11/7/13

"High earners are seeing a combination of federal tax increases for 2013"

"High earners are seeing a combination of federal tax increases for 2013: a top marginal rate of 39.6 percent, up from 35 percent; a 20 percent tax on long-term capital gains and dividends, up from 15 percent; and a new 3.8 percent tax on investment income. Also, limits on exemptions and deductions are taking effect for this tax year.

Some top earners are only now realizing they may owe much more by April 15 because they’ve been paying quarterly estimated taxes based on their liability for 2012...

...For wealthy taxpayers, the rate on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends now can be as much as 25 percent, including the new surtax and limits on deductions..., that’s a 67 percent increase from 2012.

The rate on other investment income such as royalties, interest and rents can exceed 43 percent.

...two new taxes to help finance the 2010 health-care law -- a 3.8 percent surtax on investment income and 0.9 percent added levy on wages -- apply to income of more than $250,000 a year for married couples and $200,000 for individuals.

Lawmakers also reinstated phaseouts of personal exemptions and itemized deductions for adjusted gross income exceeding $250,000 for individuals and $300,000 for married couples.

...With less than two months left in the tax year, advisers and accountants are focusing on clients with closely held business stakes, mutual-fund holdings, charitable donations and retirement accounts to help maneuver around higher rates..."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-07/higher-tax-rates-give-top-u-s-earners-year-end-headaches.html
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Higher government revenues + lower income from taxation = slower economy

As the Federal Reserve is financing about half the federal deficit and the real estate finance market, we may see higher inflationary symptoms as Europe lowered interest rates to forestall "low inflation".

What we should be doing is taking a short term economic hit to not need funny money.

We're not doing so, which is what most empires in decline chose to do throughout history.

We appear to be on the road to debasement of our currency, as emerging market economies print even faster to keep up with developing economies who are spending far more than income.

Pushing on a string we are.

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