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August 4, 2012

PATTI HUDSON | Tax changes accompany upheld health-care law

Patti Hudson For The Tribune-Democrat

— In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court generally upheld the constitutionality of the controversial 2010 health-care law.

In addition to preserving mandates for health insurance coverage, certain tax provisions will take effect as scheduled in 2013, barring any subsequent legislation. Here’s a summary of the main tax changes for 2013.

Medicare surtaxes: The health-care law includes the following two Medicare surtaxes that could affect individual taxpayers:

• A 3.8 percent surtax on the lesser of annual net investment income or the amount by which modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples). “Net investment income” includes interest, dividends, royalties, rents, gains from dispositions of property and income from passive activities, but not tax-free interest or distributions from qualified retirement plans and IRAs.

• A 0.9 percent surtax on earned income (e.g., wages) exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples).

Flexible spending accounts: Currently, there is a $5,000 limit on pre-tax contributions to a flexible spending account (FSA) used for dependent care expenses, but there is no such limit on health-care FSAs. The law caps health-care FSA contributions at $2,500 starting in 2013.

Medical deductions: For 2012, you may deduct unreimbursed medical expenses in excess of 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI). The law raises this AGI floor in 2013 to 10 percent for taxpayers younger than 65.

Other tax-related provisions in the law also were upheld by the Supreme Court.

For instance, an individual will generally have to obtain “minimum essential health insurance coverage” or pay a nondeductible penalty beginning in 2014. Another provision, which took effect in 2010, allows a qualified small business to claim a tax credit for part or all of the cost of providing health insurance.

This remains a complex area of the tax law. Contact an accountant regarding your personal circumstances and the effect the Supreme Court ruling could have on your taxes.



Patti A. Hudson is a certified public accountant with Wessel & Co. of Johnstown.

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