Tax Information And Guide

Despite the new tax rate reductions of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, the top marginal tax bracket for many retirees is a whopping 46.3%. Why? Because Social Security benefits are subject to income tax. Those affected are Social Security recipients who have the good fortune (misfortune?) to be subject to both the 25% income tax bracket and the 85% inclusion rate for Social Security benefits.

Tax Software Here's how it works. First, you must understand how Social Security benefits are taxed. The income tax formula begins with the calculation of combined income. For all practical purposes, combined income equals adjusted gross income (not including Social Security), plus municipal income, plus one half of the taxpayer's Social Security benefit.

This meant that two single individuals with could each have $22, 400 (totaling $44, 800) taxed in the 15% tax bracket, before moving up into the more “expensive” 27% (now 25%) tax bracket. If they got married, then only $35, 450 would be taxed at 15% before moving into higher brackets. This current law changes this unfairness by making the 15% tax bracket for a married couple exactly twice the “width” of the 15% tax bracket for singles.

Software Tax So far, so good. If a married couple's income is under $32,000 ($25,000 for a single taxpayer), Social Security benefits are not taxable. If combined income is between $32,000 and $44,000 (or $25,000 and $34,000 for a single person), the taxable amount of Social Security equals the lesser of one half of Social Security benefits or one half of the difference between combined income and $32,000 ($25,000 if single). Up until now, it's not too complicated.

Harvard Professor Martin Feldstein, former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors for President Ronald Reagan, told the panel that reducing marginal tax rates and corporate income tax distortions are the top priorities for tax reform. Current marginal rates distort individual incentives, he explained, and the current corporate rate taxes dividends twice and promotes debt financing. He suggested enacting a value added tax (VAT), flat tax, or consumed income tax. But these would be hard to implement and cause major transition problems, he cautioned.

Every Landlord Tax Deduction Here's where the real fun begins. If the taxpayers' combined income is over $44,000 ($34,000 if single), the taxable amount of Social Security equals: the lesser of (1) 85% of the benefit, or (2) the sum of 85% of combined income over $44,000 ($34,000 if single) plus the lesser of $6,000 ($4,500 if single) or the amount of Social Security taxable under the old rules. Nobody ever said new tax laws created tax simplification.

Read the family finance guide from Moneynet.co.uk, providing information on family finance issues such as child trust funds (CTF's) and child tax credits.

Tax Help Here's how we come up with that 46.3% bracket. In order to illustrate an increase in the marginal tax, you have to compute taxable income. Taxable income, as we all know, is net of allowable deductions and exemptions. The standard deduction (that many retired people claim), personal exemptions and the tax brackets are all adjusted annually for inflation.

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Help Tax Assume Hank is over 65, files single, utilizes the standard deduction, and has total 2006 adjusted gross income (exclusive of Social Security benefits) of $39,000 and receives $21,900 in Social Security benefits. That makes his income $49,950 (39,000 + (21,900 x .5)). He exceeds the threshold, so taxable Social Security equals the lesser of (1) $18,615 (85% of $21,900), or (2) the sum of $13,558 (($49,950 - $34,000) x 85%) and $4,500. Since $18,058 is less than $18,615 the taxable amount of his Social Security benefits equals $18,058.

Ernst Ernst Guide Guide Tax That makes his final adjusted gross income $57,058 ($39,000 plus $18,058). After he takes his 2006 standard deduction of $6,400 ($5,150 + $1,250 for age 65 or over) and a personal exemption of $3,300, his taxable income is $47,358. That puts him in the 25% marginal tax bracket. If Hank's income goes up by $10 of taxable income he will pay $2.50 in taxes on that $10 plus $2.13 in tax on the additional $8.50 of Social Security benefits that will become taxable. Combine $2.50 and $2.13 and you get $4.63 or a 46.5% tax on a $10 swing in taxable income. Bingo...a 46.3% marginal bracket.

Tax Return Check with your financial planner or tax advisor about how changes in your investments and income can affect your overall tax picture.

Return Tax "Can somebody please help me watch, manage, invest or oversee my 401k" is the question Mr. Morris hears most often that causes him the most concern. Fearing the American worker is being left in the dark, Mr. Morris, a fee based Investment Advisor Representative, based in Central Ohio, with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., helps 401k participants get the most out of their retirement plan. Let Ken Morris be your 401k Watchdog, with InvestMy401k.

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