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For 2011 returns, if your dependent child (claimed as a dependent on your tax return) has no investment income, the child does not have to file a return if earned income does not exceed $5,800. If you child has more than $950 of investment income, even if it has no other earned income, your child must file a tax return. If the child's earned income is only from interest and dividends, and your child has no earned income, you can elect to report this investment income on your tax return

Only a small percentage of home sellers will pay the 3.8% surtax. Only those with incomes over $200,000 a year ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly) will be subject to it. The tax still won’t apply to the first $250,000 on profits from the sale of a personal residence — or to the first $500,000 in the case of a married couple selling their home.
The tax calculation will be the LESSER of the Investment income amount OR the Excess of AGI over the $200,000 or $250,000 thresholds x 3.8%.

Beginning in 2013, the threshold for deducting medical expenses as an Itemized Deduction will increase from 7.5% of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to 10% of AGI.
Taxpayers who are 65 and older, however, are granted an exception, and will still be able to deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of their AGI.
The exception for taxpayers 65 and older will continue through 2016, and all taxpayers will be subject to the 10% threshold in 2017.

IRA Contributions $5,500 - IRA Catch-up Contributions $1,000 - Defined Benefit Plan Benefit $205,000 - Defined Contribution Plan Allocation $51,000 - 401(K) or 403(b) Salary reduction deferrals $17,500 - 401(k) or 403(b) Catch-up Contributions $5,500 - SIMPLE plans $12,000 - SIMPLE plan Catch-up Contributions $2,500 - Salary for pension plan $255,000 - Salary for highly compensated employee $115,000 - Salary for Key employee $165,000 - Salary for SEP eligibility $550 - Social Security Taxable Wage base $113,700 -

The annual gift tax exclusion increases to $14,000 in 2013, up from $13,000 in 2012.

The amount used to reduce the net unearned income reported on a childs tax return subject to the kiddie tax has increased to $1,000, up from $950 in 2012.

The foreign earned income exclusion rose to $97,600 up from $95,100 in 2012.

The limit on employee elective deferrals is $17,500 for 2013. $17,000 for 2012 and $23,000 if age 50 or older ($22,500 in 2012)
The catch up contribution limit for employees 50 and over remains unchanged at $5,500.
Generally, all elective deferrals made to all plans in which you participate are aggregated to determine if you have exceeded these limits.

The health care legislation enacted in 2013 included a new tax that was designed to affect upper income taxpayers.
The 3.8 percent tax is imposed ONLY on those with more than $200,000 of adjusted gross income (AGI) ($250,000 on a joint return).
The tax applies to investment income, defined as interest, dividends, capital gains and net rents. These items are all included in an individual’s AGI.
The new tax does NOT eliminate the benefits of the $250,000/$500,000 exclusion on the sale of a principal residence. Thus, ONLY that portion of a gain above those thresholds is included in AGI and could be subject to the tax.

Generally, Net Investment Income will include interest, dividends,capital gains, annuities,royalties and rents and other income attributable to passive activities.
Gains on the sale of property not used in an active business and income from the investment of working capital are treated as investment income.
Net Investment Income is gross income or net gain reduced by deductions allocated to the income or gain.
It does not include distributions from qualified plans,401(k) plans, IRS's, and eligible 457 plans or municipal bond interest or life insurance proceeds.
The tax will not apply to the first $250,000 on profits from the sale of a personal residence, or to the first $500,000 in the case of a married couple selling their home.