Christ First Forum

US economy to implode in 2011 under tax rate hikes

When President Bush’s tax cuts expire in January 2011, the US economy is at risk of an implosion or a collapse. Higher tax rates at the time of a financial crisis have a very negative effect on future growth and economic recovery.

Starting in January 2011, we will see the federal personal income tax rate rise from the current 35% to 39.5%, the dividend tax rate will go up to 39.6% from 15%, the capital gains taxes will stand at 20%, up from the previous 15%, and the estate taxes will move from zero to a whopping 55% rate.

Print money fast and furious to solve the crisis

A higher tax rate will affect every single American household and will result in less spendable income unless the income or savings are protected before the tax rates rise.

One solution that is available to all American taxpayers is the conversion of tax deferred accounts such as IRAs and 401(k) plans into Roth IRAs. Doing so in 2010 will allow the conversion of tax deferred dollars into spendable dollars without any penalty fee.

Such conversion is only available during the 2010 fiscal year and grants everybody a temporary exemption of the previously imposed 10% penalty. The total amount converted will stall be taxable at the applicable rate, but given the future of tax rates next year, this conversion seems like a no-brainer and a very good solution for consumers.

Another option to avoid higher taxes in the future is to shelter some of the personal income into a living trust for the benefit of your children or designated beneficiaries. The IRS code allows each parent to “gift” 11,000 per year/per beneficiary. The gift can be deducted from the taxable income in the next tax return filings if accompanied by a gift tax form, which can be found on the IRS website or can be furnished by any CPA firm.

It is widely expected that the US economy will collapse if the tax cuts were to expire early next year as history has proven many times that an economy can only revamp itself with low tax rates.

High tax rates are detrimental to any economy, but there are ways to protect yourself by contacting your CPA firm and find the best solution to shelter your assets and your income.

http://www.huliq.com/9990/us-economy-im ... rate-hikes


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List of Tax Hikes in Obamacare


on 4/17/2010
Labels: health care, taxes
Remeber when Obama said, "I've been a little amused over the last couple of days where people have been having these rallies about taxes," the president said, noting the numerous tax cuts pushed by his administration. "You would think they'd be saying thank you." Of course you remember, it was yesterday. Well, for all your little smug liberal friends that say Obama cuts taxes, ask them about the taxes stuffed into the new Obamacare disaster:

(Page numbers reference ORIGINAL REID-OBAMA BILL unless noted):

Individual Mandate Tax (Page 324/Sec. 1501/$15 bil/Jan 2014): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the higher of the following (page 71 of manager’s amendment updates Reid bill):

Single
2014 $495/0.5% AGI $990/0.5% AGI $1485/0.5%/AGI
2 People
2015 $495/1.0% AGI $990/1.0% AGI $1485/1.0%/AGI
3+ People
2016+ $495/2.0% AGI $990/2.0% AGI $1485/2.0%/AGI
(Exemptions for religious objectors, undocumented immigrants, prisoners, those earning less than the poverty line, members of Indian tribes, and hardship cases (determined by HHS).)

Employer Mandate Tax (Page 348/Sec. 1513/$28 bil/Jan 2014): If an employer does not offer health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit, the employer must pay an additional non-deductible tax of $750 for all full-time employees. Applies to all employers with 50 or more employees.

If the employer requires a waiting period to enroll in coverage of 30-60 days, there is a $400 tax per employee ($600 if the period is 60 days or longer).

Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (Page 1979/Sec. 9001/$149.1 bil/Jan 2011): Starting in 2013, new 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac” health insurance plans ($8500 single/$23,000 family). Higher threshold ($9850 single/$26,000 family) for early retirees and high-risk professions. CPI +1 percentage point indexed. Longshoremen have been exempted (page 362 of the manager’s amendment)

From 2013-2015, the 17 highest-cost states are 120% of this level.

Employer Reporting of Insurance on W-2 (Page 1996/Sec. 9002/Min$/Jan 2011): Preamble to taxing health benefits on individual tax returns.

Medicine Cabinet Tax (Page 1997/Sec. 9003/$5 bil/Jan 2011): No longer allowable to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin)

HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike (Page 1998/Sec. 9004/$1.3 bil/Jan 2011): Increases additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.

FSA Cap (Page 1999/Sec. 9005/$13.3 bil/Jan 2011): Imposes cap on FSAs of $2500 (now unlimited). Indexed to inflation after 2011 (added on page 363 of manager’s amendment)

Corporate 1099-MISC Information Reporting (Page 1999/Sec. 9006/$17.1 bil/Jan 2012): Requires businesses to send 1099-MISC information tax forms to corporations (currently limited to individuals), a huge compliance burden for small employers

Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals (page 2001/Sec. 9007/Min$/immediate): $50,000 per hospital if they fail to meet new "community health assessment needs," "financial assistance," and "billing and collection" rules set by HHS (updated on page 364 of manager’s amendment).

Tax on Innovator Drug Companies (Page 2010/Sec. 9008/ $22.2 bil/Jan 2010): $2.3 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to share of sales made that year.

Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers (Page 2020/Sec. 9009/$19.2 bil/Jan 2010): $2 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to shares of sales made that year. Exempts items retailing for <$100. Rises to $3 billion annually in 2017 (updated by page 364 of manager’s amendment).

Tax on Health Insurers (Page 2026/Sec. 9010/$59.6 bil/Jan 2011): $10 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to health insurance premiums collected that year. Phases in gradually until 2017. Fully-imposed on firms with $50 million in profits (updated on page 365 of manager’s amendment)

Eliminate tax deduction for employer-provided retirement Rx drug coverage in coordination with Medicare Part D (Page 2034/Sec. 9012/$5.4 bil/Jan 2011)

Raise "Haircut" for Medical Itemized Deduction from 7.5% to 10% of AGI (Page 2034/Sec. 9013/$15.2 bil/Jan 2013): Waived for 65+ taxpayers in 2013-2016 only

$500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives (Page 2035/Sec. 9014/$0.6 bil/Jan 2013)

Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax (Page 2040/Sec. 9015/$86.8 bil/Jan 2013): Current law and changes:

Current Law:

First $200,000 ($250,000 Married) = 1.45%/1.45%
2.9% self-employed

All Remaining Wages Employer/Employee = 1.45%/1.45%
2.9% self-employed

Reid-Obama Tax Hike:

First $200,000($250,000 Married) Employer/Employee = 1.45%/1.45%
2.9% self-employed

All Remaining Wages Employer/Employee = 1.45%/2.35%
3.8% self-employed

The 0.9% new rate addition is not deductible for the self-employment tax adjustment. Updated by page 372 of manager’s amendment.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike (Page 2044/Sec. 9016/$0.4 bil/Jan 2010): The special tax deduction in current law for Blue Cross/Blue Shield companies would only be allowed if 85 percent or more of premium revenues are spent on clinical services

STRICKEN: Tax on Cosmetic Medical Procedures (Page 2045/Sec. 9017/$5.8 bil/Jan 2010): New 5% excise tax on elective cosmetic surgery to be paid by the surgery patient.

REPLACED BY: Tax on Indoor Tanning Services (Page 373 of Manager’s amendment/$2.7 billion/July 1, 2010): New 10% excise tax on indoor tanning salons

http://www.notoriouslyconservative.com/ ... acare.html
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