Planning Tools • Winter 2008 Knowledgeletter

Tax Planning Numbers

We offer several documents that help you identify important thresholds, phase outs, and other key information for current and recent tax years. Download the numbers that will help take control of your tax situation!

Tax Planning topics:
Individual Income Tax • Marginal Income Tax Rates • Investments • Education • Retirment • Government Benefits • Business • Estate • Protection

Individual Income Tax Planning Download Printable Version Of the thousands of provisions of the tax code, generally just a handful will apply, in a material way, to a given taxpayer in each year. Some are general. Others are obscure. As you go through the year and are contemplating various transactions, among the key things to be aware of are: The marginal tax bracket and capital gains rates for your filing status, the standard deduction and personal exemptions, phase outs for itemized deductions and the AMT exemption amount.
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Marginal Income Tax Rates Download Printable Version Will new thresholds—or changes in your income—change your marginal income tax rate? Have you just barely been kicked into a higher bracket? Check these tables to see where you were and where you might be in 2008: you may want to make some make some adjustments to keep your tax bill in check.
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Investment Planning Download Printable Version

Have you examined the way tax rules inform your investing choices lately? Knowing these figures—and the temporary 0% tax rate in certain brackets—may help you make more informed decisions.
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Education Planning Download Printable Version Planning for the payment of education expenses involves a myriad of issues, from the different kinds of plans and their contribution limitations to the annual gift tax exclusion.
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Retirement Planning Download Printable Version There are many ways to save for retirement. Certain plans are for large businesses; others for the self employed. And, still others for those who own their own businesses and have employees. Each plan has different rules and contribution limitations. While choosing exactly the right plan may take delving deeply into these rules, and getting some advice, it can be helpful to see an overview.
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Government Benefits Download Printable Version We and members of our families all become eligible for government benefits at different stages of our lives and for different programs. There are a number of Social security programs for disability and retirement. And there are two basic medical programs, Medicaid for the disadvantaged and Medicare for retirees. It is helpful to be aware of some of the basics.
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Business Planning Download Printable Version From health insurance deductions to mileage rates, business owners and the self-employed will want to stay on top of these tax-related details.
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Estate Planning Download Printable Version Whether you are an estate trustee or a recent beneficiary, you will want to know how tax rates break down and what certain limits are.
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Protection Planning Download Printable Version A certain amount of long-term care premiums are deductible and there are two programs for funding health care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
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