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Simple English definitions for legal terms

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA)

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A quick definition of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA):

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) is a big change to the tax rules that was signed into law by President Trump in 2017. It made many changes to how individuals and businesses are taxed. For individuals, it changed the tax rates, increased the standard deduction, and limited some deductions. For businesses, it reduced the corporate tax rate, gave a deduction for pass-through income, and made changes to how international income is taxed. Some of the changes are permanent, but many will expire by the end of 2025.

A more thorough explanation:

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) is a set of changes to the tax code that were signed into law by President Trump in 2017. The changes affected many areas of the tax code, including corporate tax rates, standard deductions, and estate taxes. Some of the changes were permanent, while others will expire by the end of 2025.

For individual tax deductions, the TCJA reduced some tax rates and changed many deductions. The seven tax brackets were reduced, and the income levels for the brackets were slightly increased. The standard deduction was greatly increased, which reduced the number of people who benefit from itemizing deductions. The deduction for interest on home mortgages and equity was altered, and the state and local tax (SALT) deductions became capped at $10,000. Miscellaneous tax deductions for things like workplace expenses for employees were completely eliminated. All of these changes will revert back to their pre-TCJA provisions after 2025.

  • Before the TCJA, the highest tax bracket for individuals was 39.6%. After the TCJA, the highest tax bracket was reduced to 37%.
  • Before the TCJA, the standard deduction for individuals was $6,500. After the TCJA, the standard deduction was increased to $12,000.
  • Before the TCJA, there was no cap on the SALT deduction. After the TCJA, the SALT deduction was capped at $10,000.

These examples illustrate how the TCJA changed individual tax deductions by reducing tax rates, increasing the standard deduction, and capping the SALT deduction.

For businesses and investors, the TCJA greatly reduced the corporate tax rate, changed flow-through taxation, increased depreciations, and made fundamental changes to taxing international income. The corporate tax rate was permanently reduced to a 21% flat tax rate from 35%. Individuals were given a deduction of 20% from pass-through income from business entities like partnerships and LLCs. The TCJA enacted a 100% bonus deduction for business assets purchased through the end of 2022 and increased many expensing provisions that phase out after 2022. Lastly, the TCJA implemented major changes to how corporations were taxed for international income, including exempting foreign earned dividends from U.S. income tax for those owning over 10% of the foreign corporation and other provisions to tackle base erosion.

  • Before the TCJA, the corporate tax rate was 35%. After the TCJA, the corporate tax rate was permanently reduced to 21%.
  • Before the TCJA, there was no deduction for pass-through income. After the TCJA, individuals were given a deduction of 20% from pass-through income from business entities like partnerships and LLCs.
  • Before the TCJA, there was no 100% bonus deduction for business assets purchased. After the TCJA, a 100% bonus deduction was enacted for business assets purchased through the end of 2022.

These examples illustrate how the TCJA changed business and investor taxes by reducing the corporate tax rate, providing a deduction for pass-through income, and enacting a 100% bonus deduction for business assets purchased.

tax credit | tax deduction

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15:41
just for u sweetie pie
15:43
woah so much swagger with dat 'm;
Dkk
15:47
@shaquilleoatmeal: more like, blow my back out by the bay boston instead of back bay boston.
Dkk
15:48
Indeed, the legendary man himself.
15:49
I would go to blow my back out by the bay boston
15:50
lift with ur back not your legs, its better to have a blown back than two bad legs
CynicalOops
15:53
Blow and back day out by boston bay
15:59
so true
Dkk
16:03
Of course. Man sad Ricky Henderson died. That was my favorite athlete of all time.
windyMagician
16:10
is it dumb that I rlly want to go to Mich even tho I have a full ride to umn
16:12
no-value as a consumer often means more than the price
Dkk
16:15
@windyMagician: Nah michigan is better than UMN
Dkk
16:15
My sister just officially graduated, yay!
16:16
awesome @Dkks sister
16:16
prolly named veronica or sarah
windyMagician
16:16
@Dkk: for public defense tho?
windyMagician
16:16
Sarah in the bathroom
texaslawhopefully
16:17
@windyMagician: not at all. Michigan is also very generous with aid, so if you get enough it makes perfect sense to take it.
windyMagician
16:17
fuck okay
windyMagician
16:17
going to my dream school is crazy
michigan also has better options if you do PD for 10 years then want to do something else
windyMagician
16:19
also would love to clerk for my federal district court even tho I know its hella competitive, I think mich sets me up better?
16:20
would be a great point to bring up when ur deciding / visiting each place- see what recent placement looks like
texaslawhopefully
16:23
For fed clerkships by far Michigan places better. I think it’s like 14-15 percent
windyMagician
16:25
sticker debt is high-key scary tho
texaslawhopefully
16:26
I’m sure you’ll get good merit aid though. Look at Michigan’s 509 report. They’re very generous.
16:34
i am going to wait patiently into january to get into a law school
16:34
then i will start tweaking
texaslawhopefully
16:42
January could not come any sooner
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