The Affordable Care Act: How will it affect your 2014 taxes?

Staggered start dates. Exceptions. Waivers. Are you still trying to determine how the health care laws will affect your 2014 personal and business federal income tax returns? We can help. Here’s an overview we’ve put together of some current rules. Here’s an overview of some current rules.

Individual penalty. The 2014 Form 1040 has a new line for reporting the “individual responsibility payment.” You’ll owe this penalty if you or your dependents did not have health insurance during the year and don’t qualify for an exemption schweizer-apotheke.de.

• The amount you’ll report on your 2014 tax return is the greater of $95 per adult and $47.50 per child, up to a maximum family penalty of $285, or 1% of your “household income formula.”

Individual premium credit. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a reduction in the cost of your health insurance premium during the year.

• When you signed up for insurance on the health insurance exchange, you had the option to use the reduction to offset your premiums as you paid them. Alternatively, you can apply for the credit when you file your 2014 federal income tax return.
• The amount of the credit depends on your income and family size.

Net investment income surtax. You may be familiar with this 3.8% surtax from last year’s return. It applies to net investment income – income such as dividends, interest, and capital gains, less related expenses – when your adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds certain levels.

• Those levels have not increased for 2014. When you are married filing jointly, the surtax applies if your AGI exceeds $250,000. When you’re single or filing as head of household, the AGI threshold is $200,000.

Medicare surtax on wages. As in 2013, this 0.9% surtax applies to wages, compensation, and self-employment income when your AGI exceeds $250,000 and you’re married filing jointly. When you’re single or filing as head of household, the AGI threshold is $200,000.

Business health insurance premium credit. Did you pay at least 50% of the health insurance premium costs for your employees during 2014? If you employed fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees and paid them wages of less than $50,800, you may be able to claim a credit of up to 50% of the premiums you paid.

• The credit is available even if you claimed it in prior years. Tax-exempt organizations can also benefit.

Business fee. When you self-insure your business health care expenses, you may have to pay a fee to help fund a healthcare research institute. The fee may also apply to your health reimbursement arrangement or health flexible spending arrangement.

Employer penalties. Depending on the number of workers you employ, you may be penalized for not providing health insurance and/or not providing affordable health insurance.

• Neither penalty applies for tax year 2014. However, you’ll want to review your workforce to determine whether the penalty will affect you in the future.
• Beginning January 1, 2015, the penalty will apply when 100 or more full-time employees work in your business. The penalty applies in 2016 when your business employs 50 or more full-time workers. When you employ fewer than 50 workers, you’re not subject to the penalty.

• Employer reporting. The health care laws included a requirement for reporting on Forms W-2 the cost of the health insurance coverage you provide to your employees. However, reporting is optional for 2014 when you file fewer than 250 Forms W-2.

A Quick Summary of New Tax Law Signed to Avoid Fiscal Cliff

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed by the President on January 2, 2013. The following is a quick summary of some of the more important provisions.

Payroll taxes. The most visible tax change in the new tax law is the 2% increase in the payroll tax. Everyone who draws a paycheck or has self-employment income will pay more in 2013. If you have $40,000 in wages in 2013, you will pay an additional $800 of payroll taxes over what you paid in 2012 on the same amount of wages.

Tax rates. The new law keeps the income tax rates the same as they were in 2012 for most taxpayers and makes them permanent. The new 39.6% tax rate will apply to single taxpayers making over $400,000 and couples making over $450,000.
Itemized deductions. The law puts limitations on the itemized deductions and personal exemptions for singles making over $250,000 and married couples making over $300,000.

Long-term capital gains.  The long-term capital gains rate will be 20% for singles making over $400,000 and couples making over $450,000. The prior 15% and zero rates will continue to apply to those in the lower brackets as they did in 2012.

Tax-free distributions to charity. The tax-free distribution to charity from an IRA by a taxpayer age 70½ or older is extended through 2013. Special rules apply to December 2012 and January 2013 distributions if the transfer is made to the charity by January 31, 2013.

Education. A number of education tax incentives were extended or made permanent in the new tax law.

Child tax credit. The new law makes permanent the $1,000 child tax credit.

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) has been permanently patched with a 2012 exemption amount of $50,600 for unmarried taxpayers and $78,750 for married taxpayers. The exemption amount will be adjusted annually for inflation.

Depreciation. On the business front, the 50% bonus depreciation and the $500,000 business expensing option are extended through 2013. There are also numerous business tax incentives extended through 2013.

There is much more in the new tax law. Please contact us for a review of your tax considerations under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.