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To Lift Paychecks, Treasury Urges Companies to Act Quickly on New Tax Law To Lift Paychecks, Treasury Urges Companies to Act Quickly on New Tax Law
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department took the first step toward carrying out the $1.5 trillion Republican tax overhaul on Thursday, releasing new tax withholding tables and encouraging companies to incorporate them as soon as possible so that workers can begin seeing bigger paychecks. WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department took the first step toward carrying out the $1.5 trillion Republican tax overhaul on Thursday, releasing new tax withholding tables and encouraging companies to incorporate them as soon as possible so workers can begin seeing bigger paychecks.
The legislation was signed into law late last month after moving through Congress at a blistering pace, sending companies scrambling to determine how the changes affect not only their own taxes but also their workers’ taxes, since employers must withhold federal and state taxes from employees’ paychecks.The legislation was signed into law late last month after moving through Congress at a blistering pace, sending companies scrambling to determine how the changes affect not only their own taxes but also their workers’ taxes, since employers must withhold federal and state taxes from employees’ paychecks.
On Thursday, the Treasury Department told companies that they should incorporate the new, lower withholding rates no later than Feb. 15. “Workers will see changes in their February paychecks once employers adopt the new guidance,” it said.On Thursday, the Treasury Department told companies that they should incorporate the new, lower withholding rates no later than Feb. 15. “Workers will see changes in their February paychecks once employers adopt the new guidance,” it said.
Withholding rates, which are based on income, marital status, number of dependents and other factors, affect the amount that employees take home in their paychecks. The withholding tables are changing because the new tax law does away with personal exemptions, doubles the standard deduction and lowers marginal tax rates.Withholding rates, which are based on income, marital status, number of dependents and other factors, affect the amount that employees take home in their paychecks. The withholding tables are changing because the new tax law does away with personal exemptions, doubles the standard deduction and lowers marginal tax rates.
In anticipation of potential confusion over the new system, the Internal Revenue Service will release a calculator at the end of February so that workers can more accurately estimate how much of their income should be withheld from their paychecks. Workers who have too little or too much withheld can face a tax bill or penalties.In anticipation of potential confusion over the new system, the Internal Revenue Service will release a calculator at the end of February so that workers can more accurately estimate how much of their income should be withheld from their paychecks. Workers who have too little or too much withheld can face a tax bill or penalties.
The Trump administration, which has promised that the new tax law will put money back in workers’ pockets, is eager to ensure that the transition to a new tax code does not devolve into chaos and to show evidence that taxpayers are faring better under the new law.The Trump administration, which has promised that the new tax law will put money back in workers’ pockets, is eager to ensure that the transition to a new tax code does not devolve into chaos and to show evidence that taxpayers are faring better under the new law.
Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, said on Thursday that 90 percent of wage earners would see an increase in their take-home pay once businesses change their withholding tables to reflect the new tax code.Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, said on Thursday that 90 percent of wage earners would see an increase in their take-home pay once businesses change their withholding tables to reflect the new tax code.
Treasury Department officials said on Thursday that they did not expect significant changes in the number of taxpayers who receive tax refunds. Taxpayers who do not immediately receive larger paychecks will still benefit from the tax cuts at the end of the year, once they file their tax returns.Treasury Department officials said on Thursday that they did not expect significant changes in the number of taxpayers who receive tax refunds. Taxpayers who do not immediately receive larger paychecks will still benefit from the tax cuts at the end of the year, once they file their tax returns.
Democrats have been critical of a push by the Treasury Department and the I.R.S. to get companies to quickly adopt the new withholding tables and warned earlier this week that taxpayers could get hit with big tax bills if they withhold too little in anticipation of the lower rates. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and Representative Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrats on the Senate and House tax writing committees, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking it to analyze the 2018 withholding tables and determine whether they will result in “systematic under-withholding.”Democrats have been critical of a push by the Treasury Department and the I.R.S. to get companies to quickly adopt the new withholding tables and warned earlier this week that taxpayers could get hit with big tax bills if they withhold too little in anticipation of the lower rates. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and Representative Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrats on the Senate and House tax writing committees, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking it to analyze the 2018 withholding tables and determine whether they will result in “systematic under-withholding.”
Mr. Mnuchin on Thursday said that the release of the new tables had not been rushed and that the I.R.S., which is under the umbrella of the Treasury Department, wants taxpayers to withhold the correct amount of money.Mr. Mnuchin on Thursday said that the release of the new tables had not been rushed and that the I.R.S., which is under the umbrella of the Treasury Department, wants taxpayers to withhold the correct amount of money.
“I think this is another ridiculous charge,” Mr. Mnuchin said at a news briefing at the White House. “Our objective is not to have taxpayers over-withhold so they owe money at the end of the year.” “I think this is another ridiculous charge,” Mr. Mnuchin said at a briefing at the White House. “Our objective is not to have taxpayers over-withhold so they owe money at the end of the year.”
While companies and workers try to figure out the new tax landscape, states are also trying to mitigate some of the tax hits in the law. California, New York and New Jersey are among the states that have been considering changes to their tax codes to blunt the pain that their residents could feel from the scaling back of the state and local tax deduction in the new law. States have considered switching to a payroll tax system or classifying local taxes as charitable contributions so that they can be deducted at the federal level. While companies and workers try to figure out the new tax landscape, states are trying to mitigate some of the tax hits in the law. California, New York and New Jersey are among the states that have been considering changes to their tax codes to blunt the pain that their residents could feel from the scaling back of the state and local tax deduction in the new law. States have considered switching to a payroll tax system or classifying local taxes as charitable contributions so they can be deducted at the federal level.
Mr. Mnuchin would not say whether the administration would try to halt such efforts, but he assailed the strategy as being in bad faith. Mr. Mnuchin would not say if the administration would try to halt such efforts, but he assailed the strategy as being in bad faith.
“I think it’s one of the more ridiculous comments to think you can take a real estate tax that you’re required to make and dress that up as a charitable contribution,” Mr. Mnuchin said. “I hope that states are more focused on cutting their budgets and giving tax cuts to their people in their states than they are on trying to evade the law.”“I think it’s one of the more ridiculous comments to think you can take a real estate tax that you’re required to make and dress that up as a charitable contribution,” Mr. Mnuchin said. “I hope that states are more focused on cutting their budgets and giving tax cuts to their people in their states than they are on trying to evade the law.”
Trump administration officials continued to point to corporate announcements of pay increases and bonuses to promote the early success of the tax cuts. Mr. Mnuchin on Thursday singled out wage increases at Walmart as a sign that Mr. Trump’s policies were working. However, he declined to accept any blame for the store closings and expected layoffs that Walmart announced at its Sam’s Club chain.Trump administration officials continued to point to corporate announcements of pay increases and bonuses to promote the early success of the tax cuts. Mr. Mnuchin on Thursday singled out wage increases at Walmart as a sign that Mr. Trump’s policies were working. However, he declined to accept any blame for the store closings and expected layoffs that Walmart announced at its Sam’s Club chain.
Mr. Mnuchin also dismissed questions about Mr. Trump’s tax returns, which he has refused to release. Democrats have said that he should make his returns public so that voters can see if he is benefiting from the tax cuts.Mr. Mnuchin also dismissed questions about Mr. Trump’s tax returns, which he has refused to release. Democrats have said that he should make his returns public so that voters can see if he is benefiting from the tax cuts.
“I think that there is a ton of financial disclosure that the president has given the American people,” Mr. Mnuchin said. “They voted for him, he’s the president, I think people are happy with that.”