New Updates for 2019 Taxes – Part 2

In part 1, we covered changes to taxable income brackets and tax rates for individuals and married filing jointly. In part 2, we will cover deductions and other updates.

Changes to Standard Deduction Amounts

A standard deduction is the dollar amount that reduces the amount of income on which you are taxed and varies according to your filing status. At the beginning of 2018, the new tax plan brought higher standard deductions with the intention of helping families keep more of what they earn. Higher standard deductions often benefit middle-income families who see their income subject to lower tax rates.

This coming tax year, new standard deduction amounts will increase to: $12,200 for individuals, $18,350 for heads of household, and $24,400 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses.

There are also a few specific standard deduction changes you need to know for 2019:

  • Additional standard deduction amount for the aged or the blind: $1,300 (increases to $1,650 for unmarried taxpayers).
  • The standard deduction for an individual claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer cannot exceed $1,100 OR the sum of $350+ the individual’s earned income, whichever is greater.
  • There will be no personal exemption amount for 2019 per the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
  • Alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amounts will be adjusted for inflation. The AMT exemption is a mandatory alternative to the standard income tax for taxpayers who make more than the exemption.

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