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learn.extension.org/events/3191

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy, U.S. Department of Defense under Award Number 2015-48770-24368.

Income Tax Tips for Personal Finance Managers Working with Military Families

Connecting military family service providers and Cooperative Extension professionals to research and to each other through engaging online learning opportunities

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Today’s Presenters

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• Dr. Barbara O’Neill
• Rutgers Coopera-ve Extension’s Specialist in

Financial Resource Management

• Outreach Coordinator for the Personal Finance

concentra-on area of the Military Families Learning Network.

Taylor Spangler

• Family Consumer Science Extension Program

Coordinator at the University of Florida.

• Coordinator for the Florida Master Money Mentor,

Volunteer Tax Assistance, Financial Ambassadors and the Florida Saves programs.

Webinar Objectives

Present information on the following topics:

• Federal Income Tax Background
• Features of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
• Resources about taxes and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
• The tax filing process
• Income tax filing errors and opportunities
• Resources for income tax preparation
• Income tax identity theft

Question 1: What are the most frequent tax questions that you get from clients?

Income Tax Background

Photo by Barbara O’Neill

Background: Major Taxes Paid in the U.S.

ΠTaxes on Purchases

– Sales tax and excise tax (e.g., gas, cigarettes)

 Taxes on Property

– Real estate property tax – Personal property tax

Ž Taxes on Wealth

– Federal estate tax – State inheritance tax

 Taxes on Earnings

– Income tax and Social Security tax

Background: The Progressive Nature of Federal Income Tax

• Progressive tax – Takes a larger

percentage of income from high-income taxpayers than low-income taxpayers.

– Federal income tax

• Regressive tax – Takes a decreasing

percentage of income as income increases.

– State sales tax

Background: Marginal Tax Rate Is Applied to the Last Dollar Earned

• Marginal Tax Bracket (MTB) – Income-range

segments that are taxed at increasing rates as income goes up

• Marginal Tax Rate – The tax rate applied to your

last dollar of earnings

• Established by Congress and change periodically

2018 Federal Marginal rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%

Background: Tax Credit Versus Tax Deduction

$100 Tax Credit Reduces Your Taxes by $100 $100 Tax Deduction Amount Your Taxes are Reduced is Based on Your Tax Bracket

Example: $5,000 x .22% mtb = $1,100 of tax savings; $3,900 net cost

Background: Types of Deductions

Deduction = An amount subtracted from gross income to reduce the amount of income subject to tax.

• Standard Deduction- Amount established each year by tax

code; no need to itemize deductions; amount is based on a taxpayer's filing status, age, etc; no receipts needed

• Itemized Deduction- Specific amounts spent on certain

goods and services throughout the year; allowed deductions are outlined by the IRS and include such expenditures as mortgage interest and charitable donations

www.investopedia.com/terms/i/itemizeddeduction.asp#ixzz1zxopAxpP www.money-zine.com/Calculators/Mortgage-Calculators/Mortgage-Tax- Deduction-Calculator/ (Mortgage tax deduction calculator)

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Background: Itemizing Required for Charitable Gift Benefits

• If you claim the standard deduction on your tax

return, charitable gifts will not provide a tax benefit

– Psychic benefits of giving to charity are another issue

• You must itemize expenses on Schedule A to deduct

charitable donations.

• Donors' deductions are limited to 50% of adjusted

gross income; rollover of excess for up to 5 years

Background: Refundable and Non-Refundable Tax Credits

• Refundable: When tax credits are greater than the

amount of tax you owe, the IRS sends you a tax refund for the difference

– Example: Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

• Non-Refundable: Credit can’t be used to increase

your tax refund or to create a tax refund when you wouldn’t have already had one. In other words, your savings cannot exceed the amount of tax you owe.

– Example: Child and Dependent Care Expenses Credit

Background: Earned Income Tax Credit

• Credit paid to low- and moderate-income workers with

qualifying child(ren) or, in some cases, no children

• Maximum EITC credit on 2017 tax returns is

– $510 with no children – $3,400 with one qualifying child – $5,616 with two qualifying children – $6,318 with 3+ qualifying children

http://www.eitcoutreach.org/blog/how-much-are-the-eitc-and-ctc-worth-in-2018/

EITC Income Limits (2018)

Adjusted gross income (AGI) must each be less than:

• $49,298 ($54,998 married filing jointly) with three or more

qualifying children

• $45,898 ($51,598 married filing jointly) with two qualifying

children

• $40,402 ($46,102 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
• $15,310 ($21,000 married filing jointly) with no qualifying

children

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/eitc- income-limits-maximum-credit-amounts-next-year

Background: Child Tax Credit

• A $1,000 credit is available for each qualifying child

under the age of 17 claimed as a dependent (2017)

– The Child Tax Credit is non-refundable

• The Child Tax Credit will rise to $2,000 per

qualifying child in 2018

– Up to $1,400 per child is refundable

Background: Child and Dependent Care Credit

• Available for workers who pay employment-related

expenses for the care of children or other qualified individuals (e.g., incapacitated spouse) while they are working, seeking work, or in school full time

• The total expenses that may be used to calculate the

credit are capped at $3,000 (for one qualifying individual) or at $6,000 (for 2+ qualifying individuals) https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc602

Background: Saver’s Credit (Retirement Plan Savings)

https://www.irs.gov/retirement- plans/plan-participant- employee/retirement-savings- contributions-savers-credit

Background: Completing the Federal Income Tax Return

Œ Filing status  Income Ž Adjustments to income  Tax computation  Tax credits ‘ Other taxes (such as from self-employment) ’ Payments (e.g., withholding and estimated payments) “ Refund or amount you owe

• Refunds can be directly deposited to a bank account
• Payments may be directly debited from a bank account

” Signature (most common filing error)

Background: Tax-Rate Schedules and Tax Tables

• Tax-Rate Schedules – Used by filers with a taxable

income of $100,000 or more; requires a mathematical computation to determine tax liability

• Tax Tables – Used to look up one’s tax liability

according to tax filing status and income range

Federal Income Tax Table

Filing Status Taxable Income Tax Liability

Background: Tax Withholding

Background: Impact of W-4 Form Decisions on Net Pay

0 allowances = max taxes deducted* =

Smaller take home pay =

Larger tax refund

+ allowances = less taxes deducted =

Larger take home pay =

Smaller tax refund

NOTE: Taxpayers can add extra withholding beyond “0” allowances; e.g., +$50 more

2018 Tax Withholding

General Tax Planning Strategies to Minimize Taxes

If you expect Then you should Because The same or a lower tax rate next year Accelerate deductions into this year Greater benefit to higher rate The same tax rate next year Delay income into next year Delay paying taxes A higher tax rate next year Delay deductions Greater benefit Accelerate income Taxed at lower rate

Background: Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

– Paid by taxpayers with high amounts of certain

deductions and various types of income

– Designed to ensure that those who receive tax

breaks also pay their fair share of taxes

– Has increasingly been affecting less affluent

taxpayers, especially in high-tax states (e.g., NJ)

– A high proportion of long-term capital gains to

• rdinary income can trigger the AMT

Background: Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion

Tax Avoidance (Minimization)

– Legitimate methods to reduce your tax obligation

to your fair share but no more

(e.g., deductions, credits, tax-deferred/tax-free investing)

Tax Evasion

– Illegally not paying taxes you owe, such as not

reporting all income or overstating deductions

Question 2: What questions/comments are you getting about the new tax law (TCJA)?

Federal Marginal Tax Rates: 2017 and 2018

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in late December 2017 and signed by President Trump on December 22, 2017. This law will impact individual taxpayers and businesses on a scale that has not been seen in over 30 years.

Photo by Barbara O’Neill

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act #1

• Eight year period of lower individual tax rates from

2018 through 2025 with seven temporary tax rate brackets ranging from 10% to 37%

• Chained CPI (consumer price index) will be used for

future indexing, resulting in lower inflation adjustments than the previous CPI

• Elimination of personal exemptions (from 2018-2025)
• Nearly double the standard deduction ($12,000 for

singles and $24,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2018)

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act #2

• $10,000 cap for state and local tax (SALT)

deductions (e.g., state income tax and municipal property tax) for taxpayers who itemize

• Repeal of all miscellaneous deductions that were

previously subject to 2% of adjusted gross income (AGI) floor (e.g., union dues, uniform expenses, unreimbursed business expenses, tax prep fees)

• Enhanced child tax credit of $2,000 per qualifying

child; $1,400 of the credit is refundable

• The Affordable Care Act shared responsibility

payment remains in effect for 2017 and 2018 and is $0 beginning in 2019

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act #3

• Lower medical expenses deduction threshold of

7.5% of AGI for tax years 2017 and 2018

• Retains the alternative minimum tax for individuals

with higher AMT exemption amounts from 2018 through 2025

• 529 college savings plan distributions can be used

(within the annual limit of $10,000 per student) for private elementary and secondary school expenses and homeschooling expenses

• Alimony is no longer deductible by spouses who pay
• r taxable to recipient spouses for divorce decrees

signed after December 31, 2018

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act #4

• The moving expense deduction is suspended from 2018

through 2025 with the exception of the moving and storage expenses of service members

• Interest on home equity loans no longer deductible from

2018-2025; no grandfathering for existing home equity loans

• Tax-deductible interest is capped on mortgage debt (called

acquisition indebtedness) up to $750,000 on new mortgages; for mortgages taken out before December 15, 2017, the previous $1 million debt limit for mortgage interest remains

• The estate tax exclusion was raised to $11.2 million for

individuals and $22.4 million for married couples (with proper planning to double the individual exemption; i.e., portability) from 2018 through 2025

Military Income Tax Issues

Photo by Barbara O’Neill

Included and Excluded Income

Included

• Active duty pay
• Special pay for foreign

duty (not in combat)

• Hardship duty pay
• Enlistment/reenlistment

bonus pay

• Hazardous duty pay

Excluded

• Combat zone pay
• Disability compensation
• SEGLI benefits

received for death

• Family separation pay
• Per diem travel

allowances, moving allowances, and BAH

Other Military Tax Rules

• While combat pay is nontaxable, it IS included for the

purpose of calculating limits on contributions and deductions for an IRA

• Home sale profits: Exceptions to standard ownership

and use tests during the 5-year period prior to the sale: two of the preceding 10 years prior to the sale

• Residency for tax purposes is the state a service

member claims as home (typically where enlisted)

• Military spouses can file in resident state or duty

station state; need to compare options

Other Military Tax Rules

• Moving expense tax deduction is still in effect for

active duty service members (or spouses/dependents) pursuant to a military order or PCS

• Standard 4/15 deadline unless in a combat zone or

stationed outside the U.S.; 180 days after tour ends

• Resource: IRS Publication 3: Armed Forces’ Tax

Guide: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-3

Income Tax Resources

Photo by Barbara O’Neill

Recommended Resource

“The Bible”: Annual Limits Relating to Financial Planning (College for Financial Planning):

https://www.cffpinfo.com/assets/2017_annual_limits.pdf

Federal Tax Rates

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Tax Information web page: http://njaes.rutgers.edu/money/taxinfo/

Nerd’s Eye View Blog Post

For a through description and analysis of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, review the blog post Individual Tax Planning Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act written by Michael Kitces.

TCJA Tax Law Calculators

• Tax Bill Calculator: Will Your Taxes Go Up or Down? (The

New York Times): https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/17/upshot/tax- calculator.html? em_pos=small&emc=edit_up_20171218&nl=upshot&nl_art=0 &nlid=77794120&ref=headline&te=1

• Tax Calculator: What Tax Reform Means For You (Fox

Business): http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/12/19/tax-calculator- what-tax-reform-means-for.html

• Be sure to check the underlying assumptions!
• You will get a rough estimate-not an exact number

TCJA Tax Law Resources

• Congress Passes Sweeping New Tax Legislation (Iowa State University):

https://www.calt.iastate.edu/blogpost/congress-passes-sweeping-new-tax- legislation

• Details of the Conference Report for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax

Foundation): https://taxfoundation.org/conference-report-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act/

• Preliminary Details and Analysis of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax

Foundation): https://taxfoundation.org/final-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-details-analysis/

• Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Summary (CCH Incorporated and Wolters Kluwer):

https://goo.gl/CtJMAq

• The Final GOP Tax Bill is Complete. Here’s What Is In It (The Washington

Post): https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/15/the-final-gop- tax-bill-is-complete-heres-what-is-in-it/?utm_term=.b82bad4b0124

Question #3: Any Other Good Income Tax Resources?

What’s New in 2018?

• Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway

Extension Act of 2017

– Eased casualty loss rules, eased access to retirement funds, and charitable retention tax credit for victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria

UF/IFAS Extension

Photo courtesy of IFAS Extension

From Our VITA Tax Sites

• Opportunities for

savings

– Split Your Refund – Savings bonds – Debt pay down – Personal investments/ improvements

Observations From Our VITA Tax Sites

• Balance “free” tax

prep message and volunteer-based program with IRS- Certified Preparers

• Emphasize refund

accuracy

Questions From Our VITA Tax Sites

• Questions

– Healthcare forms – New tax law

• Misconceptions

– Taxpayer focus on deductions only taken when itemizing – 1099 underpayment

Question 4: What are some common misconceptions about taxes or tax errors?

Free Tax Prep Options

• VITA

– https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/ – http://www.militaryonesource.mil/vita-location- lookup (includes installation program directory)

• AARP

– https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/ aarp_taxaide/

Free File Software options

• 12 software companies provide a free

federal return to active military personnel with an AGI of $66,000 or less.

– Finder lists income, residency, and age restrictions – From $33,000- $66,000 maximum AGI – Some states excluded

• https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/

index.jsp

Know Before You Go

• Valid photo identification
• Social Security cards and birth dates for you,

your spouse and dependents

• Your wage and earning forms, such as Forms

W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R

– W-2 forms are usually available for military members by the end of January and can be downloaded from MyPay website

• Interest and dividend statements (Forms 1099)

Know Before You Go

• Other relevant information about your income

and expenses

– E.g., total amount you paid for child care and the provider’s identifying number (usually an Employer Identification Number or Social Security number)

• A copy of your last year’s federal and state tax

returns, if available

• Routing and account numbers for direct deposit
• f your tax refund

Opportunities to Save

• Typically measured by Form 8888 split

– Positive financial behaviors include paying down debt or transportation/ housing/ education investments

• Tax Time savings tips

– Make it personal, build on trust – Use anchor points – Mention several times

– https://prosperitynow.org/resources/start- savings-conversation-toolkit-vita-volunteers

Question 5: What are your thoughts

• n over-withholding?

Refund Timing

• The IRS issues most refunds within 21

days

– Check status of refund at https://www.irs.gov/refunds

• EITC/ACTC hold

https://cdn.themilitarywallet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/irs-wheres-my-refund.jpg

Refund Timing

• Refund

anticipation loans/ checks are interest-bearing loans

– https://www.irs.gov/e- file-providers/tax- refund-related- products

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/files/2012/04/tax.jpg

Question 6: How do your service members use their tax refunds?

Extensions

• File Form 4868 by April 17th, 2018 to

receive a 6-month extension (October 15th, 2018).

• Interests accrues on unpaid tax

– “The late payment penalty is usually ½ of 1%

• f any tax (other than estimated tax) not paid

by April 17, 2018. It is charged for each month

• r part of a month the tax is unpaid. The

maximum penalty is 25%”.

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return

Combat Zone Extension

• Additional time to file if you are stationed
• verseas or serving in a combat zone
• Deadlines extended for the period of

service, plus 180 days

• Applies to service members and those

working in support of/ under direction of U.S Armed Forces

Combat Zone Pay Considerations

• EITC: While combat pay is nontaxable,

service members may elect to include it as earned income it to qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which may decrease tax liability and could increase refund

• IRA: Combat pay is tax-free, but service

members can contribute to a Roth or Traditional IRA

Filing After ID Theft

• https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/taxpayer-guide-to-

identity-theft

• File a complaint with the FTC at identitytheft.gov
• Contact credit bureaus to place a ‘fraud alert’ on

your credit records

• Contact your financial institutions
• If SS# was compromised, complete IRS

Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit

17.6 million

iden-ty theE vic-ms in 2014 (7% of US popula-on)*

Over 370,000 complaints

to the FTC in 2017.

*U.S. Dept. of Jus-ce, Bureau of Jus-ce Sta-s-cs, Vic-ms of Iden-ty TheE, 2014 (September 2015)

What Is Tax Iden=ty The??

• Filing a fraudulent tax return using another

person’s Social Security number

• Claiming someone else’s children as dependents
• Claiming a tax refund using a deceased

taxpayer’s informa-on

• Earning wages under another person’s Social

Security number

Short-term Trends

Between 2016 and 2017:

• Total iden-ty theE complaints down 7%
• Tax iden-ty theE complaints down 46%
• IRS imposter scam complaints down 54%

» Consumer Sen+nel Data

Id The? Complaint Trends

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Total Number of Iden=ty The? Complaints 290,102 332,647 490,220 399,223 371,157 Consumer Sentinel Data

Scope of the Tax Id The? Problem

2014 2015 2016 2017 Percentage of Id TheE Complaints that are Tax-related 33% 45% 33% 22% Consumer Sentinel Data

How Does Tax Iden=ty The? Happen?

• Lost or stolen wallets, Medicare cards,

smartphones

• TheE by family, friends, visitors, advisors
• Dumpster diving
• Stolen mail or tax returns
• Imposter scams
• Corrupt insiders
• Corrupt tax prepara-on services

How Does Tax Iden=ty The? Happen Online?

• Data breaches
• Phony emails from imposters
• Unsecure Wi-Fi hotspots
• Peer-to-peer file sharing
• Downloading soEware or apps from unknown

sources

Warnings Signs of Possible Tax Iden=ty The?

• Social Security number is lost, stolen, or compromised
• Unusual delay in gebng a refund
• IRS no-fica-on:

– duplicate tax return filing – unreported income – duplicate dependents

Tips to Minimize Your Risk

• f Tax Iden=ty The?
• Who?

– Know your tax preparer

• When?

– File first: beat the crooks. File your returns as early in the tax season as possible

• How?

– If mailing, do not put tax returns in outgoing mail; mail tax returns directly from the post office – If filing electronically, use a secure network – Store returns securely and shred draEs

Reducing the Risk of Iden=ty The?

• Protect what you have

– Minimize personal informa-on in wallets or on smartphones – Keep personal informa-on secure - locked

• Be careful what you share

– Don’t give info unless you know who’s asking and why – Don’t click on links sent in unsolicited email

• Monitor

– Review mail and financial statements – Annualcreditreport.com

• Dispose properly

– Shred

Iden=ty The?

• Free print materials to order:

www.?c.gov/bulkorder

Ques=ons?

Connect with MFLN Personal Finance Online!

MFLN Personal Finance MFLN Personal Finance @MFLNPF

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MFLN Personal Finance grants 1.5 credit hours for today’s webinar for AFC-credentialed participants through AFCPE and CPFC-credentialed participants through FinCert. Please complete the evaluation and post-test at: https://vte.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_ex7v1qUkztKZntH Must pass post-test with an 80% or higher to receive certificate.

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MFLN Personal Finance Upcoming Event

Getting to Know You: Introducing Personal Finance Managers to Cooperative Extension and to Each Other

• Tuesday, March 27, 2018
• 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Eastern
• Location: learn.extension.org/events/3243

For more information on MFLN Personal Finance go to: militaryfamilies.extension.org/personal-finance

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