Outline of Major Tax Law Provisions in 2011 under Multiple Scenarios
Tax Parameter

 Pre-Bush Tax Policy (1)

Compromise Tax Policy (2) Tax Policy Under congressional Democratic Proposal (3)
Tax Policy Under original Republican plan (4)

Ordinary Taxable Income Rates

15%, 28%, 31%, 36%, 39.6%

10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%

10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 36%, 39.6%

10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%

Ordinary Taxable Income Brackets

Click here for a more detailed breakdown of tax brackets.

Standard Deduction

$5,800 (single); $9,650 (married filing jointly)

$5,800 (single); $11,600 (married filing jointly)

$5,800 (single); $11,600 (married filing jointly)

$5,800 (single); $11,600 (married filing jointly)

Long-Term Capital Gains Rate

10% (for 15% bracket); 20% rate (for other brackets)

0% rate (for 10/15% brackets); 15% rate (for other brackets)

0% (for 10/15% bracket); 15% rate (for 25/28/33% bracket) 20% rate (for top two brackets)

0% rate (for 10/15% brackets); 15% rate (for other brackets)

Qualified Dividends Rate

Taxed as ordinary income

Taxed as capital gains

Dividends taxed as capital gains until taxable income exceeds $193,800 ($235,150 MFJ), additional dividends taxed as ordinary income

Taxed as capital gains

Personal Exemption Phaseout Threshold

$169,550 (single); $254,350 (MFJ)

No Phaseout

$203,300 (single); $254,150 (MFJ)

No Phaseout

Itemized Deduction Phaseout Threshold

$169,550 (single and MFJ)

No Phaseout

$203,300 (single); $254,150 (MFJ)

No Phaseout

Further Limit on Itemized Deductions

None

None

None

None

Child Tax Credit (per child)

$500

$1,000

$1,000

$1,000

Refundable Child Tax Credit

Refundable only for families with 3 or more children, with restrictive income requirements

Refundable to the extent of 15% of AGI in excess of $3,000

Refundable to the extent of 15% of AGI in excess of $3,000

Refundable to the extent of 15% of AGI in excess of $12,800

Child and Dependent Care Credit

Limited to $2,400 ($4,800 for two or more children) in expenses, top credit percentage of 30%, phase-out begins at $10,000 in earned income

Limited to $3,000 ($6,000 for two or more children) in expenses, top credit percentage of 35%, phase-out begins at $15,000 in earned income

Limited to $3,000 ($6,000 for two or more children) in expenses, top credit percentage of 35%, phase-out begins at $15,000 in earned income

Limited to $3,000 ($6,000 for two or more children) in expenses, top credit percentage of 35%, phase-out begins at $15,000 in earned income

Making Work Pay Credit

None

None

None

 

AMT Exemption Level

$48,450 (single); $74,450 (married filing jointly)*

$48,450 (single); $74,450 (married filing jointly)

$47,450 (single); $72,450 (married filing jointly)

$48,450 (single); $74,450 (married filing jointly)

AMT 28% Rate Threshold

$175,000

$175,000

$175,000

$175,000

AMT Exemption Phaseout Threshold

$112,500(single); $150,000 (married filing jointly)

$112,500(single); $150,000 (married filing jointly)

$112,500(single); $150,000 (married filing jointly)

$112,500(single); $150,000 (married filing jointly)

EITC

Click here to see how EITC rules would be affected by these four tax policy scenarios


*With no AMT patch, the exemption level would be: $33,750 (single ) / $45,000(MFJ). More Information