Blog Layout

Outdated AMT May Finally Be Eliminated

nicholas • Sep 22, 2017

Last week, Forbes.com ran a series of articles about the pending tax reform known as “Tax Reform Week”. The  articles  consisted of submissions from guest bloggers about various topics involved with the proposed tax reform. Unfortunately, my article did not get chosen to be posted🙁. However, I figured I should share anyways.

 

The proposed tax reform that is in the current limelight has different angles to it which could affect a wide array of American taxpayers. One of the proposed issues involves the AMT. You may be asking yourself, what the heck is AMT? Is that the machine that dispenses money? Haha no, it actually does the opposite, it takes your money. AMT is an acronym for Alternative Minimum Tax.

As a tax professional, it is one of the most difficult tax laws to explain to taxpayers. How do I explain to somebody that they can no longer deduct their real estate taxes because their income is now too high? You can do a web search to read up on all the technical details about what AMT is and how it works, but let me put it in plain English. The AMT is a tax law that was created 50 years ago to prevent the wealthy taxpayers from using loopholes to avoid paying the proper amount of tax. If you make a certain amount of money, you must pay a certain amount of tax, regardless of your deductions. Back then, you were considered wealthy if you were a married taxpayer showing $200,000 on your tax return. The original law was intended to affect a couple hundred taxpayers that fell into this category. Fast forward to 2017, $200,000 per year is now considered middle class. The AMT never accounted for inflation, so if you make $200,000 you are still subject to the AMT. This tax law now affects over 30 million taxpayers! In 2013, they did finally begin to adjust the threshold for inflation, but it is still affecting way more taxpayers that it was originally intended to affect.

The tax reform proposes that the AMT be eliminated. I am in favor of the elimination of this proposal. At the very least, it is time to turn the AMT into the law that it was originally intended to be. The .001% of taxpayers that it was intended to affect has ballooned into 10%. Adjusting the AMT to affect the original percentage of taxpayers would move the current 30 million affected down to 3,000.

Eliminating the AMT will allow middle class taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money. Almost every tax law out there has been innovated over time. It is time to get rid of this ancient tax law that is no longer serving the purpose it was intended to do. Can you imagine if wages were the same today as they were in 1959? A large portion of the world would be living in poverty. The times have changed, the AMT has not. It is time to make the change.

 

Nicholas Hammernik, E.A.

Nick Hammernik is a tax adviser in Milwaukee, WI.

nhammernik@hammernikassoc.com

See More Blog Posts

The COVID Relief Bill Summarized

By nicholas • 24 Dec, 2020
The “rescue package” has arrived. The COVID Relief bill is a whopping 5,593 pages long. I know you don’t want to sit and read through that novel, so I am here to summarize, in plain English, how this bill is going to effect your taxes. Have you ever been on a roller coaster before? A… The post The COVID Relief Bill Summarized appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.

The Tax Slang Movement

By nicholas • 04 Dec, 2020
This past week, I finally dove into a project that I has been brewing in my mind for a few years. I published my first podcast episode today. Is it any good? I’m not quite sure. To be honest, I’m not too happy with how it turned out. However, I accomplished part of my goal.… The post The Tax Slang Movement appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.

2020 Year-End Tax Savings Tips

By nicholas • 13 Nov, 2020
Your goal should be to get the IRS to owe you money. Of course, the IRS is not likely to cut you a check for this money (although in the right circumstances, that will happen), but you’ll realize the cash when you pay less in taxes.   Here are seven powerful business tax-deduction strategies that… The post 2020 Year-End Tax Savings Tips appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.

COVID-19 Tax Updates

By nicholas • 31 Jul, 2020
  With the 2019 Tax Filing Season just behind us, it is difficult to think of the next filing season, however, there are many issues that need to be addressed now, rather than wait. At this most difficult time for our taxpayers, we want to assure you that our firm is here to assist you… The post COVID-19 Tax Updates appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Restart Grant Program

By nicholas • 05 Jun, 2020
The goal of the Milwaukee Restart Program (Restart) is to help local businesses that suffered as a result of the pandemic to reopen and adapt to the “new normal” Eligibility Restart grants will assist for-profit businesses located in the City of Milwaukee that have 20 or fewer full-time or full-time equivalent employees and greater than $0 but less… The post Milwaukee Restart Grant Program appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.

Additional Grant Becomes Available For Wisconsin Small Businesses

By nicholas • 05 Jun, 2020
Over the past few months COVID-19 has changed the way a lot of small businesses operate. Some have been unable to be open, some have adapted and changed, and some have even thrived. The Government had made a few loans available to try and help small businesses keep their employees employed and to also cover… The post Additional Grant Becomes Available For Wisconsin Small Businesses appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.

Finding the Right Accountant to Successfully Guide You Through the Tax Maze

By nicholas • 14 Jun, 2019
Choosing an Accountant Who Puts Your Goals First There is an endless supply of do-it-yourself tax preparation tools and websites, and the sheer volume of options can lead you to believe the process of filing your returns is simple. However, a DIY approach only works if you are satisfied with paying more than necessary. Tax… The post Finding the Right Accountant to Successfully Guide You Through the Tax Maze appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.

Finding the right accountant to successfully guide you through the tax maze

By nicholas • 15 Feb, 2019
  Choosing an Accountant Who Puts Your Goals First There is an endless supply of do-it-yourself tax preparation tools and websites, and the sheer volume of options can lead you to believe the process of filing your returns is simple. However, a DIY approach only works if you are satisfied with paying more than necessary.… The post Finding the right accountant to successfully guide you through the tax maze appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.

Does my Rental Property Qualify for the New Section 199A Deduction Under Tax Reform?

By nicholas • 08 Feb, 2019
  How do you know if your rental property qualifies for the 20 percent tax deduction under new tax code Section 199A? Just what we need–something else to learn along with all of the other tax code changes this year. Well, maybe not. There is a piece of good news: we won’t be required to… The post Does my Rental Property Qualify for the New Section 199A Deduction Under Tax Reform? appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.

Do You Truly Know Your Business Costs? You Better!

By nicholas • 07 Dec, 2018
Your company’s profitability depends not only on sales, but also on effective cost management. Are you adequately addressing the cost side of the business equation? Analyze Your Cost Structure You probably can readily identify the products and/or services that are generating your greatest sales volume. But can you identify all the costs associated with providing… The post Do You Truly Know Your Business Costs? You Better! appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.
More Posts
Share by: