Here's how the GOP wants to overhaul the tax system
House Republicans unveiled their plan to overhaul the tax code on Thursday.As part of that reform package, the GOP aims to permanently lower the corporate tax rate to 20 percent. The House bill would also slash the number of income tax brackets from seven to four: 12 percent, 25 percent, 35 percent and 39.6 percent. The bill is also expected to raise the child tax credit to $1,600 from its current maximum of $1,000. It's also expected to preserve popular retirement savings plans like 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts. Under current law, taxpayers can put a specified amount in 401(k) retirement savings plans without paying taxes upfront. The amount workers can contribute to a 401(k) rises to $18,500 next year, up from $18,000 in 2017. People age 50 and older can tack on a so-called catch-up contribution of $6,000.The GOP bill would also allow taxpayers to write off up to $10,000 in state and local property taxes. But the plan would cut a popular mortgage interest deduction in half . While it would maintain the current deduction of $1 million in mortgage debt for current homeowners, that cap would be slashed to $500,000 for newly purchased homes. Homebuilder stocks were hit hard on the plan. Both the SPDR S&P Homebuilder ETF (NYSE Arca: XHB) and the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS: ITB) fell more than 2 percent, pacing for their worst daily performances in about a year. Lawmakers are also expected to move forward in repealing the alternative minimum tax , an extra tax that some have to pay on top of their regular income tax. The Republican tax plan seeks to immediately double the estate tax exemption and repeal the tax in six years. The estate tax, also known as the death tax, is currently a 40 percent levy on estates greater than $5.49 million for individual filers or about $11 million for married couples.Overhauling the tax code has been a major focus for both the White House and congressional Republicans after failing to repeal Obamacare. The GOP tax reform package had originally been scheduled for release Wednesday. But House Republicans postponed the release , saying they still had to finalize a few details of the plan. Last week, the House narrowly approved a Senate version of the 2018 federal budget , clearing the path for the Republican-controlled Senate to pass its tax reform plan later this year. Passing that version of the budget kicked off the reconciliation process, allowing the Senate to pass legislation with a simple majority. Typically, a 60 vote supermajority is needed to end debate and move a bill to a vote.Read the full text of the bill below:This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.— CNBC's Ylan Mui, Diana Olick, Christina Wilkie and Christopher Hayes contributed to this report. House Republicans unveiled their plan to overhaul the tax code on Thursday. As part of that reform package, the GOP aims to permanently lower the corporate tax rate to 20 percent. The House bill would also slash the number of income tax brackets from seven to four: 12 percent, 25 percent, 35 percent and 39.6 percent. The bill is also expected to raise the child tax credit to $1,600 from its current maximum of $1,000. It's also expected to preserve popular retirement savings plans like 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts. Under current law, taxpayers can put a specified amount in 401(k) retirement savings plans without paying taxes upfront. The amount workers can contribute to a 401(k) rises to $18,500 next year, up from $18,000 in 2017. People age 50 and older can tack on a so-called catch-up contribution of $6,000. The GOP bill would also allow taxpayers to write off up to $10,000 in state and local property taxes. But the plan would cut a popular mortgage interest deduction in half . While it would maintain the current deduction of $1 million in mortgage debt for current homeowners, that cap would be slashed to $500,000 for newly purchased homes. Homebuilder stocks were hit hard on the plan. Both the SPDR S&P Homebuilder ETF (NYSE Arca: XHB) and the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS: ITB) fell more than 2 percent, pacing for their worst daily performances in about a year. Lawmakers are also expected to move forward in repealing the alternative minimum tax , an extra tax that some have to pay on top of their regular income tax. The Republican tax plan seeks to immediately double the estate tax exemption and repeal the tax in six years. The estate tax, also known as the death tax, is currently a 40 percent levy on estates greater than $5.49 million for individual filers or about $11 million for married couples. Overhauling the tax code has been a major focus for both the White House and congressional Republicans after failing to repeal Obamacare. The GOP tax reform package had originally been scheduled for release Wednesday. But House Republicans postponed the release , saying they still had to finalize a few details of the plan. Last week, the House narrowly approved a Senate version of the 2018 federal budget , clearing the path for the Republican-controlled Senate to pass its tax reform plan later this year. Passing that version of the budget kicked off the reconciliation process, allowing the Senate to pass legislation with a simple majority. Typically, a 60 vote supermajority is needed to end debate and move a bill to a vote. Read the full text of the bill below: This is breaking news. Please check back for updates. — CNBC's Ylan Mui, Diana Olick, Christina Wilkie and Christopher Hayes contributed to this report.
More From CNBC
