Cost-Of-Living Adjustment Numbers for 2023

What do the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment numbers mean for you? Part one: individual tax

For more than 60 tax provisions, the IRS recently released its cost-of-living adjustment numbers for 2023. Many values increased significantly over 2022 estimates due to the significant increase in inflation this year. Be sure to take these 2023 modifications into account when you put 2022 year-end tax preparation techniques into action.

Remember that the calculations for annual inflation adjustments use the chained consumer price index under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). You may know it as C-CPI-U. This calculation increases tax-bracket thresholds, the standard deduction, certain exemptions, and other figures at a slower rate than when the consumer price index was in use. This potentially pushes taxpayers into higher tax brackets and making various breaks worth less over time. The C-CPI-U is adopted permanently by the TCJA.

Individual income taxes

For each filing status, the thresholds for the various tax brackets rise; however, because these thresholds are based on percentages, they increase more sharply for the higher brackets. In contrast, the top of the 35% bracket increases by $22,950 to $45,900, depending on filing status. In addition, the top of the 10% bracket rises by $725 to $1,450.

2023 ordinary-income tax brackets:

Tax rate	Single	Head of household	Married filing jointly or surviving spouse	Married filing separately
10%	$0 – $11,000	$0 – $15,700	$0 – $22,000	$0 – $11,000
12%	$11,001 – $44,725	$15,701 – $59,850	$22,001 – $89,450	$11,001 – $44,725
22%	$44,726 – $95,375	$59,851 – $95,350	$89,451 – $190,750	$44,726 – $95,375
24%	$95,376 – $182,100	$95,351 – $182,100	$190,751 – $364,200	$95,376 – $182,100
32%	$182,101 – $231,250	$182,101 – $231,250	$364,201 – $462,500	$182,101 – $231,250
35%	$231,251 – $578,125	$231,251 – $578,100	$462,501 – $693,750	$231,251 – $346,875
37%	Over $578,125	Over $578,100	Over $693,750	Over $346,875

Through 2025, the TCJA suspended personal exemptions. The standard deduction was, however, almost doubled, with annual inflation adjustments through 2025. As a result, the standard deduction will be $27,700 for married couples filing jointly, $20,800 for head-of-household filers, and $13,850 for single filers in 2023. (singles and married couples filing separately). After 2025, standard deduction amounts will drop back to the quantities under pre-TCJA law unless Congress extends the current rules or revises them.

Some taxpayers may be able to compensate for the loss of personal exemptions thanks to changes to the standard deduction. However, it could not benefit people who typically itemized their deductions.

Alternative minimum tax

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) is a distinct tax structure with various rules for different types of income and deductions. You must pay the AMT if your AMT liability is more than your ordinary tax liability.

The AMT tax brackets are yearly inflation-indexed, just as the ordinary tax brackets. So, every filing status except married filing separately will see a $14,600 increase in the threshold for the 28% tax bracket for 2023.

2023 AMT brackets:

Tax rate	Single	Head of household	Married filing jointly or surviving spouse	Married filing separately
26%	$0 – $220,700	$0 – $220,700	$0 – $220,700	$0 – $110,350
28%	Over $220,700	Over $220,700	Over $220,700	Over $110,350

Additionally included are the exemption phaseouts and AMT exemptions. The exemption amounts for 2023 will rise by $5,400 and $8,400, respectively, over 2022 values, to $81,300 for single filers and $126,500 for joint filers. The single-person phaseout ranges for 2023 will be $578,150-$903,350 and $1,156,300-$1,662,300, respectively (joint filers). Married couples who file separately pay half as much as those who file jointly.