Congressional Republicans delivered on their goal of passing a major tax reform bill, and now the measure goes to President Trump who indicated plans to immediately sign the bill into law once it is enrolled and formally presented. The President said on numerous occasions that he wanted the bill finalized in time for him to deliver tax reform as an early Christmas gift to American families and it looks like he will be able to deliver on that pledge. House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement late last week to resolve policy differences between the two chambers.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, the measure will result in an increase in take-home pay starting as early as February. The first major overhaul of our tax system in over 30 years, the measure reduces the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent and restructures the tax brackets for all wage earners, with the top tax rate for individuals set at 37 percent. Other highlights include:
- Pass-through businesses that pay taxes at individual rates will receive a 20 percent deduction.
- Businesses will be allowed to immediately write off investments for the next five years.
- The bill will raise the alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption for individuals to $1 million for couples and eliminate the corporate AMT.
- The measure will double the exemption for the estate tax.
- The bill will eliminate the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, individual health insurance mandate.
- The measure will allow a deduction of up to $10,000 in state and local taxes—which can be made up of property taxes, as well as either income taxes or sales taxes.
- The bill will allow homeowners to deduct interest on the first $750,000 of a new mortgage.
The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) developed a quick comparison document for major elements of the plan that includes a summary of what originally passed in each chamber along with what was included in the version that will go to President Trump. The association will continue to review the measure’s major provisions to identify additional areas of the bill that significantly impact NALP members and will provide that information as warranted.
