The Republican Study Committee found that unless Congress takes action, the following tax increases* will automatically occur:
In 2005:
- The child tax credit will decrease from $1,000 to $700.
- The standard deduction for couples as a percentage of the standard deduction for singles will decrease from 200% to 174%-reinstating the marriage penalty.
- The top end of the 15% marginal income tax bracket for couples as a percentage of the top end for singles will decrease from 200% to 174%-reinstating the marriage penalty.
- The 10% marginal income tax bracket will contract from covering the first $7,000 of income for singles and $14,000 for joint filers to covering only the first $6,000 of income for singles and $12,000 for joint filers.
- The exemption for the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) will decrease from $40,250 to $33,750 for single filers and from $58,000 to $45,000 for married couples filing jointly.
- The bonus depreciation will decrease from 50% to 30%.
In 2006:
- The section 179 small business expensing cap will decrease from $100,000 to $25,000, and the definition of a small business will decrease from $400,000 to $200,000.
In 2009:
- The personal capital gains rate will increase from 15% and 0% to 20% and 10%.
- Dividends will no longer be taxed at the personal capital gains rates, thereby increasing the double taxation of dividends by as much as 62%.
In 2011:
- The marginal income tax rates will increase as follows:
-35% bracket will increase to 39.6%
-33% bracket will increase to 36%
-28% bracket will increase to 31%
-25% bracket will increase to 28%
-10% bracket will increase to 15% - The child tax credit will decrease from $1,000 to $500.
- The annual education IRA contribution limit will decrease from $2,000 to $500.
- The standard deduction for couples as a percentage of the standard deduction for singles will decrease from 200% to 167%-reinstating the marriage penalty.
- The top end of the 15% marginal income tax bracket for couples as a percentage of the top end for singles will decrease from 200% to 167%-reinstating the marriage penalty.
- The estate tax using the ??¢â???¬?????stepped up??¢â???¬ basis will return with a 60% maximum rate (including surtax) and $1 million exemption, after years of decreasing estate tax rates, increasing exemptions, and one year using the more fair ??¢â???¬?????carryover??¢â???¬ basis to calculate the tax due.
- The annual IRA contribution limit will decrease from $5,000 plus post-2008 inflation to $2,000.
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*This list is not exhaustive.
NOTE: The items above that appear twice do so because of phase-ins or phase-outs in the law in between the two appearances. For example, the standard deduction for couples decreases from 200% of singles to 174% in 2005. It then gradually rises back up to 200% by 2010 and then decreases to 167% in 2011.
Special thanks to Americans for Tax Reform.
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