The American Tax relief Act is nowhere close to the sweeping legislation envisioned by the President after the November election.  It is effectively a stop-gap measure to prevent the onus of the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts from falling on the middle income taxpayers.  The Budget Control Act of 2011 imposed sequestration (across-the-board spending cuts), effective after 2012.  The American Taxpayer Relief Act temporarily postpones sequestration for two months.  Congress is likely to revisit tax policy and spending cuts when it tackles the expected increase on the nation’s debt limit in February.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 makes permanent for 2013 and beyond the lower Bush-era income tax rates for all, except for taxpayers with taxable income above $400,000-$450,000, depending on tax filing status.  Income above these thresholds will be taxed at 39.6 percent.  While this means that the federal tax payroll withholdings for most taxpayers will not be changing, nevertheless, all taxpayers will find less in their paycheck in 2013. The American Taxpayer Relief Act effectively raises taxes for all wages earners (and those self-employed) by not extending the 2012 payroll tax holiday that reduced the OASDI part of Social Security taxes from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent on earned income up to the Social Security wage base of $113,700 for 2013.

While the individual marginal tax rates of 10, 15,25,28,33 and 35 percent will remain, for those individuals with income above the $400,000/$450,000 threshold, the bracket ranges for the 35 percent rate now cover only a relatively small sliver of what constituted the upper-income range.  On the positive side, taxpayers who find themselves in this higher 39.6 percent tax bracket will continue to benefit from the extension of the Bush-era rates below the 39.6 percent amount.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act also extends the beneficial Bush-era tax rate of 15 percent for capital gains and dividends. However, these same taxpayers will find themselves subject to a higher capital gains and dividends rate of 20 percent, up from the previous 15 percent.   All others will continue to enjoy the old preferential rates, including the zero percent rate, if their total income does not exceed the 15 percent bracket.  Installment payments received after 2012 are subject to the tax rates for the year of the payment, not the year of the sale. Also effective for 2013 and later is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA – better known as the Obama Care Act) 3.8 percent additional tax on Net Investment Income for taxpayers with taxable income exceeding the thresholds of $200,000 or $250,000 depending on filing status. Therefore, starting in 2013, capital gains for these high income taxpayers will effectively become 23.8 percent.  In anticipation, many taxpayers completed transactions in 2012 to benefit from these lower rates.  If any of these transactions are eligible for installment reporting, careful consideration should be given to the effect of such an election.

Short term capital gains remained taxed at the ordinary income marginal rates.  The 28 and 25 percent rates for certain long-term gains also remain unchanged.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act “patches” the AMT for 2012 and subsequent years by increasing the exemption amounts and allowing nonrefundable personal credits to the full amount of the individual’s regular tax against AMT.  Without the patch, the AMT exemption amounts for 2012 would have been significantly reduced as compared to 2011.  This patch saves over 60 million taxpayers from being subject to AMT on returns filed in 2012.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act officially revives the phase-out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions for higher income taxpayers.  This phase-out, known as the “Pease” limitation, was eliminated by the 2010 Tax relief Act.  However, its return will have impact on fewer taxpayers since the thresholds have increased to $300,000 for married taxpayers and $250,000 for single taxpayers.  These thresholds are approximately 165 percent of the inflated thresholds under the previous sunset rules.

In summarizing the phase-out thresholds for the various changes, you should note that in almost all cases, if a married couple elects to file separately, most of the thresholds are cut to one-half of the higher married threshold which is lower than the stated single thresholds.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act retained the $5 million exclusion for decedents dying after December 31, 2012 and permanently provides for a maximum tax rate of 40 percent.  Of course permanent is a very relative term.  Also retained and made permanent is the “portability” between spouses.  This allows a surviving spouse to use any unused exclusion of their previously deceased spouse. These rates and exclusions apply to gifts made after December 31, 2012 as well.

Other noteworthy extensions for individual income tax payers include:

Many popular but temporary tax extenders relating to businesses are also included in the American Taxpayer Relief Act.  Among them is Code Section 179 small business expensing, research credit and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act extends through 2013 the enhanced $500,000 Code Section 179 dollar limitation for 2012 and 2013. The rule allowing off-the-shelf computer software is also extended.  Also extended is the 50 percent bonus depreciation through 2013.  The limitation was previously set at $139,000 for 2012 and $25,000 for 2013.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act extends through 2013 the Research Tax Credit.  This credit had expired at the end of 2011 but continues to enjoy bipartisan support in Congress and President Obama has called for making the credit permanent.

The American Taxpayer Relief Act extends through 2013 the Work Opportunity Tax Credit which rewards employers that hire individuals from targeted groups with a tax credit.

Many other business provisions and credits with extremely narrow application were also extended through 2013. Perhaps the most notable is the reduced recognition period of 5 years for S Corporations with built in gains.

To properly evaluate how this tax act affects you or your business individually, you should consult with your tax adviser. However, you should keep in mind that since the passage of the 2010 Tax Relief Act, several proposals for comprehensive tax reform have been unveiled in Washington that may hold promise for a more permanent solution.  A presidential panel developed the so-called Simpson-Bowles plan.  The GOP has put forward several proposals for comprehensive tax reform, also calling for reduced individual income tax rates, while both parties struggle to strike a “grand bargain”.  Later in 2013, a broader, more permanent solution may be found.

Kristina Drzal-Houghton, CPA MST is the partner in charge of Taxation at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.