Tax Return Knowledge and Tips
I have lived in the US and filed Tax returns for a couple of years. During the process, I have learned some knowledge and tips about Individual Income Taxes. Because I want to have control over my money, so I don’t hire an accountant to do my tax. I use TurboTax. I leverage it to fill out the forms for me but don’t blindly trust it. I will still go over the forms afterward, to double-check the numbers are correct, and to make sure the calculation is correct.
Followings are some knowledge and tips about taxes I have learned so far.
Taxing
Tax Brackets
Federal
Federal Tax Brackets (2018, Married Filing Jointly) are (calculator)- 10% - <= $19,050
- 12% - <= $77,400
- 22% - <= $165,000
- 24% - <= $315,000
- 32% - <= $400,000
- 35% - <= $600,000
- 37% - no limit
California State
California state Tax Brackets (2018) are:- 1% - <= $17,088
- 2% - <= $40,510
- 4% - <= $63,938
- 6% - <= $88,754
- 8% - <= $112,170
- 9.3% - <= $572,984
- 10.3% - <= $687,576
- 11.3% - <= $1,145,960
- 12.3% - above
Long-Term Capital Gain and Qualified Dividend
Federal
Long-Term Capital Gain and Qualified Dividend are taxed with lower rates, the rates for tax year 2018 are:- 0% - if your income is $0-77,200
- 15% - if your income is $77,201-479,000
- 20% - if your income is $479,001 or more
California State
California state doesn’t have a lower rate for long-term capital gains and qualified dividend.Capital Loss
There are two categories of capital losses, long-term and short team.
A short sale loss is alway a long-term loss.
Capital losses are first used to offset capital gains of the same category. Net loss of either category can then be used to offset the other category. After the offset if you still have net capital loss, you can use it to deduct against your ordinary income, up to $3,000.
Excess net capital loss can be carried over to subsequent years to be deducted against capital gains and against up to $3,000 of ordinary income.
Both Federal and state allow capital loss carryover, but the number could be different.
On Federal return, the Medicare Tax will be recalculated, if you paid too much, it will be refunded by adding it to the Federal tax withholding.
California doesn’t have this.
California doesn’t have this.
Not deductible on federal tax or state.
But California taxes HSA gains/loss. So this needs to be adjusted on the state return.
But Social Security and Medicare do.
But Social Security and Medicare do.
California doesn’t have a foreign tax credit or foreign earned income exclusion.
California does nothing.
California does nothing.
Tax is withhold. The numbers is available from eTrade Website Tax Center -> Employee Stock Plan Confirmations -> Tax Year -> Downloads.
The cost basis of RSU should be the stock price when it is vested, but the cost basis is not reported to IRS, so it is zero on 1099 form. So it needs to be adjusted in the tax returns. The adjustment amount is available in the Tax document of Stock Plan Transactions Supplement which can be download from e*Trade Tax Center.
RSU Residual is refunded as part of the paycheck, see Stkresidualrfnd and Adjustment.
The cost basis of ESPP is different depending on when you sell it.
California state standard deduction in 2018 is $8,802 for Married Filing Jointly.
California state doesn’t have the cap, so you can deduct the whole amount.
When deducting state tax, you have the choice to use either state income tax or general sales taxes, but not both.
California state tax won’t allow deduction of federal tax. Otherwise, it would be hard to calculate since it is recursive.
But this has been suspended in the new tax law from 2018-2025.
However, California tax return still allows deducting this.
Capital losses are first used to offset capital gains of the same category. Net loss of either category can then be used to offset the other category. After the offset if you still have net capital loss, you can use it to deduct against your ordinary income, up to $3,000.
Excess net capital loss can be carried over to subsequent years to be deducted against capital gains and against up to $3,000 of ordinary income.
Both Federal and state allow capital loss carryover, but the number could be different.
Form 8959 Additional Medicare Tax
If your modified Adjusted Gross Income above 250,000 for Married Filed Jointly, you are subject to a 0.9% of Additional Medicare Tax.On Federal return, the Medicare Tax will be recalculated, if you paid too much, it will be refunded by adding it to the Federal tax withholding.
California doesn’t have this.
Form 8960 Net Investment Income Tax
If modified Adjusted Gross Income is over $250,000 for Married Filed Jointly, then there is 3.8% additional tax on all investment income after deducting the prorated state tax.California doesn’t have this.
AMT
Alternative Minimum Tax is a different way to calculate federal income tax. This is to make sure high-income households pay their fair shares regardless of how much deductions they have.CA VPDI
California Voluntary Plan Disability Insurance - 1.0%Not deductible on federal tax or state.
HSA
Contribution
Federal doesn't tax HSA contribution but California state does. So on W-2, it is not included in Federal wages, but is in state wages.Gain/Loss
Federal doesn't tax HSA gains/loss.But California taxes HSA gains/loss. So this needs to be adjusted on the state return.
401(k) & 403(b)
Federal and state don’t tax 401(k) and 403(b) contribution.But Social Security and Medicare do.
Calpers Retirement Contribution
Federal and state don’t tax Calpers Retirement Contribution.But Social Security and Medicare do.
W-2 Line 12 C Group-term life insurance
The premium of Group-term life insurance over $50,000 is taxable on both Federal and State return.Foreign Tax Credit
If you paid foreign tax, you can claim credit on your federal return using form 1116. It has two categories, General and Passive. General is for wages, and Passive is for Dividends and Interest. They cannot be mixed together.California doesn’t have a foreign tax credit or foreign earned income exclusion.
State Refund/Due From Last Year
State Refund
Federal treats it as additional income. It is reported on Schedule 1, and it will to be converted from refund amount to taxable refund amount.California does nothing.
State Due
Federal treats it as state and local tax deduction by adding it to this year’s amount.California does nothing.
Incomes
Ordinary Income
Ordinary income includes wages, bonus, interest, etc. They are taxed using the Tax brackets.Capital Gain
Short-term capital gains are taxed using the tax brackets. Long-term capital gains and qualified dividend are taxed with lower rates as described above.RSU
The gain from zero to the invested price is included on the W-2 form as ordinary income.Tax is withhold. The numbers is available from eTrade Website Tax Center -> Employee Stock Plan Confirmations -> Tax Year -> Downloads.
The cost basis of RSU should be the stock price when it is vested, but the cost basis is not reported to IRS, so it is zero on 1099 form. So it needs to be adjusted in the tax returns. The adjustment amount is available in the Tax document of Stock Plan Transactions Supplement which can be download from e*Trade Tax Center.
RSU Residual is refunded as part of the paycheck, see Stkresidualrfnd and Adjustment.
ESPP
The discounted part is already included in W-2 form as ordinary income, but there is no tax withheld for it. It is on the W-2 of the year when you sell the shares, not when it is purchased.The cost basis of ESPP is different depending on when you sell it.
- If you sell it one year after purchasing and 2 years after the start of the session, then it is qualifying disposition. The cost basis will be the lesser of the session start day price and purchase day price.
- If not, then it’s disqualifying disposition, the cost basis will be the purchase day price.
- But 1099 from shows the discounted price as the cost basis, which needs to be adjusted. The adjustment is available on the Tax document of Stock Plan Transactions Supplement which can be download from e*Trade Tax Center.
Deduction
Standard Deduction
Federal standard deduction in 2018 is $24,000 for Married Filing Jointly.California state standard deduction in 2018 is $8,802 for Married Filing Jointly.
Mortgage Interest
Federal tax has a cap for the mortgage originated after December 15, 2017, from which you can deduct the interest. The cap is $750,000. So you have to prorate the interest if you mortgage amount larger than that. For example, if the average mortgage principle across the year is 1,000,000 and you paid 50,000 for interest, then you can only deduct 50,000 * 750,000 / 1,000,000 = 37,500.California state doesn’t have the cap, so you can deduct the whole amount.
State and Local Tax
Federal
New Tax Law from 2018 only allows 10,000 of state and local taxes combined. This includes State income tax (or state sales tax), real estate tax (aka property tax), state and local property tax (e.g. car registration tax).When deducting state tax, you have the choice to use either state income tax or general sales taxes, but not both.
California State
California allows deduction of the real estate tax and local property tax, in full amount.California state tax won’t allow deduction of federal tax. Otherwise, it would be hard to calculate since it is recursive.
Gift to Charity
A charitable donation is deductible in both federal and California state returns but there is a cap.Miscellaneous Itemized Deduction
Miscellaneous itemized deduction includes unreimbursed job expenses (e.g. home office), tax prep, investment (e.g. ADR fee), advisory fee, and safe deposit box rentals. If these expenses exceed 2% of Adjusted Gross Income, the excess part is deductible.But this has been suspended in the new tax law from 2018-2025.
However, California tax return still allows deducting this.
Others
Underpayment Penalty
Federal
No penalty if any of the followings is true:- Owe less than $1,000.
- Own less than 10% of the tax.
- Withheld more than the tax of last year.
California State
No state penalty if any of the followings is true:- Own less than 10% of the tax.
- Withhold more than 100% (110% if income is more than 150,000) of the tax of last year.
Turbotax
Premier version is needed if you have RSU and ESPP.After Filing
If there is a refund, it will be directed to your bank account, if it is due, it will deducted it from your bank account. But no mail communication unless you are audited.Keep records for 3 years. Also, you cannot claim a refund if it is more than 3 years.
Very useful tips
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