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Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Corporate & Individual Tax Rates

January 2018

 

Dear Clients and Friends,

This letter summarizes the changes to the individual and corporate income tax rates that take effect beginning in 2018 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

Rate changes for individuals. Individuals are subject to income tax on ordinary income, such as compensation, and most retirement and interest income, at increasing rates that apply to different ranges of income depending on their filing status (single; married filing jointly, including surviving spouse; married filing separately; and head of household). Currently those rates are 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, and 39.6%.

New rates. Beginning with the 2018 tax year and continuing through 2025, there will still be seven tax brackets for individuals, but their percentage rates will change to: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. The following tables show the dollar ranges of these new brackets.

 Single Individuals 2018 Income Tax Rates

 

If taxable income is:

The tax is:

Not over $9,525

10% of taxable income

Over $9,525 but not over $38,700

$952.50 plus 12% of the excess over $9,525

Over $38,700 but not over $82,500

$4,453.50 plus 22% of the excess over $38,700

Over $82,500 but not over $157,500

$14,089.50 plus 24% of the excess over $82,500

Over $157,500 but not over $200,000

$32,089.50 plus 32% of the excess over $157,500

Over $200,000 but not over $500,000

$45,689.50 plus 35% of the excess over $200,000

Over $500,000

$150,689.50 plus 37% of the excess over $500,000

 

Married Filing Jointly and Surviving Spouse 2018 Income Tax Rates

 

If taxable income is:

The tax is:

Not over $19,050

10% of taxable income

Over $19,050 but not over $77,400

$1,905 plus 12% of the excess over $19,050

Over $77,400 but not over $165,000

$8,907 plus 22% of the excess over $77,400

Over $165,000 but not over $315,000

$28,179 plus 24% of the excess over $165,000

Over $315,000 but not over $400,000

$64,179 plus 32% of the excess over $315,000

Over $400,000 but not over $600,000

$91,379 plus 35% of the excess over $400,000

Over $600,000

$161,379 plus 37% of the excess over $600,000

 

Married Filing Separate 2018 Income Tax Rates

 

If taxable income is:

The tax is:

Not over $9,525

10% of taxable income

Over $9,525 but not over $38,700

$952.50 plus 12% of the excess over $9,525

Over $38,700 but not over $82,500

$4,453.50 plus 22% of the excess over $38,700

Over $82,500 but not over $157,500

$14,089.50 plus 24% of the excess over $82,500

Over $157,500 but not over $200,000

$32,089.50 plus 32% of the excess over $157,500

Over $200,000 but not over $300,000

$45,689.50 plus 35% of the excess over $200,000

Over $300,000

$80,689.50 plus 37% of the excess over $300,000

 

 Head of Household 2018 Income Tax Rates

 

If taxable income is:

The tax is:

Not over $13,600

10% of taxable income

Over $13,600 but not over $51,800

$1,360 plus 12% of the excess over $13,600

Over $51,800 but not over $82,500

$5,944 plus 22% of the excess over $51,800

Over $82,500 but not over $157,500

$12,698 plus 24% of the excess over $82,500

Over $157,500 but not over $200,000

$30,698 plus 32% of the excess over $157,500

Over $200,000 but not over $500,000

$44,298 plus 35% of the excess over $200,000

Over $500,000

$149,298 plus 37% of the excess over $500,000

 

Bottom line. While these changes will lower rates at many income levels, determining the overall impact on any particular individual or family will depend on a variety of other changes made by the TCJA, including increases in the standard deduction, loss of personal and dependency exemptions, a dollar limit on itemized deductions for state and local taxes, and changes to the child tax credit and the taxation of a child's unearned income, known as the Kiddie Tax.

Capital gain rates. Three tax brackets currently apply to net capital gains, including certain kinds of dividends, of individuals and other noncorporate taxpayers: 0% for net capital gain that would be taxed at the 10% or 15% rate if it were ordinary income; 15% for gain that would be taxed above 15% and below 39.6% if it were ordinary income, or 20% for gain that would be taxed at the 39.6% ordinary income rate.

The TCJA, generally, keeps the existing rates and breakpoints on net capital gains and qualified dividends. For 2018, the 15% breakpoint is: $77,200 for joint returns and surviving spouses (half this amount for married taxpayers filing separately), $51,700 for heads of household, and $38,600 for other unmarried individuals. The 20% breakpoint is $479,000 for joint returns and surviving spouses (half this amount for married taxpayers filing separately), $452,400 for heads of household, and $425,800 for any other individual (other than an estate or trust).

A related change is that the future annual indexing of the rate brackets (and many other tax amounts) for inflation, which helps to prevent bracket creep and the erosion of the value of a variety of deductions and credits due solely to inflation, will be done in a way that understates inflation more than the current method. While it will not be very recognizable immediately, over the years this could push some additional income into higher brackets and reduce the value of many tax breaks.

Corporate income tax rate drop. C corporations currently are subject to graduated tax rates of 15% for taxable income up to $50,000, 25% (over $50,000 to $75,000), 34% (over $75,000 to $10,000,000), and 35% (over $10,000,000). Personal service corporations pay tax on their entire taxable income at the rate of 35%. (The benefit of lower rate brackets was phased out at higher income levels.)

Beginning with the 2018 tax year, the TCJA makes the corporate tax rate a flat 21%. It also eliminates the corporate alternative minimum tax.

If you have any questions, please contact our office.

Very truly yours,

 

  YOUNG & ASSOCIATES, LLC