Inflation Adjustments Affecting Individual Taxpayers in 2004: Analysis and Commentary

Posted: 26 Sep 2003

See all articles by James C. Young

James C. Young

Northern Illinois University - Department of Accountancy

Abstract

Without inflation adjustments to key portions of the tax system, individuals would be faced with an erosion of their purchasing power. Beginning in 1985, Congress implemented an indexation procedure to adjust various income tax components, including the tax rate schedules, standard deduction, and personal and dependency exemptions. Although suspended by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, indexation resumed in 1989 and now applies to many items in the tax system.

In this article, Young discusses 2004 inflation adjustments to specific portions of the individual tax system that are tied to a consumer price index year ending in August. Items adjusted by this indexation procedure include the tax rate schedules, standard deductions, exemptions (and related phaseout), the overall limit on itemized deductions, and certain computational elements related to the unearned income of minor children, child credit, earned income tax credit, adoption expenses, educational savings bonds, education credits, education loan interest, qualified transportation fringe benefits, medical savings accounts, long-term care insurance premiums, and the section 179 expense election.

Suggested Citation

Young, James C., Inflation Adjustments Affecting Individual Taxpayers in 2004: Analysis and Commentary. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=451402

James C. Young (Contact Author)

Northern Illinois University - Department of Accountancy ( email )

College of Business
DeKalb, IL 60115
United States

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