What Does the New Tax Plan Mean for Investing?

While much of the political fire and fury from Congress' tax plan debate has settled, some of the economic smoke still lingers as financial analysts and private investors plot their way through the new $1.4 trillion law's long-range ramifications.[1]

President Donald Trump signed the historic tax bill into law December 22 following a firestorm of partisan exchanges in the last few weeks that painted near apocalyptic visions if the bill either passed or failed. Republican pundits hail the sweeping tax bill as Trump's first major legislative victory in office.[2] 

American taxpayers are "going to start seeing the results in February. This bill means more take-home pay. It will be an incredible Christmas gift for hard-working Americans. I said I wanted to have it done before Christmas. We got it done," Trump said.[3]

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 224-201 December 20 in what was labeled by USA Today as an "unusual do-over vote"[4] to approve the bill following the U.S. Senate's 51-48 vote the same day, which included several minor changes from an earlier House version. The House voted 24 hours earlier to approve the tax plan's first version.

One of the 3 provisions Senators removed from the House version allowed families to use tax-advantaged 529 accounts for home-schooling expenses.[5] 

The other 2 provisions[6] involved the law's title and excise-tax conditions colleges and universities can use for their endowments.[7]

The law slashes the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and gives business owners a 20% deduction on business income. 

For taxpayers, the law nearly doubles the standard deductions to $12,000 for individuals and $24,000 for couples, which means itemizing deductions may help lower the standard tax load.[8] 

The new tax brackets are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%, which are slight decreases from previous categories. However, many workers will move into lower tax brackets under the new law. A couple making $76,000, for example, would pay 12% in income taxes as opposed to 25%.

What Does the New Plan Mean for Individual Investors?

The new tax law leaves the investment world mostly untouched and perhaps better positioned to take advantage of a rosier and potentially more robust marketplace.

Favorable rules for 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement accounts remain intact.[9]

The law, however, prohibits taxpayers from reversing Roth IRA conversions for a certain amount of time, which were used by account holders if investment values declined. Americans don't have to pay income taxes on Roth IRA withdrawals.[10]

Although the estate tax wasn't eliminated, the plan raises the federal exemption from $5 million to $11 million per person and to $22 million per couple.[11]

The plan also boosts the alternative minimum tax (AMT) from $50,600 to $70,300 for individuals and from $78,750 to $109,400 for married couples filing jointly. The AMT's aim was to prevent high earners from skirting full income tax payments by increasing the number of deductions. The AMT, a mandatory alternative to the standard income tax, takes effect when taxpayers' income reaches certain levels.[12] 

Sole-proprietorships, partnerships, and S-corporations would pay taxes at individual rates, but be allowed to use the 20% income deduction. This provision would not apply to high earners making more than $315,000 and filing jointly as couples.

The law tightens rules on certain home sales. Current provisions have sheltered certain homeowners from paying capital gains on their primary residences. Married couples filing jointly could expect tax protection on up to $500,000 in capital gains if the couple lived in their primary residence 2 of the previous 5 years. The law prohibits use of the rule to 1 home every 5 years. The home also has to be the taxpayer's primary residence for at least 5 of the previous 8 years.

What Should I Do Now?

Take a look at previous years' tax filings to determine the differences in your tax situation.[13] If it appears your tax rate may drop or your ability to itemize changes, you may want to consider making changes to future contributions - such as charitable donations - or deductions, which may include medical expenses. 

Retirees will benefit from the increase in the standard deductions for charity. To gain the most advantage, experts suggest doubling donation sizes but give less frequently. For example, by giving more in a single year and then skipping the next year, taxpayers would have a higher amount to write off on their taxes. Financial professionals also point to donor-advised funds rather than donating cash.[14]

Retirees will also have to monitor their income (withdrawals from their retirement accounts, which are taxable) to avoid moving into a higher tax bracket.

Retirees approaching 70? in 2018 may want to start taking early distributions if they have high balances in their retirement accounts to avoid landing in higher tax brackets.

Retirees will also have to monitor their incomes (withdrawals from their retirement accounts, which is taxable) to avoid moving into higher tax brackets.

We hope you found this report useful. We strive to keep you abreast of the most recent developments in the financial industry. If you have questions, call us anytime. 

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Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. 

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.  

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. 

Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors. 

[1] www.cnbc.com/2017/12/22/trump-signs-gop-tax-plan-short-term-government-funding-bill.html

[2] www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax/house-to-vote-again-on-tax-bill-trump-on-verge-of-win-idUSKBN1ED16V

[3] abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-tax-bill-incredible-christmas-gift-hard/story?id=51870650

[4] www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/20/house-set-pass-tax-bill-again-and-fixes-sending-final-1-5-trillion-package-trump/968722001/

[5] www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2017/12/19/democrats-say-provisions-gop-tax-bill-violate-senate-rules-and-will-removed-forcing-house-revote-wednesday/3NgPleNoJ0mE4w5yQ3bL7I/story.html

[6] www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/us/politics/tax-bill-vote-republicans.html

[7] www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/these-3-provisions-are-forcing-a-house-revote-on-the-tax-bill

[8] www.nydailynews.com/news/national/gop-tax-bill-individuals-article-1.3710628

[9] www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/personal-finance/tax-proposal-details

[10] www.rothira.com/roth-ira-conversion-rules

[11] wtop.com/business-finance/2017/12/4-changes-tax-bill/

[12] www.thebalance.com/alternative-minimum-tax-amt-who-has-to-pay-3305784

[13] www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/personal-finance/tax-proposal-details

[14] www.morningstar.com/news/market-watch/TDJNMW_20171220509/update-5-ways-the-tax-bill-will-affect-your-retirement.html