Chapter 14
Special Tax Computation
Methods,Tax Credits,and
Payment of Tax
Learning Objectives
? Calculate the Alternative Minimum Tax
? Describe what constitutes self-
employment income and compute the self-
employment tax
? Describe the various business and
personal tax credits
? Understand the mechanics of the federal
withholding tax system and the
requirements for making estimated
payments
Alternative Minimum Tax
COMPUTATIONAL ASPECTS
TAXABLE INCOME
PLUS+,TAX PREFERENCE ITEMS PLUS+,
PERSONAL AND DEPENDENCY EXEMPTION PLUS+ OR
MINUS,ADJUSTMENTS REQUIRED
EQUALS =,ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAXABLE INCOME MINUS,
EXEMPTION AMOUNT ($45,000 MFJ & SS,$33,750 single,&
$22,500 MFS)
EQUALS =,ALTERNATIVE TAX BASE
TIMES x,TAX RATE (26% of first $175,000; 28% amounts in
excess of $175,000)
EQUALS =,TENTATIVE MINIMUM TAX
MINUS,REGULAR TAX
EQUALS =,THE ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX
Alternative Minimum Tax
? Tax preference items
– Include excess
depreciation over
S\L depreciation
– Tax-exempt interest
on certain activity
bonds
– Exclusion of gain
on the sale of
certain small
business stock
under Sec,1202
Alternative Minimum Tax
? AMT adjustments
– For most taxpayer AMTI adjustments
represent itemized deductions that
are not allowed in computing AMTI
– Only certain itemized deductions
allowed for AMT purposes
? Casualty and theft loss in excess
of 10% of AGI
? Charitable contributions
? Medical expenses in excess of
10% of AGI
? Qualified housing interest
Alternative Minimum Tax
? AMT adjustments
due to timing
differences
– For real property
placed in service
after 1986,
difference
between MACRS
and ADS
Alternative Minimum Tax
? AMT adjustments
due to timing
differences
– For personal
property placed in
service after 1986,
difference between
MACRS deduction
and the amount
determined by
using 150% DB
method
Self-employment Tax
? Distinction between
independent contractor and
an employee is important
? Self-employed individuals are
subject to self-employment
tax on the amount of net
earnings from the self-
employment
? Employees who have a small
business in addition to
regular employment may
also be subject to the self-
employment tax
Self-employment Tax
? Computing the tax
– Individuals having net
earnings from self-
employment of $400 or
more are subject to the
self-employment tax
– The self-employment tax
is 15.3%,This consist of
12.4% for OASDI and 2.9%
for Medicare,The limit for
2001 on OASDI is $80,400
and there is no limit on
the Medicare portion of
the self-employment tax
Self-employment Tax
? Computing amount subject
to the self-employment tax
– To compute the amount
that is subject to self-
employment tax,Multiply
self-employment income
by 92.35% (100%-7.65%)
this equals the net
earnings from self-
employment
Self-employment Tax
–One-half of self-
employment tax
imposed is allowed
as a for AGI
deduction
Self-employment Tax
? What constitutes self-
employment
– Net earnings from a sole
proprietorship
– Director’s fees
– Taxable research grant
– Distributive share of
partnership income plus
guaranteed payments
? The self-employment tax is
computed on Schedule SE
Overview Of Tax Credits
? Use and importance of
tax credits
– Tax credits may be
used to implement
tax policy
objectives
? Example,
provide tax relief
for low income
taxpayer -
earned income
credit
Overview Of Tax Credits
? Value of credit versus
a deduction
– The value of a
deduction is
dependent on
taxpayer’s marginal
rate
– A tax credit
reduces tax liability
dollar for dollar
Overview Of Credits
? Classification of
credits
– Personal tax
credits
– Miscellaneous
tax credit
– General
business credits
Overview Of Tax Credits
Non-refundable
? Personal tax credits - nonrefundable
– Personal tax credit
? Child and dependent care credit
? Earned income credit
? Tax credit for the elderly & disabled
? Adoption credit
? Child tax credit
? Hope scholarship credit
? Lifetime learning credit
Overview Of Tax Credits
Non-refundable
? Miscellaneous credits
– Foreign tax credit
? General business credits
– Credit for increasing research
– Work opportunity credit
– Empowerment zone employment
– Disabled access credit
– Rehabilitation expenditures
– Business energy credit
Refundable Credits
? Earned Income Credit
? Eligibility rules,
– Earned income and AGI thresholds met
– Principal place of abode in the US for more
than ? of the tax year,
– The individual is at least 25 years old and not
more than 64 at the end of the year,
– The individual is not a dependent of another
taxpayer for the tax year
Payment Of Taxes
? Withholding of taxes
– Employers are required to
withhold federal income
taxes and FICA tax from
employee compensation
– Special rules are provided
for more than one
employer during the same
year
– Exemptions for certain
employment activities such
as ministers and domestic
servants
Payment Of Taxes
? Withholding
allowances and
methods
– Every employee must
file an Employee’s
Withholding
Allowance Certificate
(Form W-4)
Payments Of Taxes
? Estimated tax
payments
– Calendar year
taxpayers quarterly
payments are due
April 15,June 15,
Sept 15 of the
current year,and
January 15 of the
following year
Tax Planning
Considerations
? Avoiding the
Alternative
Minimum Tax
? Avoiding the
underpayment
penalty for
estimated tax
? Cash-flow
considerations
? Use of credits
Compliance And Procedural
Considerations
? Alternative minimum tax filing
procedures Form 6251 or 4626
? Withholding and estimated
payments Form W-2 and 1040ES
? General Business Credit Form
3800
? Personal tax credits
– Form 2441
– Schedule R
– Schedule EIC
– Form 1116
– Form 8863