Chapter 4Adjustments for Adjusted Gross IncomeDont tax you, dont tax me; Tax the fellow behind the tree. Senator Russell B. Long

McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Copyright 2011 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

LO #1 Student Loan Interest Only interest on a qualified student loan is potentially deductible. A qualified education loan is one incurred by the taxpayer solely to pay qualified education expenses incurred on behalf of the taxpayer, taxpayers spouse, or any dependent of the taxpayer at the time the loan was incurred. The deduction is limited to $2,500 per year.4-2

LO #1 Student Loan Interest A qualified loan is one used solely to pay for qualified educational expenses. Qualified education expenses are the costs of attendance at an eligible educational institution. These costs include tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, room, board, transportation, and other necessary expenses of attendance.4-3

LO #1 Student Loan Interest Qualified education expenses must be paid or incurred within a reasonable period before or after the loan date Expenses must occur during the period the recipient was carrying at least half the normal full-time workload for the intended course of study. The course of study can be either at the undergraduate or graduate level.

4-4

LO #1 Student Loan Interest Deduction for student loan expense may be limited based on modified AGI of taxpayer. Modified AGI is equal to AGI on the taxpayers tax return plus (a) any deduction for student loan interest, and (b) any foreign, U.S. possession, or Puerto Rican income excluded from taxable income (c) any deduction taken for tuition and fees (d) any deduction taken with regard to domestic activities production.4-5

LO #1 Student Loan Interest The deductible amount of student loan interest is reduced when modified adjusted gross income reaches: $120,000 on a joint return ($60,000 for a single return) and: is totally eliminated when modified adjusted gross income reaches $150,000 ($75,000 for single returns).

4-6

LO #1 Student Loan Interest The formula for calculating the disallowed interest is: Preliminary Deduction Fraction (see below) = Disallowed Interest For married taxpayers, the fraction is: (Modified AGI $120,000) / $30,000 For single taxpayers, the fraction is: (Modified AGI $60,000) / $15,000

4-7

LO #1 Student Loan Interest Concept Check 4-1 1. In order for the interest on a student loan to qualify for the deduction, the student must be enrolled at least___________. Half-time 2. Under the student loan program, qualified education expenses include __________, and __________. Tuition and fees

4-8

LO #1 Student Loan Interest Concept Check 4-13. The deductible amount of student loan interest is reduced when modified AGI for those filing married jointly reaches__________. $120,000

4-9

LO #2 Health Savings Account Deduction A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-exempt savings account used for qualified medical expenses. It can be used for the expenses of the account holder, spouse, and dependents.

In general, qualified taxpayers can take a for AGI deduction for contributions to the HSA.

4-10

LO #2 Health Savings Account Deduction To be eligible for an HSA, the taxpayer must be selfemployed, or an employee (or spouse) of an employer with a high deductible health plan, or an employee of a company that has no health coverage and has purchased a high-deductible policy on his or her own. In addition, the individual must have no other health insurance coverage, except certain specified coverage. Taxpayers cannot have other health insurance except for coverage for accidents, disability, dental care, vision care, long-term care, or workers compensation

4-11

LO #2 Health Savings Account Deduction A High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is a health plan with specified minimum deductible amounts and a maximum annual deductible and out-of-pocket expense limitation. For calendar year 2010, these amounts are as follows:Minimum Deductible Maximum Deductible and Annual Outof-pocket $ 5,950 $11,900

Individual Coverage Family Coverage

$1,200 $2,400

4-12

LO #2 Health Savings Account Deduction

Taxpayers who contribute to or withdraw from an HSA during the year must file a Form 8889 and attach it to their Form 1040. Contributions made by a qualified individual are a for AGI deduction, assuming the limitations are met. Distributions from an HSA are tax free as long as they are used to pay for qualified medical expenses.4-13

LO #2 Health Savings Account Deduction Concept Check 4-21. To be eligible to fund an HSA, a taxpayer must be __________, or an employee (or spouse) of an employer who maintains a high deductible health plan, or an employee of a company that has no health coverage and has purchased a highdeductible policy on his or her own. Self-employed 2. If they are used to pay for qualified medical expenses, distributions from HSAs are _________. Tax-free

4-14

LO #2 Health Savings Account Deduction Concept Check 4-23. If taxpayers make contributions to, or withdrawals from, an HSA during the year, they must complete a Form _________ and attach it to their Form _______. Form 8889 and Form 1040

4-15

LO #3 Moving Expenses If a taxpayer moves due to a change in job location or to obtain a job, certain expenses related to moving may be deducted as a for AGI deduction. Moving expenses are reasonable expenses for: Moving household goods and personal effects from the old residence to the new residence. Traveling from the old residence to the new residence (including lodging, but excluding meals). Moving expenses of persons other than the taxpayer are permitted if the other persons are members of the taxpayers household.4-16

LO #3 Moving Expenses Additional moving expenses include: storage of household goods within a consecutive 30-day period after items are moved from the former home; actual expenses or mileage at the rate of 16.5 cents per mile for 2010 for driving a personal auto; moving expenses of persons other than the taxpayer if members of the taxpayers household.4-17

LO #3 Moving Expenses To qualify for a moving expense deduction, taxpayers must meet two additional tests in addition to the change in employment location test. Distance test - the new job location must be at least 50 miles farther from the taxpayers old residence than was the old job location. If the taxpayer had no old job (i.e., the taxpayer was unemployed), then the new job must be more than 50 miles away from his or her old residence.

4-18

LO #3 Moving Expenses Time test - a taxpayer must meet either of the following: Be a full-time employee for a period of 39 weeks during the 12 months immediately following arrival in the new area, or Be a full-time employee (or work as a selfemployed individual on a full-time basis) for at least 78 weeks during the 24 months immediately following arrival in the new area. At least 39 of the 78 weeks must be during the first 12-month period.

4-19

LO #3 Moving Expenses Moving expenses are only deductible in the year incurred. If the taxpayer elects to deduct the moving expenses prior to satisfying the time test and later does not meet the test, the moving expenses are disallowed. Must file amended return. Employers may reimburse employees for some or all of their moving expenses. Only net amount is deductible

4-20

LO #3 Moving Expenses Concept Check 4-31. Moving expenses can be deducted as either a for AGI deduction or as an itemized deduction on Schedule A. True or False? False

2. A taxpayer who meets the time test does not have to be concerned about the distance test. True or False? False

4-21

LO #3 Moving Expenses Concept Check 4-33. If an employer reimburses an employee for moving costs, then the employee cannot deduct those expenses on the tax return. True or False? True

4-22

LO #4 Deduction for Half of Self-Employment Tax Self-employed individuals must pay self-employment, or FICA, tax equal to 15.3% of net earnings from selfemployment. Self-employed persons are allowed a for AGI deduction equal to one-half of the self-employment tax imposed. Self-employment tax is calculated on Form SE.

4-23

LO #4 Deduction for Half of Self-Employment Tax: Concept Check 4-4

1. Self-employment tax is calculated on the ____ earnings of the business. Net 2. For W-2 employees, the FICA tax is calculated at a rate of ______ of their gross earnings. 7.65%

4-24

LO #5 Self-employed Health Insurance Deduction Self-employed individuals may be able to deduct 100% of self-employed health insurance payments. The amount of the deduction may be limited in two respects: First, taxpayers cannot take a deduction for the amount in excess of net earnings from self-employment from the trade or business under which coverage is provided.

4-25

LO #5 Self-employed Health Insurance Deduction The second limitation pertains to availability of other health insurance coverage. If the taxpayer is entitled to participate in any subsidized health plan maintained by any employer of the taxpayer or of the taxpayers spouse, a deduction is not allowed. Eligibility for alternative coverage is determined on a monthly basis.

4-26

LO #5 Self-employed Health Insurance Deduction: Concept Check 4-5 1. Self-employed individuals are allowed to take a for AGI deduction for up to 80% of the cost of their self-employed health insurance premiums. True or False? False 2. One limitation on this deduction is that taxpayers cannot deduct the premium cost that exceeds gross earnings from selfemployment. True or False? False

4-27

LO #5 Self-employed Health Insurance Deduction: Concept Check 4-5 3. Another limitation on this deduction is that eligible participation in a subsidized health plan offered by the employer of either the taxpayer or the taxpayers spouse will prohibit the deduction. True or False? True

4-28

LO #6 - Penalty on Early Withdrawal of Savings If a taxpayer withdraws funds early from a time deposit account, like a CD, he or she may be subject to an early withdrawal penalty. The taxpayer is entitled to report the penalty as a for AGI deduction on line 30 of Form 1040. The amount of the penalty is reported on a Form 1099-INT, issued by the financial institution.4-29

LO #6 - Penalty on Early Withdrawal of Savings: Concept Check 4-6 1. The early withdrawal penalty is reported on Form________ and as an ___________ deduction. 1040 above-the-line

2. The amount of the penalty is reported to the taxpayer by the financial institution on a Form___________. 1099-INT

4-30

LO #7 Alimony Paid Alimony is one of three potential payments that can exist in a divorce or legal separation. Alimony, child support, property settlement

Only alimony has a tax consequence. If payments properly qualify as alimony, the payments are deductible by the payer as a for AGI, or an abovethe-line, deduction.4-31

LO #7 Alimony Paid Alimony is a legal consequence requiring one spouse to make payments to support the other spouse. In order to qualify as alimony: a payment must be cash and, must be required under the provisions of a decree of divorce or separate maintenance agreement. All payments must end at the payee spouses death.4-32

LO #7 Alimony Paid The recipient of the payments must include these payments as income on his or her tax return. If alimony payments decrease sharply in the second or third year of payment, the payments may be subject to a recapture provision. This relates to the concept of substance over form. The recapture rules effectively reclassify payments from alimony to a property settlement.4-33

LO #7 Alimony Paid Concept Check 4-71. Alimony may be paid in either cash or property, as long as the payments are made on a regular basis to a non-live-in exspouse. True or False? False 2. For payments to qualify as alimony, the couple must be legally divorced at the time payments are made. True or False? False

4-34

LO #7 Alimony Paid Concept Check 4-73. The goal of the alimony recapture rules is to properly define the substance of payments made to a former spouse to ensure proper tax treatment. True or False? True

4-35

LO #8 Educator Expenses Eligible educators can deduct up to $250 of qualified education expenses as a for AGI deduction. If the taxpayers filing status is married filing jointly and both individuals are eligible educators, the maximum deduction is $500. but neither spouse can deduct more than $250 of his or her expenses.

4-36

LO #8 Educator Expenses An eligible educator is a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aide in a kindergarten through 12th grade school who devotes at least 900 hours in the school year to that job Qualification under the 900-hour test is measured within the academic year. The $250 deduction is measured in terms of the expenses paid during the calendar year.

4-37

LO #8 Educator Expenses Qualified education expenses for the deduction are those for books, supplies, equipment (including computers and software), and other materials used in the classroom. The expense must also be ordinary (common and accepted in the educational field) and necessary (helpful and appropriate).

4-38

LO #8 Educator Expenses Concept Check 4-81. To be eligible for the deduction, an educator must work a least_____ hours in the job. 900 Hours 2. The maximum deduction for a couple who are both eligible educators and filing MFJ is______. $500

4-39

LO #8 Educator Expenses Concept Check 4-83. Expenses for _______ ________ do not qualify for this deduction. Home Schooling

4-40

LO #9 Tuition and Fees Deduction Taxpayers can take a deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses paid during the year for the taxpayer, taxpayers spouse, or a dependent. The deduction is a maximum of $4,000 but can be smaller if the modified AGI of the taxpayer exceeds certain limits.

4-41

LO #9 Tuition and Fees Deduction For 2010, the full $4,000 for AGI deduction is available to single taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes (AGI) less than $65,000 (less than $130,000 for joint filers). A limited $2,000 for AGI deduction is available to single taxpayers with AGI between $65,000 to $80,000 ($130,000 to $160,000 for joint filers). The deduction is zero for AGI above those amounts.

4-42

LO #9 Tuition and Fees Deduction Payments must be to a qualified educational institution and must be for a student taking one or more courses at that institution. Only tuition and related expenses qualify. Taxpayers cannot claim a deduction for tuition paid for elementary and secondary school education.

4-43

LO #9 Tuition and Fees Deduction Concept Check 4-91. The maximum amount of the tuition and fees deduction that an eligible taxpayer can take is $4,000. True or False? True 2. Normally, expenses for books purchased for school can qualify for the tuition and fees deduction. True or False? False4-44