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In reply to the discussion: Senators propose 12-cent gas tax increase [View all]starroute
(12,977 posts)This is from Forbes, so it's aimed at that high-income audience, but it's the most concise summary I spotted. And yeah, this "bipartisan" plan is aimed at increasing gasoline taxes on the working poor and middle class in exchange for slashing taxes on the wealthy.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2014/01/05/what-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-in-2014-expired-tax-breaks-obamacare-penalties-more/
First, the top tax rate for taxpayers is now 39.6%. We havent seen those kind of rates in almost 15 years. Those Bush-era tax cuts have finally expired, giving us the 20th century tax rates (gosh, that sounds really, really old). How high will it go? The 39.6% tax rate kicks in at $400,000 for individual taxpayers and $450,000 for married couples filing jointly.
All wages are subject to Medicare tax. That hasnt changed. But now, taxpayers who make over $200,000 ($250,000 for married taxpayers) will be subject to the Medicare surtax. If thats you, a Medicare surtax will be tacked on to your wages, compensation, or self-employment income over that amount. The amount of the surcharge is .9%.
Even if you arent affected by the Medicare tax surcharge, you still may be subject to the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) if you have both net investment income and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of at least $200,000 for an individual taxpayer and $250,000 for taxpayers filing as married. . . .
The limitation for itemized deductions the Pease limitations, named after former Rep. Don Pease (D-OH) claimed on individual returns for tax year 2014 will begin with incomes of $254,200 or more ($305,050 for married couples filing jointly). The Pease limitations were slated to be reduced beginning in 2006 and eliminated in 2010; as with the other tax cuts, the elimination was extended through the end of 2012. The limitations were brought back in 2013 at the original thresholds, indexed for inflation.