Analysts Forecast 2009 Tax Brackets and Deductions

CCH and Thomson Reuters' RIA unit have calculated the inflation-adjusted amounts for tax brackets, standard deductions and exemptions for next tax season.

RIA predicts that the basic standard deduction for 2009 for joint returns and surviving spouses will be $11,400, up from $10,900 in 2008. For single taxpayers, RIA forecasts the standard deduction will be $5,700, up from $5,450 in 2008. For head of household, the amount will be $8,350, up from $8,000.

CCH predicts that a married couple filing jointly with total taxable income of $100,000 will pay $312.50 less in income taxes in 2009 compared to 2008. A single filer with taxable income of $50,000 will save $156.25 next year.

CCH predicted that single taxpayers and married taxpayers filing separately could see a $250 increase over 2008 in their standard deduction, to $5,700, while the standard deduction for joint filers will increase by $500 to $11,400. Heads of households will see an increase in their standard deduction of $350, to $8,350.

The additional standard deduction for those age 65 or older or who are blind, will rise $50 to $1,100 in 2009 for married individuals and surviving spouses, and $50 to $1,400 for single filers. The personal exemption amount will go up in 2009 by $150 to $3,650.

For an individual who can be claimed as a dependent on another's return, RIA predicts that the basic standard deduction for 2009 will be $950, up from $900 in 2008, or $300 (same as in 2008), plus the individual's earned income, whichever is greater. For 2009, the additional standard deduction for married taxpayers 65 or over or blind will be $1,100, up from $1,050 in 2008. For a single taxpayer or head of household who is 65 or over or blind, the additional standard deduction for 2009 will be $1,400, up from $1,350 in 2008.

The personal exemption amount for 2009 will rise to $3,650, up from $3,500 in 2008, according to RIA. The exemption from the kiddie tax for 2009 will be $1,900, up from $1,800 in 2008. A parent will be able to elect to include a child's income on the parent's return for 2009 if the child's income is more than $950 and less than $9,500, up from $900 and $9,000 in 2008. For 2009, CCH predicts the kiddie tax standard deduction will rise to $950.

CCH's projected tax brackets are available here.

RIA's projected tax brackets are below:

        FOR MARRIED INDIVIDUALS FILING JOINT RETURNS

      AND SURVIVING SPOUSES, THE 2009 RATE BRACKETS ARE:

If taxable income is:                 The tax is:

--------------------                  -----------

Not over $16,700                      10% of taxable income

Over $16,700 but not                  $1,670.00 plus 15% of the

  over $67,900                         excess over $16,700

Over $67,900 but not                  $9,350.00 plus 25% of the

  over $137,050                         excess over $67,900

Over $137,050 but not                 $26,637.50 plus 28% of the

  over $208,850                         excess over $137,050

Over $208,850 but not                 $46,741.50 plus 33% of the

  over $372,950                         excess over $208,850

Over $372,950                         $100,894.50 plus 35% of the

                                        excess over $372,950

    FOR SINGLE INDIVIDUALS (OTHER THAN HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS AND

         SURVIVING SPOUSES), THE 2009 RATE BRACKETS ARE:

If taxable income is:                 The tax is:

--------------------                  ----------

Not over $8,350                       10% of taxable income

Over $8,350 but not                   $835.00 plus 15% of the

  over $33,950                           excess over $8,350

Over $33,950 but not                  $4,675.00 plus 25% of the

  over $82,250                           excess over $33,950

Over $82,250 but not                  $16,750.00 plus 28% of the

  over $171,550                          excess over $82,250

Over $171,550 but not                 $41,754.00 plus 33% of the

  over $372,950                          excess over $171,550

Over $372,950                         $108,216.00 plus 35% of the

                                         excess over $372,950

         FOR HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS, THE 2009 RATE

                      BRACKETS ARE:

If taxable income is:                 The tax is:

--------------------                  -----------

Not over $11,950                      10% of taxable income

Over $11,950 but not                  $1,195.00 plus 15% of the

  over $45,500                           excess over $11,950

Over $45,500 but not                  $6,227.50 plus 25% of the

  over $117,450                          excess over $45,500

Over $117,450 but not                 $24,215.00 plus 28% of the

  over $190,200                          excess over $117,450

Over $190,200 but not                 $44,585.00 plus 33% of the

  over $372,950                          excess over $190,200

Over $372,950                         $104,892.50 plus 35% of the

                                         excess over $372,950

     FOR MARRIEDS FILING SEPARATE RETURNS, THE 2009 RATE

                       BRACKETS ARE:

If taxable income is:                 The tax is:

--------------------                  -----------

Not over $8,350                       10% of taxable income

Over $8,350 but not                   $835.00 plus 15% of the

  over $33,950                           excess over $8,350

Over $33,950 but not                  $4,675.00 plus 25% of the

  over $68,525                           excess over $33,950

Over $68,525 but not                  $13,318.75 plus 28% of the

  over $104,425                           excess over $68,525                   

Over $104,425 but not                 $23,370.75 plus 33% of the

  over $186,475                          excess over $104,425

Over $186,475                         $50,447.25 plus 35% of the

                                         excess over $186,475

             FOR ESTATES AND TRUSTS, THE 2009 RATE

                       BRACKETS ARE:

If taxable income is:                 The tax is:

---------------------                 -----------

Not over $2,300                       15% of taxable income

Over $2,300 but not                   $345.00 plus 25% of the

  over $5,350                            excess over $2,300

Over $5,350 but not                   $1,107.50 plus 28% of the

  over $8,200                            excess over $5,350

Over $8,200 but not                   $1,905.50 plus 33% of the

  over $11,150                            excess over $8,200

Over $11,150                          $2,879.00 plus 35% of the  

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