RIVERWOODS, Ill., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Taxpayers will reap little benefit next year from the indexing of many features of the tax code, according to CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business and a leading provider of tax, accounting and audit information, software and services, which today released estimated income ranges for each 2010 tax bracket (CCHGroup.com). CCH also projects the personal exemption to show no increase and the standard deduction to remain constant for all but those filing as heads of households.

Indexing for inflation has become a settled part of our tax system, according to George Jones, JD, CCH senior federal tax analyst.

"While some tax cuts in recent years are only temporary, and are scheduled to be followed by increases down the line, indexing works year after year, and it's likely to be a part of the tax law for the foreseeable future regardless of whether Congress plans to tinker more with the tax rates themselves," Jones noted.

When there is inflation, indexing of brackets lowers tax bills by including more of people's incomes in lower brackets - in the 15-percent rather than the 25-percent bracket, for example.

The formula used in indexing showed a small amount of inflation this year, but it would have taken only a slight change to turn the result negative.

"I think it's safe to say that no one in Congress or the IRS ever seriously contemplated a deflationary adjustment, which would have the effect of raising taxes in a down economy," Jones said. "In a sense, we just dodged a bullet that would have posed a difficult question to the tax authorities."

The examples below show the modest tax savings generated by indexing:

    --  Because of inflation adjustments, a married couple filing jointly with
        total taxable income of $100,000 should pay $12.50 less in income taxes
        in 2010 than they will on the same income for 2009 (compared to a
        $312.50 savings between 2008 and 2009).
    --  A single filer with taxable income of $50,000 should owe $6.25 less next
        year due to the adjustments (again, compared to a $156.25 savings with
        significantly higher inflation between 2008 and 2009).

    --  For taxpayers with more than $373,650 in taxable income in both 2009 and
        2010, the maximum savings from indexing the tax brackets for 2010 will
        be $51 for joint filers and $39.75 for single filers (as compared to a
        $1,213 and $913.25 difference, respectively between 2008 and 2009).

Inflation Adjustments

Since the late 1980s, the U.S. tax code has required that federal income tax brackets be adjusted for inflation annually, and inflation adjustments have been inserted into the Internal Revenue Code in recent years with increasing frequency.

For example, the Code now requires over 50 other inflation-driven computations to determine deduction, exemption and exclusion amounts in addition to the 40 separate computations needed to inflation-adjust the tax bracket tables each year.

Most adjustments are based on Consumer Price Index figures for September through August immediately prior to the adjusted year. However, some inflation-adjusted figures are computed earlier and some later. For example, in May the IRS released the Health Savings Account premium deduction limits for calendar year 2010: they are $3,050 for individuals with self-only coverage (up from $3,000 in 2009) and $6,150 for individuals with family coverage (up from $5,950 in 2009).

Amounts such as the 2010 vehicle depreciation limits, however, won't be available until 2010 (the $2,960 regular first-year amount for 2009 was not released until March 2009), while the standard business mileage rate (that is currently set at 55 cents for the rest of 2009) isn't expected to be computed for 2010 and released until late November 2009.

In 2009, the so-called Code Sec. 219(b)(5) deductible amount allowed for contributions to retirement savings accounts (typically, IRAs) was first made subject to an adjustment for inflation. But because the final amount must be rounded to the lowest multiple of $500, the limit for 2009 remained at $5,000. Once again, rounding will push a $5,224 initial amount back down to $5,000 for 2010.

CCH's projections for other indexed amounts are based on the relevant inflation data released September 16, 2009, by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The IRS usually releases official numbers by December each year. CCH tax bracket projections are provided for illustrative purposes only, and should not be used for income tax returns or other federal income tax related purposes until confirmed by the IRS later this year.

Some Items Not Indexed

Jones observed that some items in the Code are not indexed for inflation and stay the same, while others rise by dollar amounts already written into the tax law.

"The exemption amounts for the alternative minimum tax are not indexed, which means that each year Congress must either increase the amounts by statute or expose additional households to the AMT," Jones said.

For 2009, Congress set the AMT exemption amounts at $46,700 for single individuals and $70,950 for married couples filing jointly. No amounts have been set for 2010, but Obama administration tax proposals contemplate further increases.

Standard Deduction, Personal Exemption Hold Steady

The standard deduction and personal exemption amounts are also subject to indexing; however, because of "rounding down," all taxpayers except those filing as heads of households will see no change for 2010. Heads of households get a $50 increase only because the tax code calls for rounding down to the nearest $50 and that the indexing for that filing status just breaks another $50 ceiling. Any increase in the standard deduction, of course, can produce lower taxes by decreasing the taxpayer's taxable income.

Single taxpayers and married taxpayers filing separately will see their standard deduction for 2010 the same as for 2010: $5,700. So, too, joint filers will realize no increase from indexing, keeping their $11,400 standard deduction amount. Heads of households will see a modest $50 increase to $8,400 for 2010.

The additional standard deduction for those age 65 or older or who are blind will remain at $1,100 in 2010 for married individuals and surviving spouses, and $1,400 for single filers. The personal exemption amount also will stay put at $3,650 in 2010.

Taxpayers have had to lose a good portion of the value of personal exemptions and itemized deductions when their incomes rise above certain levels, which have also been adjusted for inflation. For 2010, these "phaseouts" are slated to disappear from the tax code, but they may come back in future years if administration proposals are adopted.

"The removal of limitations on itemized deductions and personal exemptions, rather than indexing of brackets, is what will provide major tax savings in 2010 for many well-off taxpayers," Jones observed.

For a complete look at how income ranges for each tax bracket are projected to shift next, see the CCH chart below.

"Kiddie" Deduction, Gift Tax Exemption

In general, inflation adjustments are rounded to the next-lower multiple of $50, so if the adjustment produces an increase of less than $50, no increase is made. The "kiddie" deduction, used on the returns of children claimed as dependents on their parents' returns, increased only five times in the years 2001 through 2009. It last rose for the 2009 tax year. For 2010 the deduction will remain at that $950 level.

The Code only allows the gift tax exemption to rise when the inflation adjustment would produce an increase of $1,000 or more. The last increase occurred in 2009, when it rose to $13,000. It remains there for 2010.

About CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business

CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business (CCHGroup.com) is a leading provider of tax, accounting and audit information, software and services. It has served tax, accounting and business professionals since 1913. Among its market-leading products are The ProSystem fx(R) Suite, CCH(R) TeamMate, CCH(R) Axentis, CorpSystem(R), CCH(R) IntelliConnect(TM), Accounting Research Manager(R) and the U.S. Master Tax Guide(R). CCH is based in Riverwoods, Ill.

Wolters Kluwer is a leading global information services and publishing company. The company provides products and services for professionals in the health, tax, accounting, corporate, financial services, legal, and regulatory sectors. Wolters Kluwer had 2008 annual revenues of euro 3.4 billion, employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide, and maintains operations in over 35 countries across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its shares are quoted on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Visit www.wolterskluwer.com for information about our market positions, customers, brands, and organization.

CCH 2010 TAX PROJECTIONS(*)

To review the CCH Tax Projections online go to http://www.cch.com/press/news/2009/20090917t.asp.

                       Married Filing Jointly (& Surviving Spouse)

             2010 Taxable Income   Tax Rate    2009 Taxable Income   Tax Rate
             -------------------   --------    -------------------   --------
             $0 - $16,750          10%         $0 - $16,700          10%
             $16,750 - $68,000     15%         $16,700 - $67,900     15%
             $68,000 - $137,300    25%         $67,900 - $137,050    25%
             $137,300 - $209,250   28%         $137,050 - $208,850   28%
             $209,250 - $373,650   33%         $208,850 - $372,950   33%
             $373,650 +            35%         $372,950 +            35%


                                Married Filing Separately

             2010 Taxable Income   Tax Rate    2009 Taxable Income   Tax Rate
             -------------------   --------    -------------------   --------
             $0 - $8,375           10%         $0 - $8,350           10%
             $8,375 - $34,000      15%         $8,350 - $33,950      15%
             $34,000 - $68,650     25%         $33,950 - $68,525     25%
             $68,650 - $104,625    28%         $68,525 - $104,425    28%
             $104,625 - $186,825   33%         $104,425 - $186,475   33%
             $186,825 +            35%         $186,475 +            35%


                                      Single Filers

             2010 Taxable Income   Tax Rate    2009 Taxable Income   Tax Rate
             -------------------   --------    -------------------   --------
             $0 - $8,375           10%         $0 - $8,350           10%
             $8,375 - $34,000      15%         $8,350 - $33,950      15%
             $34,000 - $82,400     25%         $33,950 - $82,250     25%
             $82,400 - $171,850    28%         $82,250 - $171,550    28%
             $171,850 - $373,650   33%         $171,550 - $372,950   33%
             $373,650 +            35%         $372,950 +            35%


                                    Head of Household

             2010 Taxable Income   Tax Rate    2009 Taxable Income   Tax Rate
             -------------------   --------    -------------------   --------
             $0 - $11,950          10%         $0 - $11,950          10%
             $11,950 - $45,550     15%         $11,950 - $45,500     15%
             $45,550 - $117,650    25%         $45,500 - $117,450    25%
             $117,650 - $190,550   28%         $117,450 - $190,200   28%
             $190,550 - $373,650   33%         $190,200 - $372,950   33%
             $373,650 +            35%         $372,950 +            35%


                             Standard Deduction Amounts

             Filing Status              2010      2009      Increase
             -------------              ----      ----      --------
             Married Filing Jointly     $11,400   $11,400   $0
              (& Surviving Spouse)
             Married Filing Separately  $5,700    $5,700    $0
             Single                     $5,700    $5,700    $0
             Head of Household          $8,400    $8,350    $50


          Standard Deduction for Dependents ("Kiddie" Standard Deduction)

             2010                      2009                 Increase
             ----                      ----                 --------
             $950                      $950                 $0


    Income Level at Which 3-Percent Itemized Deduction Limitation Takes Effect
                               (Adjusted Gross Income)

      Filing Status               2010                             2009
      -------------               ----                             ----
      Married Filing Jointly      Not Applicable - No Limitation   $166,800
       (& Surviving Spouse)
      Married Filing Separately   Not Applicable - No Limitation   $83,400
      Single                      Not Applicable - No Limitation   $166,800
      Head of Household           Not Applicable - No Limitation   $166,800


                            Personal Exemption Amounts

             2010                      2009                 Increase
             ----                      ----                 --------
             $3,650                    $3,650               $0


                        Threshold for Personal Exemption Phaseout

           Filing Status               2010                           2009
           -------------               ----                           ----
           Married Filing Jointly      Not Applicable - No Phaseout   $250,200
            (& Surviving Spouse)
           Married Filing Separately   Not Applicable - No Phaseout   $125,100
           Single                      Not Applicable - No Phaseout   $166,800
           Head of Household           Not Applicable - No Phaseout   $208,500


                                 Gift Tax Exemption

             2010                      2009                 Increase
             ----                      ----                 --------
             $13,000                   $13,000              $0


                    Income Limit for Full Roth IRA Contribution

             Filing Status             2010       2009       Increase
             -------------             ----       ----       --------
             Married Filing Jointly    $167,000   $166,000   $1,000
             Single                    $105,000   $105,000   $0

    * These numbers are projected for the 2010 tax year and have not been
    confirmed by the Internal Revenue Service.

SOURCE CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business