Year after year there are complaints that the AMT is now unfairly snaring the not-so-rich. And year after year, Congress sees fit to only make temporary patches to the provision. More people are being hit because the AMT brackets and exemptions are not adjusted annually for inflation. Additionally, some of the original provisions seem ludicrous in retrospect.
For example, under the regular tax rules, taxpayers can claim deductions for dependents and for taxes paid to state and local governments. However, those deductions are snatched away under the AMT. An estimated 77 percent of income subject to tax under the AMT is because of the disallowance of deductions for dependents and state and local tax payments.
"Few people think of having children or living in a high-tax state as a tax-avoidance maneuver, but under the unique logic of the AMT, that is essentially how those actions are treated," Olson writes.
What's maddening is that the AMT requires taxpayers to compute their taxes twice -- once under the regular rules and again under the AMT guidelines -- and then to pay the higher of the two amounts. Isn't completing one return exasperating enough?
In her report, Olson speaks for the many people who will find they have a higher tax bill because of debt that has been canceled. Generally, if a creditor forgives a debt, the amount that you don't have to pay back becomes taxable income.
As Olson points out, Congress has carved out a number of exceptions to the debt-cancellation rule. Except -- surprise, surprise -- taxpayers often do not receive reliable information about the exceptions.
For example, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 has allowed homeowners to exclude debt canceled relating to their mortgage loans. But you can only qualify for the exception for the part of the loan that was used to buy or improve a principal residence. If you used some of the loan to pay off a car loan, credit card balances, student loans or medical bills, you can't exclude that forgiven debt from income.
In her report, Olson recommends that the IRS create a centralized unit dedicated to handling cancellation of debt issues.
If you're having a problem resolving your tax issues through normal IRS channels, contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service at (877) 777-4778 or go to www.irs.gov/advocate.
There's a lot happening on Capitol Hill right now. But I certainly hope Olson's report gets the attention it deserves, especially at a time when so many people are hurting financially.