§ 55. Alternative minimum tax imposed

26 U.S.C. § 55 (N/A)
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In the case of a taxpayer other than a corporation, there is hereby imposed (in addition to any other tax imposed by this subtitle) a tax equal to the excess (if any) of—

(1) the tentative minimum tax for the taxable year, over

(2) the regular tax for the taxable year.

For purposes of this part—

The tentative minimum tax for the taxable year is the sum of—

(A) In generalThe tentative minimum tax for the taxable year is the sum of— (i) 26 percent of so much of the taxable excess as does not exceed $175,000, plus (ii) 28 percent of so much of the taxable excess as exceeds $175,000. The amount determined under the preceding sentence shall be reduced by the alternative minimum tax foreign tax credit for the taxable year.

(B) Taxable excess For purposes of this subsection, the term “taxable excess” means so much of the alternative minimum taxable income for the taxable year as exceeds the exemption amount.

(C) Married individual filing separate return In the case of a married individual filing a separate return, subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting 50 percent of the dollar amount otherwise applicable under clause (i) and clause (ii) thereof. For purposes of the preceding sentence, marital status shall be determined under section 7703.

The term “alternative minimum taxable income” means the taxable income of the taxpayer for the taxable year—

(A) determined with the adjustments provided in section 56 and section 58, and

(B) increased by the amount of the items of tax preference described in section 57.

The amount determined under the first sentence of paragraph (1)(A) shall not exceed the sum of—

(A) the amount determined under such first sentence computed at the rates and in the same manner as if this paragraph had not been enacted on the taxable excess reduced by the lesser of— (i) the net capital gain; or (ii) the sum of— (I) the adjusted net capital gain, plus (II) the unrecaptured section 1250 gain, plus

(B) 0 percent of so much of the adjusted net capital gain (or, if less, taxable excess) as does not exceed an amount equal to the excess described in section 1(h)(1)(B), plus

(C) 15 percent of the lesser of— (i) so much of the adjusted net capital gain (or, if less, taxable excess) as exceeds the amount on which tax is determined under subparagraph (B), or (ii) the excess described in section 1(h)(1)(C)(ii), plus

(D) 20 percent of the adjusted net capital gain (or, if less, taxable excess) in excess of the sum of the amounts on which tax is determined under subparagraphs (B) and (C), plus

(E) 25 percent of the amount of taxable excess in excess of the sum of the amounts on which tax is determined under the preceding subparagraphs of this paragraph.

For purposes of this section, the term “regular tax” means the regular tax liability for the taxable year (as defined in section 26(b)) reduced by the foreign tax credit allowable under section 27(a).[1] Such term shall not include any increase in tax under section 45(e)(11)(C), 49(b) or 50(a) or subsection (j) or (k) of section 42.

(1) In general For purposes of this section, the term “regular tax” means the regular tax liability for the taxable year (as defined in section 26(b)) reduced by the foreign tax credit allowable under section 27(a).[1] Such term shall not include any increase in tax under section 45(e)(11)(C), 49(b) or 50(a) or subsection (j) or (k) of section 42.

(2) Coordination with income averaging for farmers and fishermen Solely for purposes of this section, section 1301 (relating to averaging of farm and fishing income) shall not apply in computing the regular tax liability.

(3) Cross references For provisions providing that certain credits are not allowable against the tax imposed by this section, see sections 30C(d)(2) and 38(c).

For purposes of this section—

In the case of a taxpayer other than a corporation, the term “exemption amount” means—

(A) $78,750 in the case of— (i) a joint return, or (ii) a surviving spouse,

(B) $50,600 in the case of an individual who— (i) is not a married individual, and (ii) is not a surviving spouse,

(C) 50 percent of the dollar amount applicable under subparagraph (A) in the case of a married individual who files a separate return, and

(D) $22,500 in the case of an estate or trust.

The exemption amount of any taxpayer shall be reduced (but not below zero) by an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount by which the alternative minimum taxable income of the taxpayer exceeds—

(A) $150,000 in the case of a taxpayer described in paragraph (1)(A),

(B) $112,500 in the case of a taxpayer described in paragraph (1)(B), and

(C) 50 percent of the dollar amount applicable under subparagraph (A) in the case of a taxpayer described in subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (1).

In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2012, the amounts described in subparagraph (B) shall each be increased by an amount equal to—

(A) In generalIn the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2012, the amounts described in subparagraph (B) shall each be increased by an amount equal to— (i) such dollar amount, multiplied by (ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting “calendar year 2011” for “calendar year 2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.

(B) Amounts describedThe amounts described in this subparagraph are— (i) each of the dollar amounts contained in subsection (b)(1)(A), (ii) each of the dollar amounts contained in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) of paragraph (1), and (iii) each of the dollar amounts in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2).

(C) Rounding Any increased amount determined under subparagraph (A) shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100.

In the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026—

(A) In generalIn the case of any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026— (i) paragraph (1) shall be applied— (I) by substituting “$109,400” for “$78,750” in subparagraph (A), and (II) by substituting “$70,300” for “$50,600” in subparagraph (B), and (ii) paragraph (2) shall be applied— (I) by substituting “$1,000,000” for “$150,000” in subparagraph (A), (II) by substituting “50 percent of the dollar amount applicable under subparagraph (A)” for “$112,500” in subparagraph (B), and (III) in the case of a taxpayer described in paragraph (1)(D), without regard to the substitution under subclause (I).

(B) Inflation adjustment (i) In generalIn the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2018, the amounts described in clause (ii) shall each be increased by an amount equal to— (I) such dollar amount, multiplied by (II) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting “calendar year 2017” for “calendar year 2016” in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof. (ii) Amounts described The amounts described in this clause are the $109,400 amount in subparagraph (A)(i)(I), the $70,300 amount in subparagraph (A)(i)(II), and the $1,000,000 amount in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I). (iii) Rounding Any increased amount determined under clause (i) shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $100. (iv) Coordination with current adjustments In the case of any taxable year to which subparagraph (A) applies, no adjustment shall be made under paragraph (3) to any of the numbers which are substituted under subparagraph (A) and adjusted under this subparagraph.

(Added and amended Pub. L. 99–514, title II, § 252(c), title VII, § 701(a), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2205, 2321; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, §§ 1002(l)(27), 1007(a), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3381, 3428; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, §§ 11102(a), 11813(b)(5), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–406, 1388–551; Pub. L. 102–318, title V, § 521(b)(1), July 3, 1992, 106 Stat. 310; Pub. L. 102–486, title XIX, § 1913(b)(2)(D), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3020; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13203(a)–(c)(1), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 461, 462; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, §§ 1205(d)(6), 1401(b)(3), 1601(b)(2)(A), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1776, 1788, 1832; Pub. L. 105–34, title III, § 311(b)(1), (2)(A), title IV, § 401(a), title XVI, § 1601(f)(1)(C), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 834, 835, 843, 1090; Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, §§ 6005(d)(2), 6006(a), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 804, 806; Pub. L. 107–16, title VII, § 701(a), (b), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 148; Pub. L. 108–27, title I, § 106(a), title III, § 301(a)(1), (2)(B), (b)(2), May 28, 2003, 117 Stat. 755, 758; Pub. L. 108–311, title I, § 103(a), title IV, § 406(d), Oct. 4, 2004, 118 Stat. 1168, 1189; Pub. L. 108–357, title III, § 314(a), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1468; Pub. L. 109–58, title XIII, §§ 1302(b), 1322(a)(3)(H), 1341(b)(3), 1342(b)(3), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 991, 1012, 1049, 1051; Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, §§ 403(h), 412(p), Dec. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2624, 2638; Pub. L. 109–222, title III, § 301(a), May 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 353; Pub. L. 110–166, § 2(a), Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2461; Pub. L. 110–234, title XV, § 15311(b), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1503; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XV, § 15311(b), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2265; Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, title I, § 102(a), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3863; Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, §§ 1012(a), 1142(b)(5), 1144(b)(3), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 319, 331, 332; Pub. L. 111–240, title II, § 2013(b), Sept. 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2555; Pub. L. 111–312, title II, § 201(a), Dec. 17, 2010, 124 Stat. 3299; Pub. L. 112–240, title I, §§ 102(b)(2), (c)(2), 104(a), (b), (c)(2)(J), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2319, 2320, 2322; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 202(c), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4024; Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title III, § 334(b), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3108; Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §§ 11002(d)(1)(I), 12001(a), (b)(3)(A), (B), (4)–(6), 12003(a), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2060, 2092, 2093, 2095.)