The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRRA) was signed into law on May 28, 2003. The law provides approximately $330 billion of tax cuts over the next ten years, plus $20 billion of aid to states. As you do your tax planning, here are the major provisions of which you'll want to be aware.

 

	Retroactive to January 1, 2003, rates in the top four brackets decrease by 2% or more. This is an acceleration of changes originally scheduled by the Tax Act of 2001 to take place in 2004 and 2006. Old Rates New Rates 38.6% 35% 35% 33% 30% 28% 27% 25% 15% No change 10% No change
	Rates in the 10% and 15% brackets do not change. However, the upper end of the 10% bracket increases from $6,000 to $7,000 for single filers and from $12,000 to $14,000 for joint filers. This change applies only for 2003 and 2004. The lower thresholds go back into effect in 2005.
	The upper end of the 15% bracket increases for married taxpayers filing joint returns as part of marriage penalty relief (see below).
	Employees can expect to see larger paychecks in July based on the new IRS withholding tables that reflect the tax rate and tax bracket changes. Self-employed taxpayers may wish to adjust their estimated tax payments to reflect the new lower rates for 2003.
	To provide some relief from the alternative minimum tax, which has begun affecting an increasing number of middle-income taxpayers, the exemption amount for single taxpayers increases from $35,750 to $40,250. The exemption for married couples increases from $49,000 to $58,000. This increase is effective only for 2003 and 2004.

MARRIAGE PENALTY

	The new law provides some relief from the marriage penalty. The "marriage penalty" refers to the fact that some married couples pay higher taxes than the combined taxes they paid as singles on the same income.
	To ease the problem, the upper end of the 15% tax bracket increases from $47,450 to $56,800 for married joint filers. This is exactly twice the amount of the 15% bracket for single filers, thus removing part of the marriage penalty
	In addition, the standard deduction for married couples increases from $7,950 to $9,500, which is twice the $4,750 standard deduction for single filers.
	This relief applies only in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, the less extensive marriage penalty relief provided in the Tax Relief Act of 2001 takes effect. The 2001 law gradually increases the 15% tax bracket and the standard deduction for married couples until 2009 when they are once again twice those of singles.

CHILD CREDIT

	The new law immediately increases the child tax credit from $600 to $1,000 per child under age 17. Under the old law, the credit was slowly ramping up to reach the $1,000 level in 2010.
	This higher credit applies only for two years. In 2005 it will drop back to $700, increasing to $800 in 2009 and to $1,000 in 2010. Again, Congress might act to make the higher level permanent before then.
	Congress has instructed the IRS to pay the 2003 increase in advance by issuing checks of up to $400 per child. Eligible taxpayers should expect to receive these rebate checks towards the end of summer.
	Not all taxpayers will receive checks, however. The IRS will estimate the amounts payable based on data from last year's returns. If you have a child born this year, for example, you should not expect a check for that child. Instead you will claim the credit on your 2003 tax return.
	Higher-income taxpayers may not qualify for the full credit. It starts to phase out when adjusted gross income reaches $110,000 for joint filers ($75,000 for singles or heads of household).

	One of the biggest changes in the new law reduces the tax investors will pay on most dividends and long-term capital gains. The reductions apply to dividends received any time in 2003 and to long-term capital gains realized on or after May 6, 2003.
	Taxpayers in the top four tax brackets will pay 15% tax on most dividend income received through 2008. Taxpayers in the 10% and 15% ordinary income brackets will pay 5% through 2007 and 0% in 2008. These new rates expire in 2009 unless extended by Congress.
	The new reduced rates apply to most corporate dividends received by individual shareholders. Previously dividends were taxed as ordinary income, with a top rate as high as 38.6%.
	The same new rates of 15%, 5%, and 0% also apply to most long-term capital gains. Taxpayers in the top four brackets will pay 15%, down from the current 20%. For those in the lower two brackets, the rate drops from the current 10% to 5% through 2007 and to 0% in 2008. In 2009, the old capital gain rates return unless Congress changes the rates again.
	The prior law's 18% and 8% rates for five-year capital gains are effectively repealed until 2009 when they once again go into effect. Taxpayers who made "deemed sale" elections on their 2001 tax returns in order to benefit from these five-year rates will need to stay aware of whatever information the IRS releases on this issue.
	Note that these rate changes do not affect dividends or capital gains received in tax-free funds such as traditional IRAs or 401(k) plans. Withdrawals from these plans are taxed at ordinary income rates regardless of the source of the earnings.

BUSINESS INVESTMENT

	The new law contains two provisions intended to boost the economy by encouraging business spending.
	In 2003 through 2005, small businesses can take an immediate write-off for up to $100,000 of equipment purchases each year. The previous limit on this expensing option was $25,000. This benefit begins to phase out when total purchases in any year exceed $400,000; the prior phase-out threshold had been $200,000.
	The new law also increases and extends the bonus depreciation that was introduced in 2002 tax legislation. Businesses can now claim a first-year bonus depreciation of 50% of the cost of most new equipment purchased after May 5, 2003, and before January 1, 2005. The previous law allowed 30% bonus depreciation, which can still be taken for new business equipment purchased between September 11, 2001, and May 6, 2003.
	Note that bonus depreciation applies only to new property while expensing may be taken on new or used property. Also, the two benefits can be combined; the expensing option can be taken for a purchase, and the 50% bonus depreciation can be used on the remaining basis if the property qualifies.