H.R. 1, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which both houses of Congress passed on Dec. 20, contains a large number of provisions that affect individual taxpayers. However, to keep the cost of the bill within Senate budget rules, all of the changes affecting individuals expire after 2025. At that time, if no future Congress acts to extend H.R. 1’s provision, the individual tax provisions would sunset, and the tax law would revert to its current state.
Here is a look at many of the provisions in the bill affecting individuals.
Special brackets will apply for certain children with unearned income.
Personal Tax rates
For tax years 2018 through 2025, the following rates apply to individual taxpayers:
Single taxpayers
| Taxable income over | But not over | Is taxed at |
| $0 | $9,525 | 10% |
| $9,525 | $38,700 | 12% |
| $38,700 | $82,500 | 22% |
| $82,500 | $157,500 | 24% |
| $157,500 | $200,000 | 32% |
| $200,000 | $500,000 | 35% |
| $500,000 | 37% |
Heads of households
| Taxable income over | But not over | Is taxed at |
| $0 | $13,600 | 10% |
| $13,600 | $51,800 | 12% |
| $51,800 | $82,500 | 22% |
| $82,500 | $157,500 | 24% |
| $157,500 | $200,000 | 32% |
| $200,000 | $500,000 | 35% |
| $500,000 | 37% |
Married taxpayers filing joint returns and surviving spouses
| Taxable income over | But not over | Is taxed at |
| $0 | $19,050 | 10% |
| $19,050 | $77,400 | 12% |
| $77,400 | $165,000 | 22% |
| $165,000 | $315,000 | 24% |
| $315,000 | $400,000 | 32% |
| $400,000 | $600,000 | 35% |
| $600,000 | 37% |
Married taxpayers filing separately
| Taxable income over | But not over | Is taxed at |
| $0 | $9,525 | 10% |
| $9,525 | $38,700 | 12% |
| $38,700 | $82,500 | 22% |
| $82,500 | $157,500 | 24% |
| $157,500 | $200,000 | 32% |
| $200,000 | $300,000 | 35% |
| $300,000 | 37% |
Estates and trusts
| Taxable income over | But not over | Is taxed at |
| $0 | $2,550 | 10% |
| $2,550 | $9,150 | 24% |
| $9,150 | $12,500 | 35% |
| $12,500 | 37% |
To Compare, In 2017, the income limits for all tax brackets and all filers will be adjusted for inflation and will be as follows (Table 1). The top marginal income tax rate of 39.6 percent will hit taxpayers with taxable income of $418,400 and higher for single filers and $470,700 and higher for married couples filing jointly.
| Table 1. Single Taxable Income Tax Brackets and Rates, 2017 | ||
| Rate | Taxable Income Bracket | Tax Owed |
| 10% | $0 to $9,325 | 10% of Taxable Income |
| 15% | $9,325 to $37,950 | $932.50 plus 15% of the excess over $9,325 |
| 25% | $37,950 to $91,900 | $5,226.25 plus 25% of the excess over $37,950 |
| 28% | $91,900 to $191,650 | $18,713.75 plus 28% of the excess over $91,900 |
| 33% | $191,650 to $416,700 | $46,643.75 plus 33% of the excess over $191,650 |
| 35% | $416,700 to $418,400 | $120,910.25 plus 35% of the excess over $416,700 |
| 39.60% | $418,400+ | $121,505.25 plus 39.6% of the excess over $418,400 |
| Table 2. Married Filing Joint Taxable Income Tax Brackets and Rates, 2017 | ||
| Rate | Taxable Income Bracket | Tax Owed |
| 10% | $0 to $18,650 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $18,650 to $75,900 | $1,865 plus 15% of the excess over $18,650 |
| 25% | $75,900 to $153,100 | $10,452.50 plus 25% of the excess over $75,900 |
| 28% | $153,100 to $233,350 | $29,752.50 plus 28% of the excess over $153,100 |
| 33% | $233,350 to $416,700 | $52,222.50 plus 33% of the excess over $233,350 |
| 35% | $416,700 to $470,700 | $112,728 plus 35% of the excess over $416,700 |
| 39.60% | $470,700+ | $131,628 plus 39.6% of the excess over $470,700 |
| Table 3. Head of Household Taxable Income Tax Brackets and Rates, 2017 | ||
| Rate | Taxable Income Bracket | Tax Owed |
| 10% | $0 to $13,350 | 10% of taxable income |
| 15% | $13,350 to $50,800 | $1,335 plus 15% of the excess over $13,350 |
| 25% | $50,800 to $131,200 | $6,952.50 plus 25% of the excess over $50,800 |
| 28% | $131,200 to $212,500 | $27,052.50 plus 28% of the excess over $131,200 |
| 33% | $212,500 to $416,700 | $49,816.50 plus 33% of the excess over $212,500 |
| 35% | $416,700 to $444,500 | $117,202.50 plus 35% of the excess over $416,701 |
| 39.60% | $444,550+ | $126,950 plus 39.6% of the excess over $444,550 |
| Source: IRS. | ||
We all hope that we can save money on our taxes to use in other ways. To see how, contact Rosillo & Associates, PA, A Certified Public Accounting Firm specializing in U.S Tax and Foreign Disclosure Compliance.