Democrats and Republicans failed to vote on a deal to stop America falling over the fiscal cliff. The $607 billion of tax hikes and spending cuts take effect at midnight.
President Obama said that a deal had been within sight.
It is believed Congress will meet again Tuesday and come up with a deal to reverse the tax hikes and spending cuts, before any serious damage is done.
However, if they fail, it is widely predicted the fiscal cliff will plunge America back into recession, and the global economy into turmoil.
Despite ‘Cliff’ Deal’s Cuts, Your Taxes Are Going Up
While the tax package that Congress passed New Year’s Day will protect 99 percent of Americans from an income tax increase, most of them will still end up paying more federal taxes in 2013.
That’s because the legislation did nothing to prevent a temporary reduction in the Social Security payroll tax from expiring. In 2012, that 2-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax was worth about $1,000 to a worker making $50,000 a year.
The Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan Washington research group, estimates that 77 percent of American households will face higher federal taxes in 2013 under the agreement negotiated between President Barack Obama and Senate Republicans. High-income families will feel the biggest tax increases, but many middle- and low-income families will pay higher taxes, too.
Households making between $40,000 and $50,000 will face an average tax increase of $579 in 2013, according to the Tax Policy Center’s analysis. Households making between $50,000 and $75,000 will face an average tax increase of $822.
“For most people, it’s just the payroll tax,” said Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center.
Tax Deal Is Excellent Tax Deal: Pro
Alexander Young, S&P Capital IQ, discusses the Street’s reaction to the “fiscal cliff” deal struck by Congress and its impact on the markets and individuals.
The tax increases could be a lot higher. A huge package of tax cuts first enacted under President George W. Bush was scheduled to expire Tuesday as part of the “fiscal cliff.” The Bush-era tax cuts lowered taxes for families at every income level, reduced investment taxes and the estate tax, and enhanced a number of tax credits, including a $1,000-per-child credit.
The package passed Tuesday by the Senate and House extends most the Bush-era tax cuts for individuals making less than $400,000 and married couples making less than $450,000. (Read More: Key Points in Bill Passed by Congress)
Obama said the deal “protects 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small business owners from a middle-class tax hike. While neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything they wanted, this agreement is the right thing to do for our country.” (Read More: US Avoids Calamity in ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Drama)
The income threshold covers more than 99 percent of all household)s, exceeding Obama’s claim, according to the Tax Policy Center. However, the increase in payroll taxes will hit nearly every wage earner.
Social Security is financed by a 12.4 percent tax on wages up to $113,700, with employers paying half and workers paying the other half. Obama and Congress reduced the share paid by workers from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent for 2011 and 2012, saving a typical family about $1,000 a year.
Obama pushed hard to enact the payroll tax cut for 2011 and to extend it through 2012. But it was never fully embraced by either party, and this time around, there was general agreement to let it expire.
The new tax package would increase the income tax rate from 35 percent to 39.6 percent on income above $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for married couples. Investment taxes would increase for people who fall in the new top tax bracket. (Read More: Despite Cliff Deal: ‘Nothing Really Has Been Fixed’)
High-income families will also pay higher taxes this year as part of Obama’s 2010 health care law. As part of that law, a new 3.8 percent tax is being imposed on investment income for individuals making more than $200,000 a year and couples making more than $250,000.
Together, the new tax package and Obama’s health care law will produce significant tax increases for many high-income families.
For 2013, households making between $500,000 and $1 million would get an average tax increase of $14,812, according to the Tax Policy Center analysis. Households making more than $1 million would get an average tax increase of $170,341.
“If you’re rich, you’re almost certain to get a big tax increase,” Williams said.
Here’s how the tax increases will affect households at different income levels:
Annual income: $20,000 to $30,000
Average tax increase: $297
Annual income: $30,000 to $40,000
Average tax increase: $445
Annual income: $40,000 to $50,000
Average tax increase: $579
Annual income: $50,000 to $75,000
Average tax increase: $822
Annual income: $75,000 to $100,000
Average tax increase: $1,206
Annual income: $100,000 to $200,000
Average tax increase: $1,784
Annual income: $200,000 to $500,000
Average tax increase: $2,711
Annual income: $500,000 to $1 million
Average tax increase: $14,812
Annual income: More than $1 million
Average tax increase: $170,341
Looks like Obama got his way by delaying spending cuts and increasing taxes.