Quality Tax & Bookkeeping Services, Inc.

2015-2016 Tax Facts

See how to get a big refund this year!

Standard Deductions & Exemptions    2015 Standard Mileage Rates    2015 & 2016 Tax Bracket Rates    Student Loan Interest Deduction    2015 Earned Income Credits and Phase-Out Thresholds    2015 & 2016 Pension PLan Limitations   

Check out the 2015-2016 Tax Facts section for tables for rates and deductions.
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Letter to Clients: 2015 Click for pdf of Client Letter  Click for Word document of client letter    Tax Preparation Checklist: 2015 Click for pdf of the tax preparation checklist  Click for Excel version of the tax preparation checklist

Standard Deductions and Exemptions

Description 2015 Figures 2016 Figures
Personal/Dependent Exemption $4,000 $4,050
Standard Deduction Married-Filling-Jointly $12,600 $12,600
Standard Deduction Singles $6,300 $6,300
Standard Deduction Married/Filling Seperate $6,300 $6,300
Standard Deduction Head/Household $9,250 $9,300

Standard Mileage Rates for 2015

Mileage Category 2015 Rates
Business Mileage 57.5 cents/mile
Medical and Move-Related Mileage 23.0 cents/mile
Charitable Mileage 14 cents/mile

Tax Bracket Rates for 2015 and 2016

Note: The dollar-amount figures represent taxable income... your adjusted gross income less all your exemptions and deductions.

Tax Brackets (2015 Dollar Amounts)
Single Filers Married Joint Filers Tax Bracket
Over But Not Over Over But Not Over 2015
$0 $9,225 $0 $18,450 10%
$9,226 $37,450 $18,451 $74,900 15%
$37,451 $90,750 $74,901 $151,200 25%
$90,751 $189,300 $151,201 $230,450 28%
$189,301 $411,500 $230,451 $411,500 33%
$411,501 $413,200 $411,501 $464,850 35%
$413,201 + $464,851 + 39.6%



Tax Brackets (2016 Dollar Amounts)
Single Filers Married Joint Filers Tax Bracket
Over But Not Over Over But Not Over 2016
$0 $9,275 $0 $18,550 10%
$9,276 $37,650 $18,551 $75,300 15%
$37,651 $91,150 $75,301 $151,900 25%
$91,151 $190,150 $151,901 $231,450 28%
$190,151 $413,350 $231,451 $413,350 33%
$413,351 $415,050 $413,351 $466,950 35%
$415,051 + $466,951 + 39.6%

Student Loan Interest Deduction

A maximum of $2500 of student loan interest paid can be deducted from your taxable income if your income is under the phase-out amounts. Those amounts have increased for the 2014 tax season.

Filing Status 2015 Income Phase-Out Amounts
Single/Head of Household $65,000 - $80,000
Married Filing Jointly $130,000 - $160,000

By the way, the interest deduction is only available to the people who are liable for the loan. For example, if the loan is in your child's name, yet you are making all the payments, the write off is NOT available to you unless you had co-signed the loan, making yourself equally liable.

2015 Earned Income Credits and
Phase-out Thresholds

The maximum earned income tax credit available in 2015 is $6,242, which is an increase of $99 over the 2014 levels. Phase-out thresholds have been increased as well, which will make more people eligible for this credit on their 2015 tax return.

Keep in mind that not only must your income be below these thresholds...your investment income must also be less than $3,350 for the year.

Adjusted Gross Income Phase-Out Amounts for 2015 Earned Income Credit
Filing Status         No Child 1 Child 2 Children >2 Children
Single/Head/Household         $14,820 $39,131 $44,454 $47,747
Married Filing Jointly         $20,330 $44,651 $49,974 $53,267

(Note: Married Filing Separately taxpayers do not qualify for Earned Income Credit.)

2015 and 2016 Pension Plan Limitations

Contribution Limits
Note: The retirement contribution limits will mostly remain unchanged for 2015.

Pension Type Under Age 50: the lesser of taxable compensation or... Aged 50 and Older: the lesser of taxable compensation or...
2015 2016 2015 2016
401(k);403(b);457 plans;
Gov't Thift Savings Plans
$18,000 $18,000 $24,000 $24,000
Traditional IRA $5,500 $5,500 $6,500 $6,500
Roth IRA $5,500 $5,500 $6,500 $6,500
Simple IRA $12,500 $12,500 $15,500 $15,500