The alternative minimum tax (AMT) is a separate federal income tax system that operates alongside the regular tax system — but with important differences. Unlike the regular system, the AMT targets certain types of income that are typically tax-free and disallows some common deductions. If your AMT calculation results in a higher amount than your regular tax liability, you’re required to pay the higher amount.
In this article, our team at Rudler, PSC explains how the AMT works, what’s changed under recent tax law, and what you need to watch for moving forward.
Tax law changes
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made the individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) rules more taxpayer-friendly for 2018-2025 and significantly reduced the odds that you’ll owe the AMT for those years. But the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) contains mixed news about your AMT exposure.
AMT rates
The maximum AMT rate is “only” 28% versus the 37% maximum regular federal income tax rate. At first glance, it may seem counterintuitive that anyone would worry about paying AMT. However, while the top AMT rate is lower, it applies to a much larger taxable base with fewer deductions and credits. That’s why people in certain situations still need to worry about it.
For 2025, the maximum 28% AMT rate kicks in when your taxable income, calculated under the AMT rules, exceeds an inflation-adjusted threshold of $239,100 for married joint-filing couples or $119,550 for other taxpayers. Below these thresholds, the AMT rate is 26%.
AMT exemptions
Under the AMT rules, you’re allowed an inflation-adjusted AMT exemption — effectively a deduction — in calculating your alternative minimum taxable income. The TCJA significantly increased the exemption amounts for 2018-2025. The OBBBA made the TCJA increased exemption amounts permanent, with annual inflation adjustments.
For 2025, the exemption amounts are $88,100 for unmarried individuals, $137,000 married joint-filing couples, and $68,500 for married individuals who file separate returns.
Exemption phase-out rule
At high levels of alternative minimum taxable income, your AMT exemption is phased out, which increases the odds that you’ll owe the tax. The TCJA dramatically increased the phase-out thresholds to levels where most taxpayers are unaffected by the phase-out rule. For 2025, the exemption begins to be phased out when alternative minimum taxable income exceeds $626,350 or $1,252,700 for a married joint-filing couple. For 2018-2025, the applicable exemption is reduced by 25% of the excess of your alternative minimum taxable income over the applicable phase-out threshold.
Mixed news in the OBBBA
Starting in 2026, the OBBBA makes the $500,000 and $1 million exemption phase-out threshold permanent. That’s the good news.
The bad news: Starting in 2026, the new law resets the exemption phase-out thresholds to $500,000 and $1 million with annual inflation adjustments for 2026 and beyond. So for 2026, these phase-out thresholds will be lower than the higher thresholds that apply for 2025. More bad news: Starting in 2026, the OBBBA increases the exemption phase-out percentage from 25% to 50%.
Bottom line: For 2026 and beyond, AMT exemptions for higher-income taxpayers can be phased out faster. That means more taxpayers may owe the AMT for 2026 and beyond.
AMT risk factors
Various interacting factors make it difficult to pinpoint exactly who’ll be hit by the AMT and who’ll dodge it. Here are five implications and risk factors.
1. Substantial income from capital gains or other sources. When you have high income, from whatever sources, it can cause your AMT exemption to be partially or completely phased out. That increases the odds that you’ll owe the AMT.
2. Itemized state and local tax (SALT) deductions. You can’t deduct SALT expenses under the AMT rules. This can hurt those living in high-tax states.
3. Exercise of incentive stock options (ISOs). When you exercise an ISO, the bargain element (the difference between the market value of the shares on the exercise date and your ISO exercise price) doesn’t count as income under the regular tax rules, but it counts as income under the AMT rules.
4. Standard deductions. Standard deductions are disallowed under the AMT rules.
5. Private activity bond interest income. This category of interest income is tax-free for regular tax purposes but taxable under the AMT rules.
Determine your status
While the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) greatly reduced the likelihood of triggering the AMT, the upcoming changes under the OBBBA may reverse that trend for some taxpayers. With less favorable exemption rules set to take effect in 2026, it’s important not to assume you’re in the clear — especially if you fall into one of the higher-risk categories discussed above. Your Rudler, PSC advisors are here to help you evaluate your exposure and plan accordingly. Contact us to review your situation and prepare for the impact of the new rules.
Important: These are all new changes, and further guidance from the IRS and Treasury Department is expected. The details may change as new regulations and clarifications are issued. Be sure to consult with your tax advisor to understand how these changes affect your specific situation.
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