2009 Stimulus Bill – Tax benefits

8 February 2009 No Comment Print This Post Email This Post

CCH has published a summary of the 2009 Stimulus bill that President Obama is scheduled to sign Tuesday, February 17th.  Significant items include:

  • Making Work Pay: For 2009 and 2010, $400 per person tax credit for AGI under $75,000; phased out to $95,000 (double everything for married filing jointly).
  • One-time $250 payment to Social Security and other fixed income recipients.
  • AMT patch for 2009: increase AMT exemption amount from 2008 levels by $500 per person or $1,000 per couple. (Comment: this should have been separate legislation and didn’t need to be part of the Stimulus bill)
  • First-time home buyer tax credit: If you never owned a home in the last three years and your AGI is under $75,000/$150,000 (phaseout to $95,000/$170,000), and you buy a primary residence between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, 2009, you get an $8,000 refundable tax credit, which does NOT have to be repaid if you hold the home for three years.
  • Expanded HOPE credit for education and renamed to American Opportunity Tax Credit.

    • For more details, please read the CCH summary.  Hat tip to TFB for the summary and link to CCH

    CCH Summary

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