2016-late-breaking-tax-letter
2011 Q4 A Year of Uncertainty?
Officially, year-end tax planning is fairly straightforward in 2011. At year-end 2010, Congress extended many of the income tax laws that were in place at the time. Some laws were changed, especially in the estate planning area. For the most part, the tax law passed at the end of last year is effective for two years: 2011 and 2012. Therefore, you may expect to plan for year-end 2011 and for 2012 with some certainty. As this issue is written, however, the news from Washington is far from certain. President Obama and Congressional leaders are attempting to resolve federal budget and debt issues. Tax changes are possible, and such changes may affect year-end planning in 2011. Our office will keep you
2011 Q2 | Income Tax Rates Hold Steady
Tax legislation passed at the end of 2010—the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of2010—maintains the person in effect since 2003. In 2011 and 2012, those rates range from 10% to 35%. In 2012, we might see yet another debate on future tax rates. Capital gains and dividends The 2011 and 2012 tax rates ranging from 10% to 35% are on ordinary income: earnings, interest on savings accounts, pensions, and so on. For long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income (which includes most dividends received by investors), the top tax rate remains at 15% for this year and the next. Therefore, investors are likely to continue to seek dividend-paying stocks and all types of investments that may
2011 Q2 | Income Shifting
The annual gift tax exclusion for 2011 is $13.000. A middle-aged man could give his retired parents up to $26,000 of appreciated securities with no gift tax consequences. If he is married, the man and his wife could give up to $52,000 of appreciated securities to his parents and another $52,000 to her parents this year. The parents in this scenario would retain the original investor’s basis (cost for tax purposes) of the appreciated securities, if they are sold for a gain, and the original investor’s holding period. The new owners would have along-term gain on a sale of appreciated assets held more than one year. As long as the retired couple’s taxable income remains under $69,000 this year, the
2011 Q2 | Taxes on Bonds Bought at a Premium or Discount
The taxation of bond interest is relatively straightforward. Assuming the bonds are held in a taxable account, the interest on corporate bonds is generally subject to all income taxes: federal, state (if applicable), and local (if applicable). Treasury issues pay interest that’s subject to federal income tax but not state or local tax. Most municipal bonds pay interest that’s exempt from federal income tax. If you buy a bond issued in your home state, you probably will avoid all tax on the interest income. Plus or minus You may have a more difficult time figuring capital gain or loss on a bond, however. Bonds are issued at so-called par value (for example, $1,000 per bond). Then prices fluctuate as interest
2010 Q4 | Planning During Uncertain Times
Some of the tax laws that were passed in the early years of this century will expire after 2010. Next year, prior law could take effect. Alternatively, Congress may pass new tax laws effective in 2011-or even some laws that are retroactive to the beginning of2010. Therefore, tax planning for year-end 2010 is unusually challenging. The articles in this issue of the CPA Client Tax Letter are based on current law, as of this writing. However, Congress may act by year-end, changing current law substantially. Therefore, our office will keep you posted to let you know what changes, if any, have been signed into law and how they might affect your personal tax planning. Income tax In 2010, six federal