2008 Individual Income Taxes 
Federal - Form 1040
 

In determining your tax burden, it's necessary to know what tax bracket you are in.  Following are the federal tax rate schedules for 2008 for each of the filing statuses.  The amounts are Taxable Income, which is after subtracting deductions and exemptions.  Each bracket is taxed at its separate rate and the total tax is the sum of the taxes on each bracket.  When analyzing the tax hit for additional income, you would use your top marginal rate.  Unlike the other kinds of taxes, these are all adjusted each year to keep pace with inflation and prevent what's called "bracket creep," where taxpayers are pushed into a higher bracket just by receiving cost of living raises. 

Sources: CCH Calculations (9/26/07)
                IRS Announcement (10/18/07)
                IRS Revenue Procedure - 20 page pdf  (10/18/07)

2008 Personal Exemptions

$3,500 per person and dependent

These are phased out for the evil rich, which for this issue is defined as adjusted gross income (AGI) of over:
 $119,975 for Married Filing Separately
 $159,950 for Single
 $199,950 for Head of Household
 $239,950 for Married Filing Jointly

2008 Standard Deductions

    Single: $5,450 + $1,350 if over 64 and/or blind

    Married Filing Jointly: $10,900 + $1,050 each if over 64 and/or blind

    Married Filing Separately: $5,450 + $1,050 if over 64 and/or blind

    Head of Household: $8,000 +$1,350 if over 64 and/or blind

    Dependents: Higher of $900 or earned income plus $300

Itemized Deductions are phased out for the evil rich, which for this issue is defined as adjusted gross income (AGI) of over:
 $  79,975 for Married Filing Separately
 $159,950 for Single
 $159,950 for Head of Household
 $159,950 for Married Filing Jointly

Ordinary Income Tax Rates

Married Filing Jointly

Single

Head of Household

Married Filing Separately

Married Filing Jointly

Single

Head of Household

Married Filing Separately

Capital Gains Tax Rates

Gains from sales of assets owned less than or equal to one year are taxed as ordinary income.

Depreciation recapture (Section 1250 gain) is subject to a Federal income tax of 25%.

Gains from sales of assets that have been owned for more than twelve months are taxed at special lower rates.  They are based on the rates which would apply if they were ordinary income. 

Income that would otherwise be in the 10% or 15% brackets:  0%

Income that would otherwise be in the 25% or higher brackets:  15% 

Dividend Income

Income that would otherwise be in the 10% or 15% brackets:  0%

Income that would otherwise be in the 25% or higher brackets:  15% 

Updated Monday May 05, 2008 08:06:08 PM
Ozarks Time by KMK

Kerry M. Kerstetter
MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA
11802 Deer Road
Harrison, AR  72601
E-Mail: KMKCPA@TaxGuru.org
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