•doreen has no special circumstances.
• sanja is paying a mortgage on a condominium. she paid $8,000 in mortgage interest and $950 in property tax during the tax year.
• ben bought new energy-efficient windows.
doreen sanja ben
gross income: 36,400 36,400 36,400
adjusted gross income: 36,400 36,400 36,400
deductions: 5,700 8,950 5,700
exemptions 3,650 3,650 3,650
taxable income 27,050 23,800 27,050
tax 3,635 3,155 3,635
tax credits 0 0 1,300
total federal income tax 3,635 3,155 2,335
1. which taxpayer received a tax credit that lowered the tax due?
2. (a) what was the value of that tax credit? (b) how did the taxes that taxpayer owed compare to the taxes owed by doreen? (c) based on these examples, which is better for a taxpayer—a deduction or a tax credit? why?
3. (a) which taxpayer itemized deductions? how can you tell? (b) what was the impact of itemizing on that taxpayer’s taxes?