| Federal Income Taxes: A Description ........... 1-1 | |
| Application of U.S. Individual Income Tax ........... 1-1 | |
| Gross Income ........... 1-1 | |
| Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) ........... 1-2 | |
| Taxable Income ........... 1-2 | |
| Standard Deduction ........... 1-2 | |
| Itemized Deductions ........... 1-2 | |
| Personal Exemptions ........... 1-3 | |
| Filing Status ........... 1-3 | |
| Rates & Tax Liability ........... 1-3 | |
| Tax Credits ........... 1-4 | |
| Rates, Tables, & Statutory Amounts ........... 1-4 | |
| Income Tax Rates - §1 ........... 1-4 | |
| Marriage Penalty - Mostly Gone ........... 1-6 | |
| Standard Deduction - §63 ........... 1-6 | |
| Dependent Limit - §63(c)(5) ........... 1-7 | |
| Additional Senior Deduction ........... 1-7 | |
| Personal & Dependency Exemptions (Repealed) - §151 ........... 1-8 | |
| Deemed Personal Exemption for Related Incorporating Provisions ........... 1-8 | |
| $500 (Family Tax) Credit for Certain Dependents - §24(h)(4)(A) ........... 1-8 | |
| Limitation on Itemized Deductions (Repealed) - §68 ........... 1-9 | |
| Earned Income Tax Credit - §32 ........... 1-9 | |
| Disqualified (Excessive Investment) Income - §32(i) ........... 1-10 | |
| Means-Tested Programs ........... 1-10 | |
| Social Security & Self-Employment Earnings Base ........... 1-10 | |
| Standard Mileage Rate ........... 1-11 | |
| Qualified Transportation Fringes ........... 1-11 | |
| Passenger Automobile Depreciation Limits ("CAPS") ........... 1-11 | |
| Expensing Deduction - §179 ........... 1-11 | |
| Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction ........... 1-11 | |
| Corporate Income Tax Rates ........... 1-12 | |
| 1993 Through 2017 ........... 1-12 | |
| 2018 & Later: 21% ........... 1-12 | |
| Withholding & Estimated Tax ........... 1-13 | |
| Estimated Tax - §6654 ........... 1-13 | |
| Social Security, Medicare & FUTA (or Payroll) Taxes ........... 1-14 | |
| FICA - §3101, §3111 & §3121 ........... 1-15 | |
| Employment Tax Liability ........... 1-15 | |
| SECA - §1401 ........... 1-16 | |
| Wage Base ........... 1-16 | |
| Additional Hospital Insurance Tax On Certain High-Income Individuals ........... 1-16 | |
| FUTA - §3301 & §3306 ........... 1-17 | |
| Employee Retention Credit Audits - §3111 ........... 1-17 | |
| Filing Status ........... 1-17 | |
| Marital Status ........... 1-18 | |
| Single Taxpayers ........... 1-18 | |
| Divorced Persons ........... 1-18 | |
| Sham Divorce ........... 1-18 | |
| Annulled Marriages ........... 1-18 | |
| Married Taxpayers ........... 1-19 | |
| Spouse's Death ........... 1-19 | |
| Married Persons Living Apart ........... 1-19 | |
| Filing Jointly ........... 1-19 | |
| Joint Liability ........... 1-20 | |
| Innocent Spouse Exception ........... 1-20 | |
| Nonresident Alien ........... 1-23 | |
| Filing Separately ........... 1-23 | |
| Special Rules ........... 1-23 | |
| Joint Return after Separate Returns ........... 1-24 | |
| Separate Returns after Joint Return ........... 1-24 | |
| Exception ........... 1-24 | |
| Head of Household ........... 1-24 | |
| Advantages ........... 1-25 | |
| Requirements of §2(b) ........... 1-25 | |
| Considered Unmarried ........... 1-25 | |
| Keeping Up a Home ........... 1-26 | |
| Qualifying Person ........... 1-26 | |
| Summary ........... 1-27 | |
| Qualifying Widow(er) With Dependent Child ........... 1-27 | |
| Gross Income ........... 1-30 | |
| Compensation ........... 1-31 | |
| Fringe Benefits ........... 1-31 | |
| Rental Income ........... 1-31 | |
| Advance Rent ........... 1-31 | |
| Security Deposits ........... 1-31 | |
| Payment for Canceling a Lease ........... 1-32 | |
| Social Security Benefits ........... 1-32 | |
| Taxability of Benefits – Old & New Blended Application ........... 1-32 | |
| Alimony & Spousal Support ........... 1-35 | |
| Alimony Restrictions & Requirements ........... 1-35 | |
| Pre-2019 Decrees ........... 1-35 | |
| 2019 & Later Decrees ........... 1-36 | |
| Pre-2019 Recapture ........... 1-36 | |
| Child Support ........... 1-37 | |
| Prizes & Awards - §74 & §274 ........... 1-37 | |
| Dividends & Distributions ........... 1-37 | |
| Ordinary Dividends ........... 1-37 | |
| Money Market Funds ........... 1-38 | |
| Dividends on Capital Stock ........... 1-38 | |
| Dividends Used to Buy More Stock ........... 1-38 | |
| Qualified Dividends ........... 1-38 | |
| Capital Gain Distributions ........... 1-39 | |
| Undistributed Capital Gains ........... 1-39 | |
| Form 2439 ........... 1-39 | |
| Basis Adjustment ........... 1-39 | |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) ........... 1-39 | |
| Nontaxable Distributions ........... 1-40 | |
| Return of Capital ........... 1-40 | |
| Basis Adjustment ........... 1-40 | |
| Liquidating Distributions ........... 1-40 | |
| Distributions of Stock and Stock Rights ........... 1-41 | |
| Taxable Stock Dividends and Stock Rights ........... 1-41 | |
| Discharge of Debt Income ........... 1-42 | |
| Exceptions from Income Inclusion ........... 1-43 | |
| Reduction of Tax Attributes ........... 1-43 | |
| Order of Reductions ........... 1-44 | |
| Foreclosure ........... 1-44 | |
| Nonrecourse Indebtedness ........... 1-44 | |
| Recourse Indebtedness ........... 1-45 | |
| Residential Mortgage Debt Relief - §108 ........... 1-46 | |
| Bartering ........... 1-47 | |
| Barter Exchange ........... 1-48 | |
| Backup Withholding ........... 1-48 | |
| Recoveries ........... 1-50 | |
| Itemized Deduction Recoveries ........... 1-51 | |
| Recovery Limited to Deduction ........... 1-51 | |
| Recoveries Included in Income ........... 1-52 | |
| Non-Itemized Deduction Recoveries ........... 1-52 | |
| Amounts Recovered for Credits ........... 1-52 | |
| Tax Benefit Rule ........... 1-52 | |
| Children's Income - §63, §73 & §6012 ........... 1-53 | |
| Earned Income - §73 ........... 1-53 | |
| Unearned Income ........... 1-54 | |
| "Kiddie" Tax - §1(g) ........... 1-54 | |
| Application, Threshold & Impact ........... 1-55 | |
| Election to Report on Parents' Return - §1(g)(7)(A) [Form 8814] ........... 1-55 | |
| Election Situations ........... 1-56 | |
| Definitions ........... 1-58 | |
| AMT Exemption for Children - §59(j) ........... 1-59 | |
| Exclusions from Income ........... 1-59 | |
| Educational Savings Bonds - §135 ........... 1-60 | |
| Income Exclusion ........... 1-60 | |
| Phase Out Limitation ........... 1-60 | |
| MAGI ........... 1-60 | |
| Notice 90-7 ........... 1-60 | |
| Education Expenses ........... 1-61 | |
| Excludable Interest ........... 1-61 | |
| Forms 8818 & 8815 ........... 1-61 | |
| Scholarships & Fellowships - §117 ........... 1-61 | |
| Definitions ........... 1-61 | |
| Work Learning Service Programs - §117(c)(2)(C) ........... 1-62 | |
| Scholarship Prizes ........... 1-62 | |
| Education Expenses ........... 1-62 | |
| Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) Under OBBBA - §25F ........... 1-62 | |
| Education Assistance Programs - §127 ........... 1-62 | |
| Student Loans ........... 1-63 | |
| Employer Educational Trusts - §83 ........... 1-63 | |
| Qualified Tuition Programs (QTP) - §529 ........... 1-63 | |
| Gift & Inheritance Exclusion - §2503 ........... 1-64 | |
| Subsequent Income - §61 ........... 1-65 | |
| Divorce - §1041 ........... 1-65 | |
| Business Gifts - §274(b)(1) ........... 1-65 | |
| Nominal Transfers to Employees - §132(e) ........... 1-65 | |
| Insurance - §101(a) ........... 1-65 | |
| Exceptions ........... 1-66 | |
| Purchase for Value Inclusion - §101(a)(2) ........... 1-66 | |
| Installment Payments - §61 ........... 1-66 | |
| Specified Number of Installments ........... 1-66 | |
| Specified Amount Payable ........... 1-67 | |
| Installments for Life ........... 1-67 | |
| Personal Injury Awards - §104 ........... 1-67 | |
| Personal Injury ........... 1-68 | |
| Emotional Distress or Mental Anguish ........... 1-68 | |
| Lost Wages or Lost Profits ........... 1-68 | |
| Punitive Damages ........... 1-68 | |
| Interest on a Personal Injury Award ........... 1-69 | |
| Tax Benefit Rule - §111 ........... 1-69 | |
| Interest on State & Local Obligations - §103 ........... 1-69 | |
| Foreign Earned Income Exclusion - §911 ........... 1-69 | |
| Nonbusiness & Personal Deductions ........... 1-72 | |
| Tip Income Deduction - §61 ........... 1-73 | |
| Eligibility ........... 1-73 | |
| Overtime Pay Deduction - §61 ........... 1-73 | |
| Eligibility ........... 1-74 | |
| Itemized Deductions ........... 1-74 | |
| Limitation on Itemized Deductions Suspended - §68 ........... 1-74 | |
| Personal & Dependency Exemptions (Repealed) - §151 ........... 1-75 | |
| Former Personal Exemptions ........... 1-75 | |
| Former Dependency Exemptions ........... 1-75 | |
| Former Phaseout of Exemptions ........... 1-75 | |
| Deemed Personal Exemption for Related Incorporating Provisions ........... 1-76 | |
| Interest Expense - §163 ........... 1-76 | |
| Personal Interest - §163(h)(1) ........... 1-76 | |
| Definition ........... 1-76 | |
| Deductibility ........... 1-76 | |
| Investment Interest - §163(d) ........... 1-77 | |
| Definitions ........... 1-77 | |
| Net Investment Income Limitation ........... 1-78 | |
| Qualified Residence (or Mortgage) Interest - §163(h)(3) [Form 8598] ........... 1-78 | |
| Definitions ........... 1-78 | |
| Limitations ........... 1-79 | |
| Acquisition Indebtedness ........... 1-79 | |
| Home Equity Loan Repealed ........... 1-80 | |
| OBBBA Changes ........... 1-80 | |
| Refinancing ........... 1-81 | |
| Home Improvements ........... 1-81 | |
| Timing – 24 Months or 90 Days ........... 1-81 | |
| Alternative Minimum Tax Co-ordination - §55 ........... 1-82 | |
| Points - §461 ........... 1-82 | |
| Home Purchase & Improvement Exception ........... 1-83 | |
| Refinancing ........... 1-83 | |
| Huntsman Case ........... 1-84 | |
| Mortgage Interest Statement – Form 1098 ........... 1-84 | |
| Business Interest - §163(j) ........... 1-84 | |
| Allocation of Interest Expense ........... 1-85 | |
| Education Expenses ........... 1-89 | |
| Work-Related Education ........... 1-89 | |
| Educator Expenses - §62(a) ........... 1-89 | |
| Medical Expense Deductions - §213 [Schedule A] ........... 1-90 | |
| Items Deductible ........... 1-91 | |
| Items Not Deductible ........... 1-91 | |
| Medical Insurance Premiums ........... 1-92 | |
| Medicare Part A ........... 1-92 | |
| Medicare Part B ........... 1-92 | |
| Medicare Part D ........... 1-92 | |
| Prepaid Insurance Premiums ........... 1-93 | |
| Meals & Lodging ........... 1-93 | |
| Transportation Expenses ........... 1-93 | |
| Permanent Improvements ........... 1-93 | |
| Spouses, Dependents & Others ........... 1-94 | |
| Reimbursement of Expenses ........... 1-94 | |
| Long-Term Care Provisions ........... 1-95 | |
| Long-Term Care Payments - §7702B(d)(4) ........... 1-95 | |
| Long-Term Care Premiums - §213(d)(10) ........... 1-95 | |
| IRA Withdrawals for Certain Medical Expenses – 72(t)(2)(B) ........... 1-96 | |
| ABLE Accounts - §529A ........... 1-96 | |
| Eligible Individual ........... 1-96 | |
| Qualified ABLE Program ........... 1-97 | |
| Contributions ........... 1-97 | |
| Investment Direction ........... 1-98 | |
| Distributions ........... 1-98 | |
| Charitable Contributions - §170 [Schedule A] ........... 1-100 | |
| Special Above-the-Line Deduction for Non-Itemizers ........... 1-100 | |
| Requirements for Deductibility ........... 1-101 | |
| Qualified Organizations ........... 1-101 | |
| Limitations on Contributions ........... 1-101 | |
| Five-year Carryover ........... 1-103 | |
| Contributions of Cash ........... 1-103 | |
| Benefits Received ........... 1-103 | |
| Benefit Performances ........... 1-103 | |
| Athletic Event Seating Rights ........... 1-103 | |
| Raffle Tickets, Bingo, Etc. ........... 1-104 | |
| Dues, Fees, or Assessments ........... 1-104 | |
| Contribution of Property ........... 1-104 | |
| Clothing & Household Goods ........... 1-104 | |
| Ordinary Income or Short-Term Capital Gain Type Property ........... 1-105 | |
| Exception ........... 1-105 | |
| Capital Gain Type Property ........... 1-105 | |
| Exceptions ........... 1-105 | |
| Conservation Easements - §170(b) ........... 1-106 | |
| Loss Type Property ........... 1-107 | |
| Vehicle Donations ........... 1-107 | |
| Fractional Interests ........... 1-108 | |
| Other Types of Contributions ........... 1-108 | |
| Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs - §408(d)(8)(A) ........... 1-108 | |
| Substantiation - §170 ........... 1-109 | |
| Cash Contributions ........... 1-109 | |
| Contributions Less Than $250 - §170 ........... 1-110 | |
| Contributions of $250 or More - §170(f)(8)(A) ........... 1-110 | |
| Payroll Deduction Records ........... 1-111 | |
| Noncash Contributions ........... 1-111 | |
| Deductions of Less Than $250 ........... 1-111 | |
| Additional Records ........... 1-112 | |
| Deductions of At Least $250 But Not More Than $500 ........... 1-112 | |
| Deductions Over $500 But Not Over $5,000 ........... 1-113 | |
| Deductions over $5,000 ........... 1-114 | |
| Contributions over $75 Made Partly for Goods or Services ........... 1-114 | |
| State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction - §164 [Schedule A] ........... 1-115 | |
| $10,000/$40,000 Cap or Exception ........... 1-115 | |
| Income Taxes ........... 1-115 | |
| Real Property Tax ........... 1-116 | |
| Accrual Method Taxpayers ........... 1-116 | |
| State & Local Sales Tax Deduction - §164 ........... 1-116 | |
| Personal Property Tax ........... 1-117 | |
| Other Deductible Taxes ........... 1-117 | |
| Examples of Non-Deductible Taxes ........... 1-118 | |
| Casualty & Theft Losses - §165 [Schedule A] ........... 1-119 | |
| Definitions ........... 1-120 | |
| Proof of Loss ........... 1-120 | |
| Amount of Loss ........... 1-120 | |
| Insurance & Other Reimbursements ........... 1-120 | |
| Limitations ........... 1-120 | |
| Allocation for Mixed Use Property ........... 1-121 | |
| Itemized Deductions Subject to 2% Floor (Repealed) - §62 ........... 1-122 | |
| Moving Cost Deduction & Reimbursement (Repealed) - §217 ........... 1-122 | |
| Credits ........... 1-125 | |
| Child & Dependent Care Expenses Tax Credit - §21 [Form 2441] ........... 1-125 | |
| Eligibility ........... 1-126 | |
| Employment Related Expenses ........... 1-126 | |
| Qualifying Out-of-the-home Expenses ........... 1-126 | |
| Payments to Relatives ........... 1-126 | |
| Allowable Amount ........... 1-126 | |
| Dependent Care Assistance - §129 ........... 1-126 | |
| Reporting ........... 1-127 | |
| Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) - §32 [Form 1040] ........... 1-127 | |
| Adoption Credit - §23 & §137 ........... 1-127 | |
| Qualified Adoption Expenses ........... 1-127 | |
| Exclusion from Income for Employer Reimbursements - §137 ........... 1-128 | |
| Child Tax Credit - §24 ........... 1-128 | |
| Credit Amount ........... 1-128 | |
| Qualifying Child ........... 1-128 | |
| Phase-out ........... 1-129 | |
| Refundable Child Care Credit Amount ........... 1-129 | |
| Earned Income ........... 1-129 | |
| AMT & Child Tax Credit ........... 1-129 | |
| $500 Credit for Certain Dependents - §24(h)(4)(A) ........... 1-129 | |
| American Opportunity Tax (formerly Hope) & Lifetime Learning Credits - §25A ........... 1-130 | |
| American Opportunity Tax Credit - §25A(b)(1) ........... 1-130 | |
| Phase Out - §25A(d)(2) ........... 1-131 | |
| Refundable Portion ........... 1-131 | |
| Lifetime Learning Credit - §25A(a)(1) ........... 1-131 | |
| Phase Out - §25A(d)(2) ........... 1-132 | |
| Ministers & Military - §107 ........... 1-132 | |
| Clergy ........... 1-132 | |
| Rental Value of a Home ........... 1-132 | |
| Members of Religious Orders ........... 1-132 | |
| Military & Veterans ........... 1-133 | |
| Wages - §61 ........... 1-133 | |
| Nontaxable Income - §134 ........... 1-134 | |
| Veterans' Benefits - §134 ........... 1-135 | |