Fiscal Intelligence

Current Law: For 2014, there are seven regular individual income tax brackets of 10 percent, 15 percent, 25 percent, 28 percent, 33 percent, 35 percent, and 39.6 percent. In addition, there are five categories of filing status: single, head of household, married filing jointly (and surviving spouses), married filing separately, and estates and trusts.

Provision: Under the provision, the current seven tax brackets would be consolidated and simplified into three brackets: 10 percent, 25 percent, and 35 percent. Generally, the new 10-percent bracket would replace the current 10- and 15-percent brackets; the new 25-percent bracket would replace the current 25-, 28-, 33-, and 35-percent brackets; and the new 35-percent bracket would replace the current 39.6-percent bracket.

No Co-location For You by Marcus A. Winters, City Journal 28 February 2014.