiming the Child Tax Credit?

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Only those families that make less than $110,000 annually are eligible for the full credit. Families making between $110,00 and $130,000 receive a reduced credit (specifically $50 per $1,000 made over $110,000). Individuals who are unmarried must have earned under $75,000 to qualify for this credit. Taxpayers who are married but filing separate returns must have made no more than $55,000.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit - Qualifying Requirements

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

A qualifying child for purposes of the child tax credit is a child who is your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild, niece, or nephew) and
was under age 17 at the end of the current year,
Did not provide over half of his or her own support for the current year,
Lived with you for more than half of the current year
Is claimed as a dependent on your return,
Does not file a joint return for the year
Was a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a U.S. resident alien.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Retirement Savings Credit

Are contributions designated under section 414(h)(2) qualified for the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit?

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Contributions designated under section 414(h)(2) are treated as employer contributions and as such they are not voluntary contributions made by the employee. They do not qualify for the credit and should not be included on Form 8880, line 2.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Retirement Savings Credit

What is the definition of a student for purposes of claiming the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit?

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

You cannot take the credit if you are a student. You were a student if during any part of 5 calendar months of the current year you Were enrolled as a full-time student at a school, or Took a full-time, on-farm training course given by a school or a state, county, or local government agency. A school includes technical, trade, and mechanical schools. It does not include on-the-job training courses, correspondence schools, or schools offering courses only through the Internet.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Retirement Savings Credit

Is there an age or filing status limitation in claiming the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit?

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

You cannot claim the credit if the person(s) who made the qualified contribution or elective deferral (a) was born after January 1, 1994, (b) is claimed as a dependent on someone else’s 2011 tax return, or (c) was a student.
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory

Retirement Savings Credit

What is the AGI Limitation for claiming the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit?

Asked Thursday, January 05, 2012 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

You are not eligible for the credit if your adjusted gross income exceeds a certain amount. You cannot take the credit if either of the following applies: The amount of AGI on Form 1040, line 38 ; Form 1040A, line 22; or Form 1040NR, line 37, is more than $28,250 ($42,375 if head of household; $56,500 if married filing jointly).
CPAdirectory
Answer Provided by: CPAdirectory