Planning for Health Care Reform Surtax


To help pay for the cost of universal health care, a new federal tax will be imposed on most net investment income for those with higher incomes. Starting in 2013, higher-income taxpayers will be subject to an additional 3.80 percent tax on most net investment income. This new tax impacts taxpayers with wages or net earnings above $200,000 (single), $250,000 (married filing jointly), or $125,000 (married filing separately). The exceptions to the surtax are distributions from retirement accounts, including pensions, 401(k)s and IRAs, and income generated from municipal bonds.