Tax planning for high-income earners
Tax planning for high-income earners
Between now and the end of the 2016 election cycle, one theme we will likely hear from all candidates is the need for tax-code simplification. The reason is simple: tax law is complex, and that complexity is magnified for those individuals with high incomes.
[ezcol_2third]Recent changes to the tax code, including those passed as part of “non-tax” bills such as the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), have added a staggering amount of additional tax considerations for high-income individuals. This is the first in a series of articles that will examine tax planning strategies in this environment, with a focus on high-income earners.
Tax planning in recent years has taken on greater importance and complexity due to a number of changes to the tax code.
- The highest individual income tax rate has increased from 35% to 39.6%.
- The highest tax rate on long-term capital gains has increased from 15% to 20%.
- High-income taxpayers are subject to a 3.8% surtax on “net investment income.”
- High-income taxpayers are subject to an additional Medicare surtax of 0.9% on wages and self-employment income.
- High-income taxpayers are subject to a phase-out of personal exemptions and itemized deductions.
A technical discussion of each of these changes is beyond the scope of this article, but the net result of these changes is that the effective tax rate for high-income individuals has increased significantly in the past few years. Adding to the complexity is the fact that the definition of “high income” (i.e., the income threshold levels required for these taxes to apply) is not consistent for all of these changes. So what’s a person to do?
First, since the net investment income tax (“NIIT”), the additional Medicare surtax, and the exemption and deduction phase-outs are based upon adjusted gross income, or AGI (AGI is generally total income before exemptions and itemized deductions), a key way to mitigate the tax impact of these items is to use strategies to manage AGI below these thresholds.
For example, if you own a business that is reported on your personal tax return, you can look at the timing of business deductions and accelerate them if possible. If your business is on a cash basis you could accelerate payment of expenses prior to the end of the year or defer collection of income until after year end. If you have significant capital gain income, consideration could be given to selling securities with loss positions to offset some or all of that gain.
One of the most powerful tools is maximization of deductible retirement plan contributions. For those individuals with businesses or who are self-employed, this may also provide a good opportunity to revisit your retirement plan to determine if the current plan still best meets your needs. What worked years ago may not be the best plan for you now, and your WK advisor can assist you in evaluating those options.
Regardless of the strategies used to plan around AGI, it is important to note that this planning must take a multi-year approach. Many individuals are focused on accelerating deductions to decrease tax to the lowest possible amount in the current year, with no consideration given to the impact of these actions in future years. Accordingly, such an approach may result in more overall tax over a multi-year time horizon, especially if “saving” some of those deductions for future years would have resulted in AGI in those years below the various thresholds for triggering the NIIT or the Medicare surtax.
In some instances it may even make sense to trigger income in the current year. For example, if income is low or losses are high in the current year, consideration could be given to converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Tax would be due on the conversion, but the proceeds would be withdrawn tax-free in the future. Depending on current tax rates, expected future tax rates, desire to avoid minimum distribution requirements (which can be done with a Roth), and other factors, this may be an appropriate long-term strategy. The conversion could also be done over a course of years to stretch out income recognition and take advantage of lower tax rate brackets. Your WK advisor can assist with such an analysis.
Finally, ordinary tax rates and capital gains tax rates are functions of your taxable income, which also takes into account exemptions and itemized deductions. Thus, just as one can take actions to plan around AGI, one can accelerate or defer itemized deduction as appropriate. This could include prepayment of state estimated income taxes or “bunching” of charitable deductions. As with AGI planning, this planning must be done using a multi-year forecast.
In our next article in this series, we will focus on one particular itemized deduction that contains significant opportunities for planning—the deduction for charitable contributions. Meanwhile, contact your WK advisor at (573) 442-6171 or (573) 635-6196 if it’s time to revisit your tax situation.
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OTHER STORIES FOR YOU
NEW LAW CHANGES SOME TAX RETURN DUE DATES. A number of tax return due dates were changed by provisions of a federal law extending highway funding. While that might seem like an odd bill for tax changes, it became law of the land on July 31, 2015, when President Obama signed the “Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015” (the Act).
HOW THE AMT WORKS. Have you been required to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax, or AMT, in the past? It’s a tool used to ensure taxpayers with higher incomes pay at least a minimum amount of income tax. If you’ve been subject to the AMT in the past, or might be in the future, read on for a primer on the subject.
WHY CONSIDER AN IRREVOCABLE TRUST? A variety of estate planning tools are available these days, but one we see used frequently is an irrevocable trust. This tool allows you to gift assets in the way you choose, provides tax benefits, and allows for creditor protection. And, irrevocable trusts can be used for reasons other than estate planning, so it might be helpful even if you don’t consider yourself especially wealthy.
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