The alternative minimum tax was originally enacted to ensure that high-income taxpayers pay at least a minimum amount of tax if they benefit from certain deductions and other tax preference items.
The AMT tax computation is a parallel system to the regular tax system with its own definitions of income and expenses, rules for income recognition and timing, and exemptions and tax rates. Although every taxpayer is subject to AMT rules, the additional tax is paid only if the tax computation under AMT rules is higher than the tax computed under regular rules.
Even though the AMT was originally targeted toward high-income taxpayers, factors, including inflation and treatment of certain tax credits, can sometimes push lower-income taxpayers into an AMT situation.
How Does the Alternative Minimum Tax Work?
Certain items called adjustments and preferences are added to or subtracted from federal adjusted gross income reduced by any itemized deductions. An AMT exemption amount is allowed, depending on the taxpayer’s filing status. The AMT tax rate of 26% to 28% is applied to the resulting alternative minimum taxable income. If the resulting tax is greater than regular tax, the difference is added to regular tax on Form 1040.
For example, when computed under regular rules, John’s income tax is $4,700. When computed under AMT rules, the tax amount is $3,900. Since his tax computed under AMT rules is less than his tax computed under regular rules, John will not pay any additional amount for AMT.
Alternative Minimum Tax Triggers
There are items that commonly trigger AMT include deductions for state and local taxes, and exercise of incentive stock options.
Other AMT adjustments and preferences include:
• Taxes from Schedule A (Form 1040).
• Tax refunds reported on Form 1040.
• Certain investment interest expense.
• Certain depletion expense.
• Net operating losses.
• Interest from specified private activity bonds.
• A portion of gain from section 1202 small business stock.
• Exercise of incentive stock options.
• Certain gains from dispositions of property.
Incentive Stock Options – AMT Adjustments
The bargain element resulting from exercise of incentive stock options (ISO) is equal to the fair market value (FMV) of the stock minus the exercise price and is a deferral item for AMT purposes.
Form 3921, Exercise of an Incentive Stock Option Under Section 422(b), may help in figuring the adjustment.
For example, Cindy exercised an ISO to acquire 100 shares of stock in 2019. Her rights in the acquired stock first became transferable on the date she exercised the ISO and were not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. She did not pay anything for the ISO and did not sell the acquired stock during 2019.
Cindy received Form 3921 that shows $10 in box 3 (the exercise price paid for each share), $25 in box 4 (the fair market value of each share on the exercise date), and 100 shares in box 5 (the number of shares acquired). To figure the adjustment, multiply the amount in box 4, $25, by the 100 shares in box 5. The result is $2,500, the fair market value of all the shares. Then multiply the amount in box 3, $10, by the 100 shares in box 5. The result is $1,000, the amount paid for all the shares.
Cindy’s adjustment is $1,500 ($2,500 − $1,000).
Potential tax credit. If the AMT adjustment due to exercise of an ISO results in an AMT liability, an AMT credit may be available in subsequent tax years.
Personal Credits
An individual can claim nonrefundable personal credits against regular tax and AMT.
Foreign Tax Credit and AMT
The AMT treatment of the Foreign Tax Credit depends on whether Form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit, is being filed.
Taxpayer elects not to file Form 1116.
• Report Foreign Tax Credit on Form 1040.
• Credit is limited to amount of regular tax.
• Unused foreign tax may not be carried over.
Taxpayer elects to file Form 1116.
• Recalculate Foreign Tax Credit using AMT rules.
• AMT Foreign Tax Credit is used to offset AMT on Form 6251.
• Unused AMT Foreign Tax Credit may be carried back one year and carried forward 10 years. [IRC §904(c)]
Credit for Prior Year AMT
The adjustments and preferences that result in AMT are of two types.
1) Deferral items, such as AMT basis adjustments, are temporary and do not cause a permanent difference in taxable income over time.
2) Exclusion items, such as taxes from Schedule A (Form 1040), are not allowed for AMT and therefore cause a permanent difference in taxable income.
The potential exists for income from deferral items to be taxed twice—first under AMT, and again in a later year under regular tax. A credit against regular tax for prior year AMT is available to address this situation.
Contact KRD Accounting Professionals Today
If you have questions regarding AMT, contact KRD today at 847-240-1040 or by filling out our contact form to schedule your free initial consultation.
