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Tax Info Blog

  • Welcome to the Tax Info Blog. This tax-focused blog is intended to be a helpful supplement for both clients and prospective clients of Ryan Ellis LLC.

    By all means, please email me with any questions you have, and I will answer them (for attribution or not--it's up to you). If you have anything you would like to learn more about, just let me know.

    The opinions set forth in this website are subject to the disclaimer pertaining to IRS Circular 230 set forth herein. Please click the about page to see the precise disclaimer details.

2008 Tax Limits

  • Retirement Limits

    401(k)/403(b)/457 Elective Deferral Limit: $15500

    401(k)/403(b)/457 Catch-Up Contribution Limit: $5000

    SIMPLE Elective Deferral Limit: $10500 ($2500 catch-up)

    Maximum Defined Contribution Pension Contribution: $46000

    Defined Contribution Compensation Limit: $230000

    Maximum Defined Benefit Pension: $185000

    Highly-Compensated Employee: $105000

    Key Employee: $150000

    IRA Contribution Limit: $5000

    IRA Catch-Up Contribution: $1000

    Traditional IRA AGI Contribution Limits: $0-$10000 if No Pension/Not MFS, $53000-$63000 S w/pension, $85000-$105000 MFJ w/2 pensions, $159000-$169000 MFJ w/1 pension

    Roth IRA AGI Contribution Limits: $101000-$116000 S/HH/QW, $159000-$169000 MFJ, $0-$10000 MFS

    Roth IRA Conversion AGI Limit: $100,000

    Saver's Credit AGI Limits: $53000 MFJ, $39750 HH, $26500 S

    Social Security Taxable Wage Base: $102000

    50% Social Security Benefit Taxation Threshold: $25000 Single, $32000 MFJ

    85% Social Security Benefit Taxation Threshold: $34000 Single, $44000 MFJ

    Extra Standard Deduction for Over 65 or Blind: $1350 Per Incident for Singles, $1050 Per Incident for MFJ

    Business Related Limits

    Mileage Rate: $0.505 Business, $.014 Charitable, $.019 Moving and Medical

    Fringe Benefit Transit Pass Limit: $115 Per Month

    Fringe Benefit Parking Pass Limit: $220 Per Month

    Child Care Fringe Benefit Limit: $5000

    179 Expensing Limit: $128000 in assets, phases out between $510000-$638000 in total assets

    Housing Related Limits

    Mortgage Acquisition Debt Limit: $1,000,000

    Mortgage Home Equity Debt Limit: $100,000 (Diasallowed Under AMT)

    Casualty and Theft Deduction Floor: 10% of AGI + $100 (Disallowed Under AMT)

    IRA First Time Homebuyer Distribution Limit: $10000

    Real Estate Passive Loss Limits: $25000 in Loss, Phases Out Between $100000-$150000 AGI

    DC First Time Homebuyers Credit: $5000, Phases Out Between $70000-$90000 ($110000-$130000 MFJ)

    Education Related Limits

    Coverdell ESA Limits: $2000 Per Child, Phases Out Between $190,000-$220,000 MFJ (Half That for Others)

    Tuition and Fee Deduction Limits: $4000 Limit, Disallowed After $160,000 AGI MFJ (Half That for Others)

    Hope Credit: 100% of first $1200 in expenses, 50% of $1101-$2400

    Lifetime Learning Credit: 20% of up to $10000 in expenses

    Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits AGI Phaseout: $48000-$58000 ($96000-$116000 MFJ, $0 MFS)

    Education Savings Bond Interest Exclusion Phaseout: $67100-$82100 ($100650-$130650 MFJ)

    Student Loan Interest Limits: $2500 Interest Amount, Phases Out Between $115000-$145000 AGI ($55000-$70000 for non-MFJ, $0 for MFS)

    Educator Expense Deduction: $250 Per Teacher

    Child Related Limits

    Personal Exemption:$3500

    Personal Exemption Phaseout: $239950-$362450 MFJ/QW, $199950-$322450 HH, $159950-$282450 S, $119975-$181225 MFS

    Child Tax Credit: $1000 Per Child, Phases Out at $110000 AGI MFJ/QW, $75000 S/HH, $55000 MFS
    Refundable CTC Begins at $12050

    Education Credit Phaseout: $94000-$114000 MFJ, $47000-$57000 others

    Dependent Care Credit Expenditure Limit: $3000 for One Child, $6000 for Two Children

    Child Care Fringe Benefit Limit: $5000

    Adoption Credit Limit: $11650 Per Child, Phases Out Between $174730-$214730 AGI

    Kiddie Tax Limit: $900

    Dependent Standard Deduction: $900, or $300 Plus Earned Income

    Health Care Related Limits

    HSA Contribution Limit: $2900 single, $5800 family

    Over 55 Catch-Up Contribution: $900

    HDHP Deductible Minimum: $1100 Single, $2200 Family

    HDHP Out of Pocket Max: $5600 Single, $11200 Family

    Medical Expense Deduction Floor: 7.5% of AGI (10% if in AMT)

    Long Term Care Insurance Premium Limit: <40=$310, 40-50=$580, 50-60=$1150, 60-70=$3080, 70<$3850

    Miscellaneous Limits

    Standard Deduction: $5450 S/MFS, $8000 HH, $10900 MFJ/QW

    Itemized Deduction Phaseout (Pease): $159950 of AGI (Half for MFS)

    Miscellaneous Itemized Deduction Floor: 2% of AGI (Disallowed Under AMT)

    Capital Loss Limit: $3000

    Gift Limit: $12000

    Foreign Earned Income Exclusion: $87600

    Death Tax Exemption: $2,000,000/45% Rate

    Ex-pat Trigger: $139000

    Earned Income Credit AGI Limits:
    MFJ No Kids: $15880
    MFJ 1 Kid: $36995
    MFJ 2/More Kids: $41646
    Others No Kids: $12880
    Others 1 Kid: $33995
    Others 2/More Kids: $38646

    Max Investment Income for EIC: $2950

2008 Individual Income Tax Brackets

  • Single
    10%: $0-$8025
    15%: $8026-$32550
    25%: $32551-$78850
    28%: $78851-$164550
    33%: $164551-$357700
    35%: $357701-
  • Married Filing Jointly/
    Qualified Widow(er)
    10%: $0-$16050
    15%: $16051-$65100
    25%: $65101-$131450
    28%: $131451-$200300
    33%: $200301-$357700
    35%: $357701-
  • Heads of Households
    10%: $0-$11450
    15%: $11451-$43650
    25%: $43651-$112650
    28%: $112651-$182400
    33%: $182401-$357700
    35%: $357701-
  • Married Filing Separately
    10%: $0-$8025
    15%: $8026-$32550
    25%: $32551-$65725
    28%: $65726-$100150
    33%: $100151-$178850
    35%: $178851-

Corporate Income Tax Brackets

  • 15%: $0-$50000
    25%: $50001-$75000
    34%: $75001-$100000
    39%: $100001-$335000
    34%: $335001-$10,000,000
    35%: $10,000,001-$15,000,000
    38%: $15,000,001-$18,333,333
    35%: $18,333,334-

Tax Calendar

  • Due Dates for Returns
    3/15: Corporations, S-Corporations
    3/15: S-Corporation Election
    4/15: Individuals and Partnerships
    9/15: Extension Deadline, Corporations and S-Corporations
    10/15: Extension Deadline, Individuals and Partnerships
  • Estimated Income Tax
    First Quarter: April 15
    Second Quarter: June 15
    Third Quarter: September 15
    Fourth Quarter: December 31 (January 15 Individual)
  • Employment Taxes
    1/31: W-2s and 1099s, and Unemployment
    1/31: Fourth Quarter FICA
    5/1: First Quarter FICA
    7/31: Second Quarter FICA
    10/31: Third Quarter FICA

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Member since 07/2006

« Child Tax Credit: Bringing Back the 1940s | Main | Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Alimony, Divorce, and Innocent/Injured Spouse Rules »

2006.10.02

Tip Income: Eggs Over Easy with a Side of Taxes

Q: Tax Playa, do I have to pay taxes on tip income?
Stephanie, Cranston RI

A: Tips for waiters and waitresses are taxable in the same way that wages are taxable.  For any month in which you receive more than $20 in tips, income and payroll tax must be paid...

For more information on tip income, see IRS Publication 531, Reporting Tip Income.

Since most everyone would earn more than $20 a month in tips, I'll just proceed under the assumption that all tips are taxable.

In order to properly-account for tips, you must report your tips to your employer by keeping a log.  In practice, this is done a majority of the time for waiters because of credit cards.  With cash transactions, though, you're on the honor system.

If you don't report tips to your employer, you may be subject to a fine equal to 50% of the FICA tax owed.  Additionally, your employer may participate in a tip rate determination agreement (TPDA) with the IRS.  If 75% of employees consent, the employer can assume that the tip rate is a certain percentage of base pay.  This percentage is based on the type of establishment and what comparable businesses can expect to gross and tip.

If you don't report all your tips to your employer, you may have to pay your FICA tax on your individual tax return.  This is most often done when the tips reported to your employer do not equal or exceed 8% of food and drink sales.  In this case, your employer is required to allocate tips to you sufficient to get you up to that 8% tip level.  You then have to pay income and FICA taxes on these allocated tips by filing Form 4137 with your return.  In practice, this only happens if there is some collusion on the part of employees not to report all tips given.

Posted by on 2006.10.02 at 11:20 AM |

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