What are the tax changes for 2023?
Earned income credit
This earned income tax credit will get you between $600 and $7,430 in tax year 2023 depending on your tax filing status and how much you make. You don't need to have children to qualify — but generally, the more children you have, the higher your potential credit amount.
| Tax rate | If taxable income is: |
|---|---|
| 10% | Not over $11,000 |
| 12% | Over $11,000 but not over $44,725 |
| 22% | Over $44,725 but not over $95,375 |
| 24% | Over $95,375 but not over $182,100 |
Earned income credit
This earned income tax credit will get you between $600 and $7,430 in tax year 2023 depending on your tax filing status and how much you make. You don't need to have children to qualify — but generally, the more children you have, the higher your potential credit amount.
| Filing Status | 2023 Standard Deduction |
|---|---|
| Single; Married Filing Separately | $13,850 |
| Married Filing Jointly; Qualifying Widow(er) | $27,700 |
| Head of Household | $20,800 |
How much is the child tax credit for 2023? Let's get down to dollar amounts. The maximum amount for each qualifying child is $2,000 with the refundable portion totaling $1,600 per qualifying child.
Bottom Line. Yes, Social Security is taxed federally after the age of 70. If you get a Social Security check, it will always be part of your taxable income, regardless of your age. There is some variation at the state level, though, so make sure to check the laws for the state where you live.
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service adjusts income tax brackets, according to a formula set by Congress. For taxes on 2023 income, high inflation prompted the IRS to raise thresholds 7% for income tax brackets, an unusually large percentage.
Claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit
The Child and Dependent Care Credit is based on a percentage of the amount you paid for the care of a qualifying child or dependent. For tax year 2023, the total expenses you can claim are capped at $3,000 for one eligible individual and $6,000 for two or more.
- Have worked and earned income under $63,398.
- Have investment income below $11,000 in the tax year 2023.
- Have a valid Social Security number by the due date of your 2023 return (including extensions)
To claim AOTC, you must file a federal tax return, complete the Form 8863 and attach the completed form to your Form 1040 or Form 1040A. Use the information on the Form 1098-T Tuition Statement, received from the educational institution the student attended.
Do seniors still get an extra tax deduction?
IRS extra standard deduction for older adults
For 2023, the additional standard deduction is $1,850 if you are single or file as head of household. If you're married, filing jointly or separately, the extra standard deduction amount is $1,500 per qualifying individual.
You report the taxable portion of your social security benefits on line 6b of Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. Your benefits may be taxable if the total of (1) one-half of your benefits, plus (2) all of your other income, including tax-exempt interest, is greater than the base amount for your filing status.
You must pay taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security benefits if you file a: Federal tax return as an “individual” and your “combined income” exceeds $25,000. Joint return, and you and your spouse have “combined income” of more than $32,000.
Qualifying families with incomes less than $75,000 for single, $112,500 for head of household, or $150,000 for joint returns are eligible for the temporarily increased credit of $3,600 for children under 6 and $3,000 for children under 18.
For tax years prior to 2018, every qualified dependent you claimed could reduce your taxable income by up to the exemption amount, equal to $4,050 in 2017. In 2023, exemption deductions are replaced by: An increased standard deduction. A larger Child Tax Credit (worth up to $2,000 per qualifying child)
Right now, unless Congress makes last-minute changes, the 2023 child tax credit is worth up to $2,000 per qualifying child. However, the credit is not fully refundable, which means that you cannot receive the entire $2,000 back as a tax refund, even if you have a $0 tax liability and qualify for the full credit amount.
Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.
Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. Basically, if you're 65 or older, you have to file a return for tax year 2023 (which is due in 2024) if your gross income is $15,700 or higher. If you're married filing jointly and both 65 or older, that amount is $30,700.
Social Security survivors benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of eligible workers. This benefit is particularly important for young families with children.
The IRS warned back in November 2022 that “refunds may be smaller in 2023” for various reasons, including the lack of economic impact payments last year and the greater difficulty around deducting charitable contributions. The tax filing deadline fell on Apr.
What can I write off on my taxes?
- Bad debts.
- Canceled debt on home.
- Capital losses.
- Donations to charity.
- Gains from sale of your home.
- Gambling losses.
- Home mortgage interest.
- Income, sales, real estate and personal property taxes.
For example, a single 64-year-old taxpayer can claim a standard deduction of $13,850 on their 2023 tax return. But a single 65-year-old taxpayer will get a $15,700 standard deduction for the 2023 tax year.
Claiming 1 on your tax return reduces withholdings with each paycheck, which means you make more money on a week-to-week basis. When you claim 0 allowances, the IRS withholds more money each paycheck but you get a larger tax return.
You can claim a boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your federal income taxes if that person meets certain Internal Revenue Service requirements. To qualify as a dependent, your partner must have lived with you for the entire calendar year and listed your home as their official residence for the full year.
- Consider your filing status. Believe it or not, your filing status can significantly impact your tax liability. ...
- Explore tax credits. Tax credits are a valuable source of tax savings. ...
- Make use of tax deductions. ...
- Take year-end tax moves.
