Tax Season Got You Down? Blame Obamacare

What do you hate the most about taxes? Is it the simple fact that you have to file them? Is it the fear of being chosen for an audit? Is it all the confusing changes on tax laws and policies that drive you nuts? There are a lot of reasons people hate dealing with taxes, but this year, there could be a new number one reason for aggravation. Obamacare!

Although it’s actually called the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, as most people know it, is sure to bring a lot of confusion and frustration this tax season. It will affect just about everyone in some way, but some more than others. Three aspects of your return in particular could feel the effects of Obamacare.

First and foremost, there is the individual penalty if you don’t have insurance. Here’s how the penalty works. If you don’t have insurance then you will pay the greater of the these two amounts:

  • 1 percent of your annual household income, or
  • $95 per person in the household for the entire year ($47.50 for those under 18).

Obamacare will also affect the Net Investment Income Tax, because as part of the plan there is a new 3.8 percent tax that will be added on to the capital gain rate. This 3.8 percent is applied to either the amount by which your adjusted gross income exceeds a certain tax threshold or to your net investment income; whichever is less.

Lastly, the Premium tax credit will also see the effects of Obamacare. Anyone who had health insurance via a Health Care Exchange could see the government subsidize his or her premiums.

So there you have it. Like it or not, Obamacare is probably going to affect you this year no matter what tax boat you’re in. Of course, we can help you get through the murky waters of the Affordable Health Care Act and ensure that you get the most from your return. Just call us at 1-877-CPA-2006 or click here.

/GROCO
Posted in

Is The U.S. Really a Low-Tax Country?

Many U.S. taxpayers feel that our country’s taxes are too high, no matter which economic class you’re in. Likewise, regardless of which side of the political world you rest, most people would agree that the U.S. tax system needs some serious upgrading, and not just some fine-tuning. However, it appears that compared to many of…

Will Your Tax Return Draw the IRS’s Attention?

No one wants to experience a tax audit. The good news is that most people never will have to go through that experience. The IRS simply doesn’t have the time and resources to audit every tax return. In fact, the IRS only audits about 1 percent of all returns. That means most people don’t have…

Can a Roth Really Help You Lower Your Taxes?

Patience is a virtue, but will it save you money on taxes? That depends on the situation, but if you’re talking about a Roth IRA, then the answer is typically yes. Traditional IRAs will usually give you an immediate tax savings, while a Roth IRA won’t. However, for those who have patience, a Roth can…

What Are the Wealthy Really Worried About?

At GROCO we work very closely with some of the most highly successful people in the world and because of that we know what makes these types of individuals tick. We understand how they think and how they operate and we offer top notch business consulting to help them be successful. We also know what…