What's New for your 2010 Income Tax Return

Due Date
Even though April 15 falls on a Friday this year, the deadline for your 2010 Form 1040 is Monday April 18. Emancipation Day is a District of Columbia holiday that falls on April 15 so the tax filing deadline for the whole nation is deferred to April 18 . If your return won't be ready by then, you can extend the deadline all the way out to October 17 by filing Form 4868 on or before April 18.

Personal exemption: $3,650 ($3,800 in 2012, $3,700 in 2011)

Standard deduction:
MFJ/QW $11,400 ($11,900 in 2012, $11,600 in 2011)
HH $8,400 ($8,700 in 2012, $8,500 in 2011, $8,350 in 2009)
Single / MFS $5,700 ($5,950 in 2012, $5,800 in 2011)

Maximum Earned Income Credit
$5,666 if 3 or more qualifying children ($5,891 in 2012, $5,751 in 2011, $5,657 in 2009)
$5,036 if 2 qualifying children (from $5,028 in 2009)
$3,050 if 1 qualifying child (from $3,043 in 2009)
$457 if no qualifying child (same)

Income Limits for Earned Income Credit

• Three or more qualifying children and earn less than $43,352 ($48,362 if MFJ)
• Two qualifying children and earn less than $40,363 ($45,373 if MFJ)
• One qualifying child and earn less than $35,535 ($40,545 if MFJ)
• No qualifying child and earn less than $13,460 ($18,470 if MFJ)

Wages Limit
The maximum amount of wages subject to social security tax is $106,800 (same as 2009).

2010 Limits for Retirement Plans

401(k) Plans
Elective deferral limit is $16,500 (same as 2009)
If age 50 or older on December 31, 2010, the limit is $22,000 (same as 2009)

IRA Contribution and Deduction Limit
Contribution limit for a traditional IRA and Roth IRA remains the lesser of $5,000 or taxable compensation.
If the taxpayer is 50 years of age or older the limit remains the lesser of $6,000 or taxable compensation.

Modified AGI Limit for Traditional IRAs
If a taxpayer is covered by a retirement plan at work, the deduction will be phased out if the modified AGI is between:

• $89,000 - $109,000 for Married Filing Joint (MFJ) or Qualifying Widower (QW) - same as 2009
• $56,000 - $66,000 for Single or Head of Household (HH) or Married Filing Separately and did not live with spouse at any time during the year - $55,000 to $65,000 in 2009
• $0 - $10,000 for Married Filing Separately (MFS) who lived with spouse at any time during 2010

Modified AGI Limit for Traditional IRAs
The limit for the spouse of a covered employee is:

• $167,000 - $177,000 for MFJ (up from $166,000 - $176,000)
• $0 - $10,000 for MFS (same as 2009)

Roth IRA Contribution Limits
The Roth phase out range increases to:

• $167,000 - $177,000 (up from $166,000 - $176,000) for MFJ & QW
• $105,000 - $120,000 (same) for single, HH and MFS not living with spouse during the year
• $0 - $10,000 (same) for MFS who lived with spouse at any time during 2010

Four days left to make your IRA Charitable Rollover

When President Obama made official on December 17, 2010, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, he reinstated the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Charitable Rollover through 2011. This allows individuals aged 70 ½ and over to donate funds up to $100,000 from their IRAs to public charities without being mandated to report it as taxable income.

The new law has a special rule for 2010, taxpayers can make retroactive IRA charitable donations in January 2011 and have them count toward 2010. Only four days remaining to make this donation.

To qualify:

• You must be at least 70 ½ years old.
• You must be subject to Required Minimum Distribution from your IRA.
• Money is transferred directly from your traditional IRA to approved charities. Rollovers from 403(b) plans, 401(k) plans, pension plans, and other retirement plans do not qualify.
• Annual donations cannot exceed more than $100,000 per individual. Amounts more than $100,000 will be added to taxable income.
• The rollover for 2010 must be completed before January 31, 2011. The rollover for 2011 must be completed between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011.

Who could benefit?

2010 Ohio Individual Income Tax Rates

The following rate table applies to the 2010 tax year.

Ohio Taxable  Income	Tax Calculation
0 – $5,050	0.618% of Ohio taxable income
$5,050 – $10,100	$31.21 + 1.236% of excess of $5,050
$10,100 – $15,150	$93.63 + 2.473% of excess over $10,100
$15,150 – $20,200	$218.52 + 3.091% of excess over $15,150
$20,200 – $40,350	$374.62 + 3.708% of excess over $20,200
$40,350 – $80,700	$1,121.78 + 4.327% of excess over $40,350
$80,700 – $100,900	$2,867.72 + 4.945% of excess over $80,700
$100,900 – $201,800	$3,866.61 + 5.741% of excess over $100,900
More than $201,800	$9,659.28 + 6.24% of excess over $201,800

Where to File Paper Tax Returns

Tax Professionals - Where to File Individual Returns for Your Clients
Addresses by state for Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040ES, 1040V, amended returns, and extensions (also addresses for taxpayers in foreign countries, U.S. possessions, or with other international filing characteristics)

Individual Taxpayers - Where to File Your Own Individual Return
Addresses by state for Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040ES, 1040V, amended returns, and extensions (also addresses for taxpayers in foreign countries, U.S. possessions, or with other international filing characteristics)

Where to File - All Types of Tax Returns (By Form Number)
Mailing addresses for all types of returns: individual, corporation, partnership, and many others (search for address based on form number)