New Legislation Extends
Popular Tax Provisions
In one of its final actions, the 113th Congress passed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. This
legislation extends for one year a host of popular tax provisions (commonly referred to as “tax extenders”)
that had expired at the end of 2013. All of the following provisions were among those retroactively
extended, and are now effective through the end of 2014.
Deduction for qualified higher-education expenses
You may be entitled to a deduction if you paid qualified higher-education expenses during the year–this
includes tuition and fees (for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent) for enrollment in a degree or certificate
program at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. The deduction doesn’t include payments
for meals, lodging, insurance, transportation, or other living expenses. The maximum deduction is generally
$4,000. However, if your adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds $65,000 ($130,000 if married filing jointly),
your maximum deduction is limited to $2,000; if your AGI is greater than $80,000 ($160,000 if married filing
jointly), you can’t claim the deduction at all.
Deduction for classroom expenses paid by educators
If you’re an educator, you may be able to claim up to $250 of unreimbursed qualified classroom expenses
you paid during the year as an “above-the line” deduction. Qualifying expenses can include the cost of
books, most supplies, computer equipment, and supplementary materials used in the classroom. Teachers,
instructors, counselors, principals, and aides for kindergarten through grade 12 are eligible, provided a
minimum number of hours are worked during the school year.
Deduction for state and local general sales tax
If you itemize deductions on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040, you can elect to deduct state and local general
sales taxes in lieu of the deduction for state and local income taxes. You can calculate the total amount of
state and local sales taxes paid by accumulating receipts showing general sales taxes paid, or you can use
IRS tables. If you use IRS tables to determine your deduction, in addition to the table amounts you can
deduct eligible general sales taxes paid on cars, boats, and other specified items.
Tax-free charitable donations from IRAs
If you’re age 70½ or older, you can make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) of up to $100,000 from
your IRA and exclude the distribution from your gross income. The distribution must be made directly to a
qualified charity by December 31, 2014, and must be a distribution that would otherwise be taxable to you.
QCDs count toward satisfying any required minimum distributions (RMDs) that you would otherwise have to
receive from your IRA, just as if you had received an actual distribution from the plan. You aren’t able to
claim a charitable deduction for the QCD on your federal income tax return.
Deduction for mortgage insurance premiums
Premiums paid or accrued for qualified mortgage insurance associated with the acquisition of your main or
second home may be treated as deductible qualified residence interest on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040.
The amount that would otherwise be allowed as a deduction is reduced if your AGI exceeds $100,000
($50,000 if married filing separately), and no deduction is allowed if your AGI exceeds $109,000 ($54,500 if
married filing separately).
Bonus depreciation
You may be able to claim an additional first-year “bonus” depreciation deduction, equal to 50% of the
adjusted basis of qualified property placed in service during the year. The additional first-year depreciation
deduction is allowed for both regular tax and the alternative minimum tax. The basis of the property and the
regular depreciation allowances in the year the property is placed in service (and later years) are adjusted
accordingly.
Expanded IRC Section 179 expensing limits
Under IRC Section 179, if you’re a small-business owner you can generally elect to expense the cost of
qualifying property, rather than to recover such costs through depreciation deductions. The maximum
amount that can be expensed for 2014 now remains at $500,000 (the same limit that applied in 2013),
rather than dropping to $25,000 had the legislation not passed. The $500,000 limit is reduced by the
amount by which the cost of qualifying property placed in service during the taxable year exceeds
$2,000,000.
Exclusion of gain–qualified small-business stock
Generally, you’re able to exclude 50% of any capital gain from the sale or exchange of qualified
small-business stock provided that certain requirements, including a five-year holding period, are met.
However, the temporary increase of the exclusion percentage to 100% that applied in 2013 is now
extended to qualified small-business stock issued and acquired in 2014.
Other provisions extended
Other provisions extended by the legislation include:
• The ability to exclude from income the discharge of debt associated with a qualified principal residence
• Provisions related to employer-provided mass-transit benefits
• Special rules for qualified conservation contributions of capital gain real property
• Provisions relating to business tax credits, including the research credit and the work opportunity tax
credit
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. does not provide investment, tax, or legal advice. The
information presented here is not specific to any individual’s personal circumstances.
To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be
used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer
should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.
These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly
available information from sources believed to be reliable—we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness
of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.
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