Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax

If you have any unused minimum tax credit carryforward from 2003 or earlier years, your minimum tax credit allowable for 2007 is not less than the "AMT refundable credit amount." In addition, a portion of the credit may be refundable in 2007. That means, if the refundable part of the credit is more than your tax, you can get a refund of the difference.

To figure the refundable amount of your minimum tax credit, and the AMT refundable credit amount, apply the rules that follow under Long-term unused minimum tax credit, AMT refundable credit amount, and Credit refundable.

Long-term unused minimum tax credit. To figure the refundable amount of your minimum tax credit, you must first determine whether you have any "long-term unused minimum tax credit." Your long-term unused minimum tax credit is the amount of your minimum tax credit carryforward from 2003 (2003 Form 8801, line 26), reduced by the amount of any minimum tax credits you claimed for 2004, 2005, and 2006 (line 25 of your 2004, 2005, and 2006 Forms 8801).

AMT refundable credit amount.  After you figure your long-term unused minimum tax credit, you then must figure your "AMT refundable credit amount." Your AMT refundable credit amount is the greater of:

  • 20% (.20) of your long-term unused minimum tax credit, or
  • The lesser of:
    • $5,000, or
    • Your long-term unused minimum tax credit.

The AMT refundable credit amount is reduced if your adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds certain threshold amounts based on your filing status. The AGI threshold amounts for 2007 are in the table that follows.

Your AMT refundable credit amount is reduced by 2% (.02) for every $2,500 ($1,250 if your filing status is married filing separately) that your AGI exceeds the threshold amount. Use your 2006 tax return and AGI (2006 Forms 1040, line 38, and 1040NR, line 36) as a guide in estimating your 2007 AGI.

If you are filing Form 2555, 2555-EZ, or 4563, or you are excluding income from sources within Puerto Rico, you must refigure your AGI by adding back any foreign earned income and housing exclusion (2006 Form 2555, line 45, or 2006 Form 2555-EZ, line 18), foreign housing deduction (2006 Form 2555, line 50), income from American Samoa that you are excluding (2006 Form 4563, line 15), and income from Puerto Rico that you are excluding.

For 2007, the AMT refundable credit amount is reduced if your AGI is more than the applicable amount in the second column of the following table and is eliminated if your AGI is more than the applicable amount in the third column.

 Filing Status:

 AGI That Reduces Credit

 AGI That Eliminates Credit

 Single

 $156,400

 $278,900

 Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)

 $234,600

 $357,100

 Married filing separately

 $117,300

 $178,550

 Head of household

 $195,500

 $318,000


Credit refundable.  The refundable amount of your credit is the amount by which your minimum tax credit for the year exceeds the amount your minimum tax credit would be without regard to the above rules.

Form 8801.  To claim the refundable and nonrefundable parts of this credit, use the 2007 Form 8801, Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax--Individuals, Estates, and Trusts.

 
Rebu Financial and Tax Services
Rebu Financial and Tax Services