Economy boosters added to recession-battling tax breaks

WASHINGTON – This year’s tax season will look a lot like last year’s, with a few sweeteners added.

Most of the tax changes that were put in place in 2009 to spur the economy remained in effect in 2010, even though the recession was officially declared over. Among them: the Making Work Pay tax credit, which put a little extra money in the hands of 95 percent of U.S. taxpayers. Homebuyers and those who installed energy-efficient furnaces, windows and other items in their homes also could benefit, along with college students or their parents, schoolteachers and adoptive parents.

“There’s really not much from a change perspective,” said Greg Rosica, a tax partner at Ernst & Young accounting firm.

But new sweeteners include elimination of the phase-out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions for higher-income taxpayers.

Low-income taxpayers benefit from a raise in income limits for the earned income tax credit.

Congress in December also approved a patch for the alternative minimum tax that will protect about 20 million middle-income families from an additional tax bill of $3,900 or so.

The late action by Congress on the AMT and other provisions means that taxpayers who itemize deductions, teachers seeking a deduction for out-of-pocket expenses, and those filing for the tuition and fees deduction will have to wait until the Internal Revenue Service updates its systems before filing their returns. Terry Lemons, the IRS’ senior spokesman, estimates the delay could last until mid-February. “We have to be very careful to make sure we have it right,” he said.

Tax experts said the delay shouldn’t affect taxpayers too much.

“The rush of the tax filing season isn’t until mid-February to begin with because people don’t get all their information together to begin filing,” Rosica said.

Taxpayers also will have a few extra days to file. Returns aren’t due until April 18 because of Emancipation Day, celebrated April 15 in the District of Columbia.

Mark Steber, chief tax officer for Jackson Hewitt, said taxpayers will have to be more vigilant this year because of the lateness of the changes.

As a result, this year, more than ever, is a good time to file electronically, Lemons said. “You’re going to get a more accurate return,” he said. “You’re going to get the latest tax information.”

Nearly 99 million tax returns were filed electronically last year, up 3 percent from the previous year. The total represents nearly 70 percent of returns filed.

About 77 percent of taxpayers received a refund on 2009 returns, averaging $2,994 each.

Unemployment affects taxes

For the 2010 tax year, “economic factors might point to a slightly higher refund percentage,” said Bob Meighan, vice president at TurboTax, which makes tax preparation software. He cited continued high unemployment.

Though the jobless rate remains more than 9 percent, the unemployed lost a key tax break. “All unemployment insurance is taxable this year,” said Mark Luscombe, principal analyst at CCH, a tax preparation service. For the 2009 tax year, the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits had been excluded.

Another recession-battling tax break not renewed was the deduction for sales and excise taxes on the purchase of a new car. However, Congress did extend the state and local sales tax deduction, which primarily benefits those in areas without state and local income taxes.

Deductions reduce the income on which you are taxed. Credits reduce the amount of tax owed and generally are considered more advantageous to the taxpayer.

If you seek professional help on your return, make sure your tax preparer has registered as required with the IRS. Later this year, most tax preparers will have to pass an exam certifying their skills. Certified public accountants and some others are exempt.

“It’s setting a standard of excellence for the industry,” said Kathy Pickering of the Tax Institute at H&R Block.

Plenty of deductions

All taxpayers can claim a $3,650 per person exemption for themselves, their spouse and each qualified dependent. That’s unchanged from last year, as is the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly ($11,400) or singles ($5,700). The standard deduction for heads of households increased slightly, to $8,400.

The capital gains rate remains at a maximum of 15 percent. For those taxed overall at the 10 percent or 15 percent rate, the capital gains rate is 0.

Many tax deductions and credits are unavailable to people with higher incomes. Among them: the first-time home buyer credit; the American Opportunity credit for college tuition, related fees, books and other required course materials; and the deduction for tuition and fees.

Before 2010, wealthier people couldn’t realize the full benefit of their personal exemptions and itemized deductions. That’s changed for 2010, 2011 and 2012. “Overall income limits for personal and dependency exemptions and itemized deductions do not apply,” the IRS said.

However, the agency noted, “for taxpayers at all income levels, limitations continue to apply to particular itemized deductions, such as medical and dental expenses, certain miscellaneous itemized deductions and casualty and theft losses.” For example, only medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income may be deducted.

Changes in retirement accounts

In a change affecting retirement accounts, people could convert their traditional IRAs to Roth retirement accounts regardless of income. Taxpayers had the option of counting the amount of the conversion as taxable income in 2010 or deferring it over two years, 2011 and 2012.

Middle-class taxpayers will benefit from the patch to the alternative minimum tax, which originally was aimed at ensuring that people weren’t wrongly escaping taxes by claiming deductions. The AMT is not indexed for inflation, so every year Congress passes a patch so millions more taxpayers aren’t affected.

The patch for the 2010 tax year increases the exemption to $72,450 for a married couple filing a joint return and qualifying widows and widowers, up from $70,950 in 2009. For singles and heads of households, it’s $47,450, up from $46,700.

Also adjusted for inflation was the maximum income level you could have and still qualify for the earned income credit, as well as the value of the credit itself. Income levels and the amount of credit are based on the number of children in the household.

The homebuyers credit also continued – for part of the year. If you were a first-time homebuyer and bought your home before May 1, 2010, you may qualify for a maximum $8,000 credit. There’s a separate credit, too, for longtime homeowners, up to $6,500. These, too, phase out at higher income levels, and the price of the home may not be over $800,000. You also must have used the home as your primary residence for at least three years, or you’ll have to repay the money.