| 2003 Numbers
Updated to reflect changes made by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (2003 Tax Act).
Individual Income Tax
1. Standard deductions
-
Regular standard deductions: $9,500 (increased from $7,950 by the 2003 Tax Act for MFJ or surviving spouse); $4,750 (S); $7,000 (HH); $3,975
(MFS).
-
Standard deduction for dependent: $750,
or $250 + earned income, whichever is greater (same as
2002). However, the standard deduction may not exceed the
regular standard deduction for that individual.
-
Additional standard deduction for
married 65 or over or blind: $950. For
single or HH age 65 or over or blind: $1,150 (same as
2002).
2. Itemized deductions
- Phaseout of itemized deductions begins at AGI of $139,500
(all returns except MFS); $69,750 (MFS).
3. Personal exemptions
-
Personal exemption for 2003:
$3,050.
- Phaseout of personal exemption begins at AGI of $209,250
(MFJ or surviving spouse); $174,400 (HH); $139,500 (S);
$104,625 (MFS).
4. Kiddie tax
-
Same as 2002 (child under age 14 with
unearned income over $1,500 is subject to kiddie
tax).
-
AMT exemption for child under age 14:
the lesser of (1) $5,600 + child's earned income, or (2) $40,250 (increased from $35,750 by the 2003 Tax Act).
5. Marginal income tax rates
- The tax rate schedules for 2003 will be as follows:
Single taxpayers
|
If taxable
income is: |
Your tax
is: |
Not over $7,000
|
10% of taxable income
|
Over $7,000 to $28,400
|
$700 + 15% of the excess over
$7,000
|
Over $28,400 to $68,800
|
$3,910 + 25% of the excess over $28,400
|
Over $68,800 to $143,500
|
$14,010 + 28% of the excess over $68,800
|
Over $143,500 to $311,950
|
$34,926 + 33% of the excess over $143,500
|
Over $311,950
|
$90,514.50+ 35% of the excess over $311,950
|
Married filing jointly and surviving spouses
|
If taxable
income is: |
Your tax
is: |
Not over $14,000
|
10% of taxable income
|
Over $14,000 to $56,800
|
$1,400 + 15% of the excess over
$14,000
|
Over $56,800 to $114,650
|
$7,820 + 25% of the excess over $56,800
|
Over $114,650 to $174,700
|
$22,282.50 + 28% of the excess over $114,650
|
Over $174,700 to $311,950
|
$39,096.50 + 33% of the excess over $174,700
|
Over $311,950
|
$84,389 + 35% of the excess over $311,950
|
Married individuals filing separately
|
If taxable
income is: |
Your tax
is: |
Not over $7,000
|
10% of taxable income
|
Over $7,000 to $28,400
|
$700 + 15% of the excess over
$7,000
|
Over $28,400 to $57,325
|
$3,910 + 25% of the excess over $28,400
|
Over $57,325 to $87,350
|
$11,141.25 + 28% of the excess over $57,325
|
Over $87,350 to $155,975
|
$19,548.25 + 33% of the excess over $87,350
|
Over $155,975
|
$42,194.50 + 35% of the excess over $155,975
|
Heads of household
|
If taxable
income is: |
Your tax
is: |
Not over $10,000
|
10% of taxable income
|
Over $10,000 to $38,050
|
$1,000 + 15% of the excess over $10,000
|
Over $38,050 to $98,250
|
$5,207.50 + 25% of the excess over $38,050
|
Over $98,250 to $159,100
|
$20,257.50 + 28% of the excess over $98,250
|
Over $159,100 to $311,950
|
$37,295.50 + 33% of the excess over $159,100
|
Over $311,950
|
$87,736 + 35% of the excess over $311,950
|
Trusts and estates
|
If
taxable income is: |
Your tax
is: |
Not over $1,900
|
15% of taxable income
|
Over $1,900 to $4,500
|
$285 + 25% of the excess over $1,900
|
Over $4,500 to $6,850
|
$935 + 28% of the excess over $4,500
|
Over $6,850 to $9,350
|
$1,593 + 33% of the excess over $6,850
|
Over $9,350
|
$2,418 + 35% of the excess over $9,350
|
6. Luxury auto excise tax
-
No luxury auto excise tax in 2003.
7. Earned income tax credit
(EITC)
-
Disqualified income limit (generally investment income): $2,600.
-
Maximum amount of earned income on which EITC is based: $4,990 (no qualifying children); $7,490 (joint filers with one qualifying child); $10,510 (two or more qualifying children).
-
Phaseout of EITC begins at AGI of $7,240 (joint filers with no qualifying children); $6,240 (for others with no qualifying children); $14,730 (joint filers with one or more qualifying children); $13,730 (for others with one or more qualifying children).
8. Charitable deductions
-
De minimis rules: Charitable
contributions will be fully deductible if the donor makes a
minimum payment of $40 and receives token gifts
with a cost of $8.00 or less. Charitable contributions will
also be fully deductible if the benefit received by the
donor doesn't exceed the lesser of $80 or 2% of the
amount of the contribution.
- Use of auto for charitable purposes: The deductible
standard mileage rate is 14 cents per mile.
9. Foreign earned income
exclusion
-
The foreign earned income exclusion is
$80,000.
10. Deductible standard mileage
rates
- Use of auto for medical purposes: 12 cents per mile.
- Use of auto for moving purposes: 12 cents per mile.
11. Child tax credit
- Increased to $1,000 per qualifying child for 2003 and 2004 (from $600) by the 2003 Tax Act.
12. Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Maximum AMT exemption amount for 2003 and 2004 under the 2003 Tax Act:
- Married filing jointly or surviving spouse, $58,000 (previously $49,000).
- Single or head of household, $40,250 (previously $35,750).
- Married filing separately, $29,000 (previously $24,500).
AMT income exemption phaseout threshold:
- Married filing jointly or surviving spouse, $150,000.
- Single or head of household, $112,500.
- Married filing separately, $75,000.
Investment Planning
1. Capital gains under the 2003 Tax Act
-
20% rate is reduced to 15% for long-term capital gains on sales or exchanges on or after May 6, 2003 and before January 1, 2009. The 15% rate applies to taxpayers who are in a marginal tax bracket greater than 15%.
-
10% rate is reduced to 5% (zero in 2008) on long-term capital gains for taxpayers who are in the 15% or lower marginal tax brackets.
2. Dividends under the 2003 Tax Act
- Dividends received by an individual shareholder from domestic and qualified foreign corporations will generally be taxed at the same rates as capital gains (15%, 5% for those in the 15% or lower marginal tax brackets, with the 5% rate lowered to zero for 2008). This change is effective for dividends received in 2003 through 2008.
- Previously, dividends were taxed as ordinary income.
Education Planning
1. U.S. savings bonds
-
Phaseout of interest exclusion begins at
modified AGI over $58,500 ($87,750 on a joint
return).
2. Coverdell education savings accounts
(formerly known as education IRAs)
- Annual contribution limit is $2,000.
Retirement Planning
1. 401(k), SARSEP, and 403(b)
contributions (elective deferrals)
-
Annual contribution limit is
$12,000.
-
Elective deferral for a SIMPLE
retirement account is $8,000.
2. Section 457 contributions
-
Annual contribution limit is
$12,000.
3. Defined contribution plans (Section
415 limit)
-
The dollar limit is $40,000.
4. Defined benefit plans
-
The annual benefit limit is
$160,000.
5. IRA contributions (deductible,
nondeductible, and Roth IRAs)
-
Annual contribution limit is $3,000
(increasing to $5,000 in 2008), plus $500 catch-up if 50 or
older.
Business Planning
1. Qualified transportation fringe
benefits
-
Employee can exclude up to $190 per
month for qualified parking expenses.
-
Employee can exclude up to $100 per
month for combined value of transit passes and
transportation in a commuter highway vehicle.
2. Earnings subject to Social Security
taxes (taxable wage base)
-
Maximum annual earnings subject to
Social Security taxes rises to $87,000 in 2003.
-
Social Security and Medicare combined
tax rate remains at 15.3% (same as 2002), while the
6.2% OASDI (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability
Insurance) tax rate applies to wages up to the new $87,000
wage base.
3. Health insurance deduction for
self-employed
- Deduction for health insurance premiums paid by
self-employed is 100% in 2003.
4. Optional standard mileage rate
- Use of auto for business purposes: 36 cents per
mile.
5. Increased section 179 expensing under the 2003 Tax Act
- Maximum amount that may be deducted under section 179 is increased to $100,000 for property placed in service for tax years 2003, 2004, and 2005 (increased from $25,000).
- Deduction reduced by amount by which cost of qualifying property placed in service during the year exceeds $400,000 (increased from $200,000).
6. Special additional first-year depreciation allowance for certain property under the 2003 Tax Act
- Special additional (bonus) first-year depreciation deduction equal to 50% of the adjusted basis of qualified property acquired after May 5, 2003 and before January 1, 2005, and placed in service prior to January 1, 2006.
- The Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 provided for 30% special additional first-year depreciation.
- Property is not eligible for both the 50% and 30% special additional first-year depreciation.
7. Tax on accumulated earnings and personal holding company income under the 2003 Tax Act
- The tax rate on accumulated earnings and personal holding company income is reduced to 15% under the 2003 Tax Act. Previously, these items were taxed at the highest marginal personal income tax rate.
Estate Planning
1. Gift/transfer tax exclusions
-
The annual gift tax exclusion is $11,000
($22,000 for spouses).
-
The annual exclusion for gifts to
noncitizen spouses is $112,000.
-
The generation-skipping transfer tax
(GSTT) exemption is $1,120,000.
2. Special use valuation reduction
limit
-
The limit on the decrease in value that
can result from the use of special valuation increases to
$840,000 in 2003.
3. Qualified conservation easement
exclusion
- If requirements are met, the executor of the estate of a
taxpayer dying after 1997 may elect to exclude up to 40% of the value of land subject to a qualified
conservation easement. The amount that may be excluded from
the gross estate is $500,000 in 2003.
Protection Planning
1. Long-term care insurance
(LTCI)
-
Qualified LTCI premiums are deductible
as medical expenses within the following limits:
Age |
Limit on
deduction |
40 or less
|
$250
|
41-50
|
$470
|
51-60
|
$940
|
61-70
|
$2,510
|
71 and over
|
$3,130
|
-
Qualified LTCI benefits are excludable
from income (as amounts received for personal injuries and
sickness), subject to a per diem limitation of $220.
Government Benefits
1. Social Security (general
information)
-
Amount of earnings required for a
quarter of coverage will be $890.
-
Domestic employee coverage threshold
will be $1,400.
-
Average monthly Social Security benefit
check for retired workers will increase to $895 in January
2003.
-
Maximum monthly benefit for a low-income
couple (SSI) will increase to $829.
-
Maximum monthly benefit for a low-income
beneficiary (SSI) will increase to $552.
-
Full retirement age increases to 65 years and 2 months.
-
Annual maximum earnings for Social
Security beneficiary under full retirement age without a reduction in
benefits (retirement earnings test) will be $960 monthly
($11,520 annually). One dollar in benefits will be withheld
for every $2 in earnings above the limit. One dollar in
benefits will be withheld for every $3 in earnings in
excess of the earnings threshold in the calendar year of
attaining age 65.
-
The 2003 Social Security monthly PIA
(primary insurance amount) formula will be 90% of
the first $606 of AIME (average index monthly earnings),
plus 32% of the AIME over $606 and through $3,653,
plus 15% of the AIME over $3,653.
2. Earnings subject to Social Security
taxes (taxable wage base)
-
Maximum annual earnings subject to
Social Security taxes rises to $87,000 in 2003.
-
Social Security and Medicare combined
tax rate remains at 15.3% (same as 2002), while the
6.2% OASDI (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability
Insurance) tax rate applies to wages up to the new $87,000
wage base.
3. Medicare (general information)
-
Medicare Part B premiums rise to $58.70 per
month in 2003.
-
Medicare Part B deductible remains at
$100 (same as 2002).
-
Medicare Part A monthly premium will be
$316 for individuals with less than 30 quarters of
Medicare-covered employment and for disabled individuals
under age 65 who lost disability benefits because of work
and earnings.
-
Medicare Part A monthly premiums for
seniors with 30 to 39 quarters of Medicare-covered
employment will be $174.
4. Medicare Part A deductibles for
inpatient hospital care
-
Deductible for up to 60 days of
inpatient hospital care (fee-for-service Medicare) will
increase to $840.
-
Deductible for 61 to 90 days will be
$210 per day.
-
Deductible for 91 to 150 days will be $420
per day.
-
Deductible for beneficiaries in a
skilled nursing facility in a benefit period will be
$105 per day for the 21st through 100th day of extended
care services.
Other
1. Qualified funeral trusts
-
Contributions to a qualified funeral
trust may not exceed $7,800.
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