Instructions For Form 6251 - Alternative Minimum Tax-Individuals

2017

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

Instructions for Form 6251

Alternative Minimum Tax—Individuals

expenses on Schedule A (Form 1040)

These tax benefits can significantly

Section references are to the Internal Revenue

Code unless otherwise noted.

to all taxpayers for 2017. Line 2 shows

reduce the regular tax of some

as "Reserved for future use" because no

taxpayers with higher economic

General Instructions

AMT adjustment for this lower rate is

incomes. The AMT sets a limit on the

required under the new law for 2017.

amount these benefits can be used to

Future Developments

reduce total tax.

Exemption amount. The exemption

For the latest information about

amount on Form 6251, line 29, has

Also use Form 6251 to figure your

developments related to Form 6251 and

increased to $54,300 ($84,500 if

tentative minimum tax (Form 6251,

its instructions, such as legislation

married filing jointly or qualifying

line 33). You may need to know that

enacted after they were published, go to

widow(er); $42,250 if married filing

amount to figure the tax liability limit on

IRS.gov/Form6251.

separately).

the credits listed under

Who Must

File.

AMT tax brackets. For 2017, the 26%

What's New

Figuring AMT Amounts

tax rate applies to the first $187,800

For the AMT, certain items of income,

Disaster tax relief. Disaster tax relief

($93,900 if married filing separately) of

was enacted for those impacted by

deductions, etc., receive different tax

taxable excess (the amount on line 30).

treatment than for the regular tax.

certain Presidentially declared

This change is reflected in lines 31, 42,

Therefore, you will need to figure items

disasters. The tax benefits provided by

and 63.

this relief include a deduction against

for the AMT differently than you figured

Limit on itemized deductions. You

them for the regular tax. These

AMT of any net qualified disaster loss,

can’t deduct all of your itemized

instructions will help you figure AMT

even if you are claiming the standard

deductions for regular tax purposes if

deduction.

items by using the amount you

your adjusted gross income is more

calculated for the regular tax and

To see if you were impacted by one

than:

refiguring it for the AMT. In some cases,

of the Presidentially declared disasters

$156,900 if married filing separately,

it is easiest to refigure an item for AMT

eligible for this relief or to get more

$261,500 if single,

by completing a tax form or worksheet a

information about disaster tax relief, see

$287,650 if head of household, or

second time using additional AMT

Pub. 976.

$313,800 if married filing jointly or

instructions. These instructions refer to

qualifying widow(er).

Expired deduction for mortgage in-

such a form or worksheet as an “AMT”

This limit doesn’t apply for the AMT.

surance premiums. At the time these

version. If you do complete an AMT

See the instructions for line 6.

instructions went to print, the deduction

version of a form or worksheet, don’t

for mortgage insurance premiums

attach it to your tax return unless

Who Must File

formerly claimed on line 13 of

instructed to do so. For example, you

Schedule A (Form 1040) and included

Attach Form 6251 to your return if any of

may have to attach an AMT Form 1116,

in the Home Mortgage Interest

the following statements is true.

Foreign Tax Credit, to your return; see

Adjustment Worksheet for line 4 had

the instructions for line 32.

1. Form 6251, line 31, is greater

expired. To find out if legislation

than line 34.

As you figure some deductions and

extended the deduction so you can

2. You claim any general business

credits for the AMT, carrybacks or

claim it on your 2017 return (requiring

credit, and either line 6 (in Part I) or

carryforwards to other tax years may be

you to also include it in the line 4

line 25 of Form 3800 is more than zero.

different than what you figured for the

worksheet), go to IRS.gov/Extenders.

regular tax. Examples are investment

3. You claim the qualified electric

Expired alternative fuel vehicle refu-

vehicle credit (Form 8834) or the credit

interest expense, a net operating loss, a

eling property credit. At the time

for prior year minimum tax (Form 8801).

capital loss, a passive activity loss, and

these instructions went to print, the

the foreign tax credit. Your at-risk limits

4. The total of Form 6251, lines 8

personal use part of the alternative fuel

and basis amounts also may differ for

through 27, is negative and line 31

vehicle refueling property credit formerly

the AMT.

would be greater than line 34 if you did

claimed on Form 8911 and limited by

not take into account lines 8 through 27.

your tentative minimum tax had expired.

Recordkeeping

To find out if legislation extended the

Purpose of Form

You must keep records to support items

credit so you can claim it on your 2017

reported on Form 6251 in case the IRS

Use Form 6251 to figure the amount, if

return (requiring you to also file Form

has questions about them. If the IRS

any, of your alternative minimum tax

6251), go to IRS.gov/Extenders.

examines your tax return, you may be

(AMT). The AMT is a separate tax that

No AMT adjustment for medical ex-

asked to explain the items reported.

is imposed in addition to your regular

penses deducted on Schedule A

Good records will help you explain any

tax. It applies to taxpayers who have

(Form 1040). Public Law 115-97

item and arrive at the correct AMT.

certain types of income that receive

extended the lower 7.5% adjusted gross

favorable treatment, or who qualify for

Keep records that show how you

income threshold for deducting medical

certain deductions, under the tax law.

figured income, deductions, etc. for the

Jan 22, 2018

Cat. No. 64277P

Instructions For Form 6251 - Alternative Minimum Tax-Individuals - 2017

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