The July 2012 Supreme Court ruling upholding what’s collectively referred to as the "Affordable Care Act" (ACA) has resulted in a number of changes to the U.S. tax code.
While all manner of rumors have been floated about the real impact of the new health care law, there are some real-world impacts that businesses and individuals need to consider.
Let’s take a closer look at what it might mean for you:
For Businesses
• Small Business Health Care Tax Credit – Small businesses and tax-exempt organization that employ 25 or fewer workers with average incomes of $50,000 or less, and that pay at least half of the premiums for employee health insurance coverage are eligible for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. For tax years 2010 through 2013, the maximum credit is 35% for small business employers and 25% for small tax-exempt employers such as charities. An enhanced version of the credit will be effective beginning Jan. 1, 2014. In general, on Jan. 1, 2014, the rate will increase to 50% and 35%, respectively.
• Additional Tax on Businesses Not Offering Minimum Essential Coverage – Effective in 2014 an additional tax will be levied on businesses with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees that do not offer minimum essential coverage. Employers with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees are exempt from the additional tax.
• Excise Tax on High Cost Employer-Sponsored Insurance – Effective in 2018, a 40% excise tax indexed for inflation will be imposed on employers with insurance plans where the annual premium exceeds $10,200 (individual) or $27,500 (family). For retirees age 55 and older, the premium levels are higher, $11,850 for individuals and $30,950 for families.
• Excise Tax on Medical Devices – Effective Jan. 1, 2014, a 2.3% tax will be levied on manufacturers and importers on the sale of certain medical devices.
• Indoor Tanning Services – A 10% excise tax on indoor tanning services went into effect on July 1, 2010. The tax doesn’t apply to phototherapy services performed by a licensed medical professional on his or her premises. There’s also an exception for certain physical fitness facilities that offer tanning as an incidental service to members without a separately identifiable fee.
For Individuals
• Individual Mandate – Starting in 2014, U.S. citizens and legal residents not qualified for Medicare or Medicaid must obtain minimum essential health care coverage for themselves and their dependents or pay a tax penalty that varies based on income level. In 2014, the basic penalty for an individual (no dependents) is $95, with substantial increases in subsequent years – $325 in 2015 and $695 in 2016, indexed for inflation thereafter.
• Refundable Tax Credit – Effective in 2014, certain taxpayers will be able to use a refundable tax credit to offset the cost of health insurance premiums so that their insurance premium payments do not exceed a specific percentage of their income. Qualified individuals are those with incomes between 133% and 400% of the federal poverty level. A sliding scale based on family size will be used to determine the amount of the credit. In addition, married taxpayers must file joint returns to qualify.
• FSA Contributions – Flexible Spending Arrangements contributions are limited to $2,500 per year starting in 2013 and indexed for inflation after that.
• New Rules for HSAs and Archer MSAs – Tax on non-qualified distributions from HSAs and Archer MSAs that are used to cover the cost of over the counter medicine without a script will increase to 20% starting in 2011. Medical devices, eyeglasses, contact lenses, copays, and deductibles are not affected, nor is Insulin even if it is non-prescription.
• Medicare Part D – Medicare Part D, the tax deduction for employer provided retirement prescription drug coverage, will be eliminated in 2013.
• Increase in AGI Limit for Deductible Medical Expenses – The deduction is currently 7.5% of AGI, but next year, in 2013, that increases to 10% of AGI. The 7.5% threshold continues through 2016 for taxpayers aged 65 and older, including those turning 65 by Dec. 31, 2016.
• Health Coverage of Older Children – The cost of employer provided health care coverage for children (through age 26) claimed as dependents on tax returns is excluded from gross income.
• Medicare Tax Increases for High Income Earners – Starting in 2013, there will be an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 for individuals ($250,000 married filing jointly). Also starting in 2013, there is a new Medicare tax of 3.8% on investment (unearned) income for single taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over $200,000 ($250,00 joint filers). Investment income includes dividends, interest, rents, royalties, gains from the disposition of property, and certain passive activity income. Estates, trusts and self-employed individuals are all liable for the new tax. Exemptions are available for business owners and income from certain retirement accounts, such as pensions, IRAs, 401(a), 403(b), and 457(b) plans.
Richard L. Lipton CPA & Associates LLC,located in Florham Park, N.J., draws on its founder’s 10 years as a stockholder and manager of family-owned Sam’s Tire Co. in Paterson, N.J.
Richard L. Lipton CPA & Associates LLC “is structured to personally serve large and small clients who have a need for business consulting services as well as accounting and tax services. We have even developed aniche in the area of forensic accounting. Our clients have realized that this combination of skills is extremely valuable in providing the highest quality professional services in today’s and the future’s economy.” – Richard L. Lipton CPA
Contact Richard L. Lipton CPA & Associates LLC:
Call: 973-520-8123
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.liptoncpa.com
