The highlights of your 2025 FEDERAL taxes (based on the 2018-2025 TCJA and OBBBA changes for 2025):
Federal Tax Rates for 2025:
• Individual Income Tax Rates: For tax year 2025, the individual income tax rates remain at seven brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. The income thresholds for each bracket have been adjusted for inflation. The top marginal rate of 37% applies to taxable income above $626,350 (single) and $751,600 (MFJ).
• Corporate Tax Rate: Still a flat 21%, which was originally made permanent by TCJA.
Standard Deduction for 2025: Thanks to inflation adjustments and new 2025 tax legislation:
• Single: $15,750
• Married Filing Jointly: $31,500
• Head of Household: $23,625
And for those age 65+: A new additional senior deduction of up to $6,000 per qualifying taxpayer (phasing out beginning at $75,000 MAGI for singles and $150,000 MAGI for joint filers); available whether you itemize or not.
Child Tax Credit (CTC) for 2025
• Maximum credit: $2,200 per qualifying child (under age 17) (up from $2,000). A nonrefundable credit of $500 remains available for non-child dependents.
• Refundable portion: Up to $1,700 via the Additional Child Tax Credit for eligible taxpayers.
• Phaseout thresholds: Begin at $200,000 MAGI ($400,000 MFJ) (similar to 2024).
Dependent Care Credit for 2025:
The basic structure remains similar to recent years:
• The maximum claimable dependent care expenses remain limited ($3,000 for one dependent and $6,000 for two or more).
• The credit percentage is generally 20% at higher income levels.
• Not refundable.
• Employers can still exclude up to $5,000 of dependent care assistance from employee income.
Eliminated Itemized Deductions in 2025
For 2025 you still cannot deduct:
• State and local tax (SALT) above the limit, AND the limit was increased to $40,000.
• Moving expenses (with select military exceptions).
• Unreimbursed employee business expenses (e.g., mileage, home office, union dues, tax prep), although still available in CA (above a 2% AGI floor).
• Mortgage interest deductions above the borrowing limits: Limited to $750K acquisition debt (loans originated on or after Dec 16, 2017; $1 million if prior to that date; always $1 mil CA).
Other Individual Benefits for 2025
• Medical Expense Deduction: Threshold remains 7.5% of AGI for deductible medical expenses.
• Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT): Thresholds remain elevated, reducing exposure for many taxpayers.
• Estate Tax Exemption: Now approximately $14 million per individual for 2025 (indexed for inflation).
• Annual Gift Tax Exclusion: $19,000 per recipient for 2025 (indexed for inflation).
Small Business & Pass-Through Benefits (QBI) in 2025
• The 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction continues for owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations, and certain rental activities. The underlying rules remain complex and may be adjusted by income level and service trade categories.