2021 Instructions for Form 6251
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Key Elements of the U.S. Tax System
TAX POLICY CENTER BRIEFING BOOK Key Elements of the U.S. Tax System TAXES AND THE FAMILY What are marriage penalties and bonuses? XXXX Q. What are marriage penalties and bonuses? A. A couple incurs a marriage penalty if the two pay more income tax filing as a married couple than they would pay if they were single and filed as individuals. Conversely, a couple receives a marriage bonus if they pay less tax filing as a couple than they would if they were single. CAUSES OF MARRIAGE BONUSES AND PENALTIES Marriage penalties and bonuses occur because income taxes apply to a couple, not to individual spouses. Under a progressive income tax, a couple’s income can be taxed more or less than that of two single individuals. A couple is not obliged to file a joint tax return, but their alternative—filing separate returns as a married couple—almost always results in higher tax liability. Married couples with children are more likely to incur marriage penalties than couples without children because one or both spouses could use the head of household filing status if they were able to file as singles. And tax provisions that phase in or out with income also produce marriage penalties or bonuses. Marriage penalties are more common when spouses have similar incomes. Marriage bonuses are more common when spouses have disparate incomes. Overall, couples receiving bonuses greatly outnumber those incurring penalties. MARRIAGE PENALTIES Couples in which spouses have similar incomes are more likely to incur marriage penalties than couples in which one spouse earns most of the income, because combining incomes in joint filing can push both spouses into higher tax brackets. -
Tax Strategies for Selling Your Company by David Boatwright and Agnes Gesiko Latham & Watkins LLP
Tax Strategies For Selling Your Company By David Boatwright and Agnes Gesiko Latham & Watkins LLP The tax consequences of an asset sale by an entity can be very different than the consequences of a sale of the outstanding equity interests in the entity, and the use of buyer equity interests as acquisition currency may produce very different tax consequences than the use of cash or other property. This article explores certain of those differences and sets forth related strategies for maximizing the seller’s after-tax cash flow from a sale transaction. Taxes on the Sale of a Business The tax law presumes that gain or loss results upon the sale or exchange of property. This gain or loss must be reported on a tax return, unless a specific exception set forth in the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) or the Treasury Department’s income tax regulations provide otherwise. When a transaction is taxable under applicable principles of income tax law, the seller’s taxable gain is determined by the following formula: the “amount realized” over the “adjusted tax basis” of the assets sold equals “taxable gain.” If the adjusted tax basis exceeds the amount realized, the seller has a “tax loss.” The amount realized is the amount paid by the buyer, including any debt assumed by the buyer. The adjusted tax basis of each asset sold is generally the amount originally paid for the asset, plus amounts expended to improve the asset (which were not deducted when paid), less depreciation or amortization deductions (if any) previously allowable with respect to the asset. -
Identifying Section 1231, 1245 and 1250 Gains, 0% Bracket and Form 4797
FOR LIVE PROGRAM ONLY Fundamentals of Capital Gains: Identifying Section 1231, 1245 and 1250 Gains, 0% Bracket and Form 4797 TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020, 1:00-2:50 pm Eastern IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE LIVE PROGRAM This program is approved for 2 CPE credit hours. To earn credit you must: • Participate in the program on your own computer connection (no sharing) – if you need to register additional people, please call customer service at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 1 (or 404-881-1141 ext. 1). Strafford accepts American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover. • Listen on-line via your computer speakers. • Respond to five prompts during the program plus a single verification code. • To earn full credit, you must remain connected for the entire program. WHO TO CONTACT DURING THE LIVE PROGRAM For Additional Registrations: -Call Strafford Customer Service 1-800-926-7926 x1 (or 404-881-1141 x1) For Assistance During the Live Program: -On the web, use the chat box at the bottom left of the screen If you get disconnected during the program, you can simply log in using your original instructions and PIN. Tips for Optimal Quality FOR LIVE PROGRAM ONLY Sound Quality When listening via your computer speakers, please note that the quality of your sound will vary depending on the speed and quality of your internet connection. If the sound quality is not satisfactory, please e-mail [email protected] immediately so we can address the problem. Fundamentals of Capital Gains: Identifying Section 1231, 1245 and 1250 Gains, 0% Bracket and Form 4797 January 21, 2020 -
Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate
Employee’s Withholding Certificate OMB No. 1545-0074 Form W-4 ▶ (Rev. December 2020) Complete Form W-4 so that your employer can withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay. ▶ Department of the Treasury Give Form W-4 to your employer. 2021 Internal Revenue Service ▶ Your withholding is subject to review by the IRS. Step 1: (a) First name and middle initial Last name (b) Social security number Enter Address ▶ Does your name match the Personal name on your social security card? If not, to ensure you get Information City or town, state, and ZIP code credit for your earnings, contact SSA at 800-772-1213 or go to www.ssa.gov. (c) Single or Married filing separately Married filing jointly or Qualifying widow(er) Head of household (Check only if you’re unmarried and pay more than half the costs of keeping up a home for yourself and a qualifying individual.) Complete Steps 2–4 ONLY if they apply to you; otherwise, skip to Step 5. See page 2 for more information on each step, who can claim exemption from withholding, when to use the estimator at www.irs.gov/W4App, and privacy. Step 2: Complete this step if you (1) hold more than one job at a time, or (2) are married filing jointly and your spouse Multiple Jobs also works. The correct amount of withholding depends on income earned from all of these jobs. or Spouse Do only one of the following. Works (a) Use the estimator at www.irs.gov/W4App for most accurate withholding for this step (and Steps 3–4); or (b) Use the Multiple Jobs Worksheet on page 3 and enter the result in Step 4(c) below for roughly accurate withholding; or (c) If there are only two jobs total, you may check this box. -
ITEMIZING on STATE and FEDERAL TAX INCOME RETURNS: IT’S (NOW MORE) COMPLICATED David Weiner December 2, 2020
ITEMIZING ON STATE AND FEDERAL TAX INCOME RETURNS: IT’S (NOW MORE) COMPLICATED David Weiner December 2, 2020 A taxpayer’s decision to itemize deductions or to claim the standard deduction on their income tax return is often framed as a simple calculation: Claim the greater of the two so as to minimize tax liability. But in states that require taxpayers to use the same status on their state income tax return as on their federal return, this general rule can produce conflicting results if taxpayers examine liability separately on their federal and state returns. Itemized deductions might be greater than the standard deduction on a state income tax return, but the reverse could be true on a federal return. Recent federal law changes have further complicated the choice. When the federal standard deduction was nearly doubled beginning in 2018, many more taxpayers found a conflict between the best itemization scenario on federal and state income tax returns. Those taxpayers must now calculate their federal and state income taxes under both scenarios if they want to minimize their combined state and federal income tax liability. Many taxpayers in states that link federal and state itemization choices are affected. In Maryland, for example, more than 200,000 taxpayers could benefit by itemizing on their federal returns when that may not be the obvious choice. In this brief, I examine the links between federal and state itemization decisions and explore the implications of relaxing state rules requiring that state itemization choices match federal ones. elatively few federal taxpayers itemize deductions on their income tax returns under current law, and those who do tend to have very high incomes. -
Dividends and Capital Gains Information Page 1 of 2
Dividends and Capital Gains Information Page 1 of 2 Some of the dividends you receive and all net long term capital gains you recognize may qualify for a federal income tax rate As noted above, for purposes of determining qualified dividend lower than your federal ordinary marginal rate. income, the concept of ex-dividend date is crucial. The ex- dividend date of a fund is the first date on which a person Qualified Dividends buying a fund share will not receive any dividends previously declared by the fund. A list of fund ex-dividend dates for each Qualified dividends received by you may qualify for a 20%, 15% State Farm Mutual Funds® dividend paid with respect to 2020, or 0% tax rate depending on your adjusted gross income (or and the corresponding percentage of each dividend that may AGI) and filing status. For single filing status, the qualified qualify as qualified dividend income, is provided below for your dividend tax rate is 0% if AGI is $40,000 or less, 15% if AGI is reference. more than $40,000 and equal to or less than $441,450, and 20% if AGI is more than $441,450. For married filing jointly Example: status, the qualified dividend tax rate is 0% if AGI is $80,000 or You bought 10,000 shares of ABC Mutual Fund common stock less, 15% if AGI is more than $80,000 and equal to or less than on June 8, 2020. ABC Mutual Fund paid a dividend of 10 cents $496,600, and 20% if AGI is more than $496,600. -
The Alternative Minimum Tax
Updated December 4, 2017 Tax Reform: The Alternative Minimum Tax The U.S. federal income tax has both a personal and a Individual AMT corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT). Both the The modern individual AMT originated with the Revenue corporate and individual AMTs operate alongside the Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-600) and operated in tandem with an regular income tax. They require taxpayers to calculate existing add-on minimum tax prior to its repeal in 1982. their liability twice—once under the rules for the regular Table 2 details selected key individual AMT parameters. income tax and once under the AMT rules—and then pay the higher amount. Minimum taxes increase tax payments Table 2. Selected Individual AMT Parameters, 2017 from taxpayers who, under the rules of the regular tax system, pay too little tax relative to a standard measure of Single/ Married their income. Head of Filing Married Filing Household Jointly Separately Corporate AMT Exemption $54,300 $84,500 $42,250 The corporate AMT originated with the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-514), which eliminated an “add-on” 28% bracket 187,800 187,800 93,900 minimum tax imposed on corporations previously. The threshold corporate AMT is a flat 20% tax imposed on a Source: Internal Revenue Code. corporation’s alternative minimum taxable income less an exemption amount. A corporation’s alternative minimum The individual AMT tax base is broader than the regular taxable income is the corporation’s taxable income income tax base and starts with regular taxable income and determined with certain adjustments (primarily related to adds back various deductions, including personal depreciation) and increased by the disallowance of a exemptions and the deduction for state and local taxes. -
Chapter 2: What's Fair About Taxes?
Hoover Classics : Flat Tax hcflat ch2 Mp_35 rev0 page 35 2. What’s Fair about Taxes? economists and politicians of all persuasions agree on three points. One, the federal income tax is not sim- ple. Two, the federal income tax is too costly. Three, the federal income tax is not fair. However, economists and politicians do not agree on a fourth point: What does fair mean when it comes to taxes? This disagree- ment explains, in large measure, why it so difficult to find a replacement for the federal income tax that meets the other goals of simplicity and low cost. In recent years, the issue of fairness has come to overwhelm the other two standards used to evaluate tax systems: cost (efficiency) and simplicity. Recall the 1992 presidential campaign. Candidate Bill Clinton preached that those who “benefited unfairly” in the 1980s [the Tax Reform Act of 1986 reduced the top tax rate on upper-income taxpayers from 50 percent to 28 percent] should pay their “fair share” in the 1990s. What did he mean by such terms as “benefited unfairly” and should pay their “fair share?” Were the 1985 tax rates fair before they were reduced in 1986? Were the Carter 1980 tax rates even fairer before they were reduced by President Reagan in 1981? Were the Eisenhower tax rates fairer still before President Kennedy initiated their reduction? Were the original rates in the first 1913 federal income tax unfair? Were the high rates that prevailed during World Wars I and II fair? Were Andrew Mellon’s tax Hoover Classics : Flat Tax hcflat ch2 Mp_36 rev0 page 36 36 The Flat Tax rate cuts unfair? Are the higher tax rates President Clin- ton signed into law in 1993 the hallmark of a fair tax system, or do rates have to rise to the Carter or Eisen- hower levels to be fair? No aspect of federal income tax policy has been more controversial, or caused more misery, than alle- gations that some individuals and income groups don’t pay their fair share. -
Form 211, Application for Award for Original Information
Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service OMB Number 1545-0409 Form 211 Application for Award for Date Claim received (July 2018) Claim number (completed by IRS) Original Information Section A – Information About the Person or Business You Are Reporting 1. Is this New submission or Supplemental submission 2. Last 4 digits of Taxpayer Identification If a supplemental submission, list previously assigned claim number(s) Number(s) (e.g., SSN, ITIN, or EIN) 3. Name of taxpayer (include aliases) and any related taxpayers who committed the violation 4. Taxpayer's address, including ZIP code 5. Taxpayer's date of birth or approximate age 6. Name and title and contact information of IRS employee to whom violation was first reported, if known 7. Alleged Violation of Tax Law (check all that apply) Income Tax Employment Tax Estate & Gift Tax Tax Exempt Bonds Employee Plans Governmental Entities Exempt Organizations Excise Other (identify) 8. Describe the Alleged Violation. State all pertinent facts to the alleged violation. (Attach a detailed explanation and include all supporting information in your possession and describe the availability and location of any additional supporting information not in your possession.) Explain why you believe the act described constitutes a violation of the tax laws 9. Describe how you learned about and/or obtained the information that supports this claim. (Attach sheet if needed) 10. What is your relationship (current and former) to the alleged noncompliant taxpayer(s)? Check all that apply. (Attach sheet if needed) Current Employee Former Employee Attorney CPA Relative/Family Member Other (describe) 11. Do you still maintain a relationship with the taxpayer Yes No 12. -
Treasury's Upcoming Role in Formulating Tax Policy C
Treasury's Upcoming Role in Formulating Tax Policy C. Eugene Steuerle "Economic Perspective" column reprinted with permission. Document date: October 18, 2002 Copyright 2002 TAX ANALYSTS Released online: October 18, 2002 The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders. © TAX ANALYSTS. Reprinted with permission. It is said that in every crisis is opportunity. In every political crisis, moreover, something will be done -- for good or ill -- to appear to deal with the crisis. While tax policy has generally been run out of the White House for a number of years in both Republican and Democratic administrations, that trend will be forced to reverse itself. Within the Executive Branch, only the Treasury Department is equipped to deal well with the upcoming political crisis surrounding the imposition of the alternative minimum tax on tens of millions of taxpayers. Whether it finds opportunity in this task -- one from which most politicians shy -- remains to be seen. The convoluted nature of our tax system is worthy of reform, but it is not a crisis. The strange imposition of the AMT on so many taxpayers, along with its strong bias against families with children, is a crisis. It is not an economic or even administrative crisis so much as one of politics. The economy can certainly withstand the economic repercussions of this somewhat crazy tax policy, and IRS can certainly administer the tax: At least regarding the major items involved, a computer check will find most errors. -
Your Federal Tax Burden Under Current Law and the Fairtax by Ross Korves
A FairTaxSM White Paper Your federal tax burden under current law and the FairTax by Ross Korves As farmers and ranchers prepare 2006 federal income tax returns or provide income and expense information to accountants and other tax professionals, a logical question is how would the tax burden change under the FairTax? The FairTax would eliminate all individual and corporate income taxes, all payroll taxes and self-employment taxes for Social Security and Medicare, and the estate tax and replace them with a national retail sales tax on final consumption of goods and services. Payroll and self-employment taxes The starting point in calculating the current tax burden is payroll taxes and self-employment taxes. Most people pay more money in payroll and self-employment taxes than they do in income taxes because there are no standard deductions or personal exemptions that apply to payroll and self-employment taxes. You pay tax on the first dollar earned. While employees see only 7.65 percent taken out of their paychecks, the reality is that the entire 15.3 percent payroll tax is part of the cost of having an employee and is a factor in determining how much an employer can afford to pay in wages. Self-employed taxpayers pay both the employer and employee portions of the payroll tax on their earnings, and the entire 15.3 percent on 92.35 percent of their self-employed income (they do not pay on the 7.65 percent of wages that employees do not receive as income); however, they are allowed to deduct the employer share of payroll taxes against the income tax. -
Tax Policy State and Local Individual Income Tax
TAX POLICY CENTER BRIEFING BOOK The State of State (and Local) Tax Policy SPECIFIC STATE AND LOCAL TAXES How do state and local individual income taxes work? 1/9 Q. How do state and local individual income taxes work? A. Forty-one states and the District of Columbia levy broad-based taxes on individual income. New Hampshire and Tennessee tax only individual income from dividends and interest. Seven states do not tax individual income of any kind. Local governments in 13 states levy some type of tax on income in addition to the state income tax. State governments collected $344 billion from individual income taxes in 2016, or 27 percent of state own-source general revenue (table 1). “Own-source” revenue excludes intergovernmental transfers. Local governments—mostly concentrated in Maryland, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania—collected just $33 billion from individual income taxes, or 3 percent of their own-source general revenue. (Census includes the District of Columbia’s revenue in the local total.) TABLE 1 State and Local Individual Income Tax Revenue 2016 Revenue (billions) Percentage of own-source general revenue State and local $376 16% State $344 27% Local $33 3% Source: Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, “State and Local Finance Initiative Data Query System.” Note: Own-source general revenue does not include intergovernmental transfers. Forty-one states and the District of Columbia levy a broad-based individual income tax. New Hampshire taxes only interest and dividends, and Tennessee taxes only bond interest and stock dividends. (Tennessee is phasing its tax out and will completely eliminate it in 2022.) Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming do not have a state individual income tax.