http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/01/pf/taxes/obama_budget_tax_changes/index.htm
By Jeanne Sahadi, senior writer, February 2, 2010: 9:44 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- President Obama, in his proposed 2011 budget, is calling on Congress to make a number of tax changes for individuals.
Some ideas are new. Many others were made last year, but not enacted by Congress. So the estimates of the revenue that may be raised by his proposals may be overly optimistic.
Across the universe of individual and corporate taxes, "what's most striking is how little new ground [the president's budget] ploughs," said Clint Stretch, managing principal of tax policy at Deloitte Tax LLC.
Here's a breakdown of some of Obama's key proposals for 2011 and beyond that would affect individuals:
High-income households
Let tax cuts expire: The 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts are scheduled to expire by 2011. Obama is sticking to his call to let those tax cuts expire for high-income households ($200,000 for individuals; $250,000 for families). The White House estimates close to $700 billion would be raised over 10 years.
This provision would raise the top two individual income tax rates to where they were in 2001, before passage of the Bush tax cuts. The 33% bracket would become 36%. And the 35% bracket would rise to 39.6%.
In addition, the long-term capital gains tax rate would increase to 20%, up from 15% currently.
The provision would also reinstate so-called phaseouts for high-income households, which would essentially reduce their eligibility for a host of personal exemptions.
The House may be amenable to letting the tax cuts expire in 2011 for wealthier Americans. But Stretch said it may be a tougher vote in the Senate, where there may be more of an inclination to wait until 2012 when the economy is expected to be on firmer footing.
Limit itemized deductions: The president proposes to cap at 28% the rate at which high-income households can itemize their deductions. Currently the value of a deduction is equal to the deductible amount multipled by one's top income tax rate, which can range well above 28%. So deductions will be worth less to a high-income tax filer under the president's proposal.
Capping itemized deductions is a proposal he made last year and it went nowhere. That's in part because many in Congress said it would seriously curb charitable giving, even though that is not a foregone conclusion. If the measure gains any traction this year, it's likely Congress would limit the cap to only certain types of deductions, thereby muting its revenue-raising effect.
The White House estimates that capping the rate on deductions could raise $291 billion over 10 years.
Obama maps routes to lower deficits
Keep the estate tax: The president's budget assumes the estate tax will be made permanent at a $3.5 million exemption level per person and a top rate of 45% on taxable estates. That's much more generous than current law, which calls for a $1 million exemption level and a 55% top rate starting in 2011.
But it's less generous than a proposal getting bipartisan support in the Senate. The Senate proposal would institute a $5 million exemption level per person and a top rate of 35%.
Altering the estate tax to the levels Obama has proposed would increase the deficit by $262 billion over 10 years.
Raise taxes on investment fund manager profits: Obama would like to tax the portion of profits paid to managers of hedge funds and private equity funds as ordinary income rather than as a capital gain. That would subject it to much higher tax rates than the 15% capital gains rate currently imposed. The White House estimates the measure would raise $24 billion over 10 years.
This is a carryover proposal from last year. While Congress hasn't acted on it yet, there's a fair chance they may move on it in the next year, since lawmakers will be looking for ways to pay for other costly legislation they'd like to pass.
Eliminate capital gains tax on small business stock: There are currently capital gains tax breaks in place for investors in small businesses, defined as companies with gross assets of $50 million or less. But the president is proposing to eliminate the capital gains tax altogether on stock in small businesses held for at least five years. The measure would only apply to stock acquired after Feb. 17, 2009. The cost of the president's proposal is an estimated $8.1 billion over 10 years.
Lower and middle income households
Make tax cuts permanent: The president's budget assumes all the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts will be made permanent for everyone making less than $200,000 ($250,000 for couples), which is the majority of American households.
That means, among other things, that today's rates on income tax, capital gains and dividends would remain the same.
It's an expensive proposition, however, costing federal coffers nearly $2 trillion over 10 years.
Permanently protect the middle class from the "wealth" tax: The administration assumes in the president's budget that Congress will permanently change the parameters of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). That would protect tens of millions of middle-income families from having to pay the tax, which was originally intended only for the highest earners.
The cost of such a provision is close to $660 billion over 10 years.
Extend the Make Work Pay credit: The president's 2011 budget calls for a one-year extension of the stimulus-created tax credit that adds a few dollars to workers' paychecks every pay period. The extension is estimated to boost the deficit by $61.2 billion over 10 years.
Calling for just a one-year extension is a switch from Obama's call to make the credit permanent last year. The hope may still be that the credit is renewed every year -- as many tax breaks are. But by only calling for a one-year extension, the impact on the 10-year deficit appears to be less.
Permanently expand a low-income tax credit: The stimulus package temporarily expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit for very low-income families with three or more children. The expansion meant such families could claim a credit equal to 45% of their qualifying earnings, up from 40%, so that they could get a maximum credit of $5,657. President Obama wants to make that increase permanent at an estimated cost of $15.2 billion over 10 years.
Expand child-care tax credit: Under the president's budget, families making less than $85,000 would be able to claim nearly double the child and dependent care tax credit for which they currently qualify. The White House estimates the increase will raise the deficit by $12.6 billion over 10 years.
Permanently extend the American Opportunity Tax Credit: Created under stimulus legislation, the American Opportunity Tax Credit expanded for 2009 and 2010 the existing Hope Scholarship tax credit and made it partially refundable -- meaning that a tax filer could get money back even if it meant he or she would be getting back more from Uncle Sam than paid in federal income tax.
The credit is worth up to $2,500 for higher education expenses, up from $1,800 previously. The president would like to make the measure permanent, adding to the deficit by $75.4 billion over 10 years.
