We are one step closer to delivering MASSIVE tax cuts for working families across America. Special thanks to @SenateMajLdr Mitch McConnell and Chairman @SenOrrinHatch for shepherding our bill through the Senate. Look forward to signing a final bill before Christmas! pic.twitter.com/gmWTny3SfS
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017
Fox-
The U.S. Senate voted just before 2 a.m. ET Saturday to pass a sweeping tax overhaul worth roughly $1.4 trillion, putting the Trump White House a big step closer to its first major legislative victory – and many Americans closer to a tax cut.
The vote was 51-49, with Republican Bob Corker of Tennessee the only member of the GOP to side with the Democrats in opposition.
The bill is still not yet finalized. Saturday’s vote means the Senate and House have passed similar tax reform plans, but negotiators from both chambers will start meeting Monday to agree on a single piece of legislation that both chambers must approve before it is sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Here’s how the latest legislation would affect you:
What deductions can I claim under the Senate bill that just passed?
The Senate bill does away with federal deductions for state and local income and sales taxes, but allows deductions of up to $10,000 in local property taxes. The legislation originally eliminated federal deduction for all state and local taxes, but the property tax exemption was later added at the insistence of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who said she was “delighted” about the change.
What about personal deductions?
Like the House bill, the Senate bill nearly doubles the standard deduction level to $12,000 for individuals (up from $6,350) and $24,000 for couples (up from $12,700).
Any other deductions I could claim?
The Senate bill retains the current limit for the home mortgage interest deduction to interest paid on the first $1 million of the loan. (The House bill reduces the limit to $500,000 for new home purchases.) The Senate version also preserves the deduction for medical expenses not covered by insurance (the House bill does not), but ends deductions for moving expenses and tax preparation.
Why does the Senate bill allow deducting medical expenses not covered by insurance?
Because the Senate bill also repeals ObamaCare’s individual mandate, while the House bill does not. If ObamaCare’s mandate is repealed, thousands of people are expected to drop their health insurance, raising the cost for those who decide to keep it.
And the personal exemption?
The Senate and House bills both eliminate the $4,050 personal tax exemption.
Will the tax brackets change at all?
The Senate bill keeps seven tax brackets, but reduces them to 10, 12, 22, 24, 32, 35 and 38.5 percent. (The current brackets are 10, 15, 25, 28, 33, 35, and 39.6 percent.) The House measure condenses seven brackets to four: 12, 25, 35 and 39.6 percent.
I own a small business. What would this mean for me?
The Senate bill allows owners of so-called “pass-through” businesses (that is, businesses that aren’t incorporated) to deduct 23 percent of their earnings, and then pay at their personal income tax rate on the remainder. This issue was a key concern of Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., both of whom announced this week that they would support the bill.
What about corporate tax rates?
Like the House bill, the Senate bill cuts the current 35 percent rate to 20 percent, but the Senate bill calls for a one-year delay in dropping the rate.
When will tax reform take effect?
President Trump and congressional Republicans have vowed to make tax reform law before the end of the year. If that happens, most of the provisions would come into force on Jan. 1.
Will tax reform affect my returns for this year?
The changes will not have any impact on your taxes for 2017, which are due to the IRS by April 17, 2018 (you get an extra 48 hours to file because the traditional April 15 due date falls on a Sunday).
So when will the differences in the bills be hashed out?
The House will vote on a motion to go to conference on the tax bills on Monday evening. The Senate is expected to vote on a similar measure soon after. Congress is scheduled to adjourn for its Christmas break on Dec. 15, but House Speaker Paul Ryan has said he will keep the House in session beyond that date if necessary to get tax reform passed.
Bullshit. They’ll mess it up somehow and the ObamaCare mandate will stay in place.
You watch, someone will backslide.
I remain skeptical, but hold a glimmer of hope.
So, eliminate personal tax exemption, state and local taxes, decrease by small amounts the % in each bracket, (fewer brackets), but increase standard deductions and MAYBE eliminate obamacare penalty. It almost sounds like there is just a lot of shuffling around, like the old trick of a bean and three cups sleight-of-hand-trickery.
We’ll see when it becomes law.
Pretty thin soup for all the hand wringing. This won’t help the sh*tbirds in next years elections.
Wait and see how the House fucks it all up.
Don’t all spending Bills have to originate in the House?
“Good Cop; Bad Cop” – bullshit.
If History is any judge, it won’t amount to a pinch of shit.
“The mountains quaked; and gave birth to a mouse.”
We shall see.
izlamo delenda est …
What did they trade for votes? DACA?
So the daughter that is currently pursuing her doctorate in newclear engineering launched on this POS bill primarily for one reason:
Her doctorate project is split between three schools and paid for by the DOE as part of an effort to bring next generation reactors to market.
She receives a stipend (salary) and her tuition is included as part of the compensation package.
This bill includes (included? Who knows) a provision that taxes in kind compensation such as tuition and appears to be aimed directly at taking away some of the tax-free business interests higher education enjoys while being able to indoctrinate our little bundles of joy.
She was not interested in hearing that her family of contractors, pass through business and corporation owners had been paying this kind of crap for years, it was now happening to HER in the safe cocoon of academia and IT WASN’T FAIR!!!
Welcome to the real world of the bureaucratic rent seeking, vote purchasing bung unholio alliance your dad has been P’Ohhhed about since he starting paying taxes as a teenager.
You know, if Trump promised any Republican anything in exchange for voting for this, Trump should just proceed as if he didn’t. I dare any of them to say one word about it. Give them a taste of what the people put up with when we vote on promises and get shafted after election day.
And Corker, you can go straight to hell.
So, another facade bill to enrich infividual congresspersons, through amendments?
Remora congressional idiots.
So the RINOs will vote against the bill after conference?
I don’t see anything benefiting me yet, unless they raised the income level when the various tax rates apply.
Lowering the corporate tax should repariate a lot of offshore cash, and maybe bring back some of the multinationals. This should help economic growth. This will probably have the biggest impact, and in itself, make passing the bill critical.
From the information I saw, my single, no dependent bracket will change from 15% to 22%. Doesn’t make me very happy.
FINGERS CROSSED