taxing work

Get out your pencil and paper—the Internal Revenue Service has unveiled some major changes for 2018.

› By Laurel Gillum

From cost-of-living adjustments for retirement savings to inflation changes for tax provisions, check out the newest laws for the upcoming tax season.

HIGHER CONTRIBUTION

LIMITS FOR RETIREMENT

SAVINGS: If you’re an employee who participates in a 401(k) or 403(b), you will be allowed to contribute up to $18,500. That’s $500 additional dollars.

DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS

TO IRAS: Savers who contribute to individual retirement accounts will have higher income ranges following cost-of-living adjustments. This deduction phases out for individuals and their spouses who are covered by workplace retirement plans. For single taxpayers, the limit will be $63,000 to $73,000.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO ROTH

IRAS: For single people or heads of households, the income phaseout has increased to between $120,000 and $199,000. For married couples filing jointly, that number is now $189,000 to $199,000.

STANDARD DEDUCTIONS:

The standard deduction for those married and filing jointly will rise to $13,000 from $12,700. Single taxpayers and those who are married and file separately will see their deduction rise to $6,500. The deduction will be $9,550 for heads of households.

PERSONAL EXEMPTION: The personal exemption will grow by $100 to $4,150. The phase-out for this exemption begins at an income level of $266,700 for single people or $320,000 for married couples filing jointly. The exemption phases out at $389,200 for individuals and $442,500 for married couples who file jointly.

ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM

TAX: The exemption amount is $55,400 for individuals prior to the alternative minimum tax kicking in and begins to phase out at $123,100. For married couples who file jointly, that will be $86,200 and will phase out at $164,100.

ESTATE TAX: The basic exclusion amount for estates of decedents who die in 2018 will be $5.6 million, an increase from $5.49 million in 2017.

Stick th The os

Thinking of doing your taxes on your own? You may want to think again. Here’s a few reasons to let the pros take over.

TAX PREPARATION FEES CAN BE DEDUCTIBLE: Any fees you incur while preparing for your taxes can be deducted if the sum of the miscellaneous deductions you are claiming is greater than 2 percent of your adjusted gross income.

ADDITIONAL DEDUCTIONS OR CREDITS: Are you aware of every tax deduction and credit you are eligible for?

Probably not. Your friendly neighborhood accountant probably is.

AUDIT ASSISTANCE: If you are audited, a tax professional can work with you to organize the necessary paperwork on your behalf.

AVOID MISTAKES:

Professional tax preparers use specialized software to doublecheck their work.