Ask a CPA

In 2016, there is no increase in the Social Security wage base of $118,500. The Social Security tax rate on employers and employees stays at 6.2%. The Medicare tax rate on employers and employees stays at 1.45% on all pay. BUT...
In 2017, the Social Security wage base is raised to $127,200. The maximum amount of Social Security tax a taxpayer will pay in 2017 will increase from $7,347 in 2016 to $7,886.40 in 2017. An increase of $539.40.
in 2017, the Social Security tax rate on employers and employees stays at 6.2%. The Medicare tax rate on employers and employees stays at 1.45% on all pay.

The Income levels to qualify for health premium credit have increased. For fillers with household incomes ranging from 100% to 400% of the 2015 poverty level: $11,770 to $47,080 for singles and $24,250 to $97,000 for a family of four.

Recipients under the full retirement age can earn up to $15,720 between the ages of 62 and 65. people who turn 66 in 2016 will not loose any benefits if they earn $41,880 or less before they reach that age.
Recipients under the full retirement age can earn up to $16,920 between the ages of 62 and 65. people who turn 66 in 2017 will not loose any benefits if they earn $44,880 or less before they reach that age.

Various energy tax provisions extended through 2014 include: The credit for energy-efficient new homes;
The incentives for biodiesel and renewable diesel;
The credit for nonbusiness energy property;
The credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property;
The second-generation biofuel producer credit;
The production credit for Indian coal facilities placed in service before 2009;
The credits with respect to facilities producing energy from certain renewable resources;
The special allowance for second-generation biofuel plant property;
The deduction for energy-efficient commercial buildings;
The special rule for sales or dispositions to implement Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or state electric restructuring policy for qualified electric utilities;
The excise tax credits relating to certain fuels.

Business tax incentives extended through 2014 include: The increased expensing limitations and treatment of certain real property as Sec. 179 property;
The provision allowing 15-year straight-line cost recovery for qualified leasehold improvements, qualified restaurant buildings and improvements, and qualified retail improvements;
The bonus first-year depreciation (for certain property with longer production periods, the property must be placed in service before Jan. 1, 2016);
The exclusion of 100% of gain on certain small business stock;
The allowance for basis adjustments to stock of S corporations making charitable contributions of property;
The reduction in S corporation recognition period for built-in gains tax;
The work opportunity tax credit;
The Research & Development credit;
The temporary minimum low-income housing tax credit rate for non-federally subsidized buildings;
The empowerment zone tax incentives;
The military housing allowance exclusion for determining whether a tenant in certain counties qualifies as low-income under the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008,
The Indian employment tax credit;
The new markets tax credit (and carryovers of the unused limitation are extended through 2019);
The railroad track maintenance credit;
The mine rescue team training credit;
The employer wage credit for employees who are active duty members of the uniformed services;
The provision classifying certain race horses as three-year property;
The provision allowing a seven-year recovery period for motorsports entertainment complexes;
The provision allowing accelerated depreciation for business property on an Indian reservation;
The election to accelerate the alternative minimum tax credit in lieu of bonus depreciation (and special rules were added for round 4 extension property);
The enhanced charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory;
The election to expense mine safety equipment;
The special expensing rules for certain film and television productions;
The deduction allowable with respect to income attributable to domestic production activities in Puerto Rico;
The modification of tax treatment of certain payments to controlling exempt organizations;
The treatment of certain dividends of regulated investment companies (RICs);
The treatment of RICs as qualified investment entities under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act,
The subpart F exception for active financing income;
The look-through treatment of payments between related controlled foreign corporations under foreign personal holding company rules;
The temporary increase in the limit on cover over of rum excise taxes to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands;
The American Samoa economic development credit under the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006.

Tax incentives for individuals that are extended through 2014 include: The deduction for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers;
The above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses;
The treatment of mortgage insurance premiums as qualified residence interest;
The exclusion from gross income of discharge of qualified principal residence indebtedness;
The provision providing parity between employer-provided mass transit and parking benefits;
The deduction for state and local general sales taxes;
The special rule for contributions of capital gain real property made for conservation purposes;
The provision allowing tax-free distributions from individual retirement plans for charitable purposes.

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.

If you need help you can call the federal Health Insurance Marketplace at 800-318-2596.

In 2016, the penalty for not having health care coverage is the higher of 2.5 percent of your income or $695 per adult and $347.50 per child with a maximum penalty per family of $2,085
The penalty will be reported on your 2016 tax return.
In 2015, the penalty for not having health care coverage is the higher of 2 percent of your income or $325 per adult and $162.50 per child with a maximum penalty per family of $975.
The penalty will be reported on your 2015 tax return.
The penalty for not having health care coverage in 2014 was the higher of 1 percent of your income or $95 per adult and $47.50 per child with a maximum penalty per family of $285.

The maximum out of pocket cap for 2016 will increase to $6,850 for an individual and $13,700 for a family policy.
The maximum out of pocket cap for 2017 will increase to $7,150 for an individual and $14,300 for a family policy.
The maximum out of pocket cap for 2015 will increase to $6,600 for an individual and $13,200 for a family policy.
The 2014 maximum out of pocket cap was $6,350 for an individual and $12,700 for a family policy.