Is it just me or is AMT confusing?

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    Topic
  • #195598
    misoc23
    Participant

    Im working on AMT in regards to individual taxation and I am having a tough time with the calculations. What does or does not get added back. Im confused with the adjustments (+ or -) and then the itemized deductions (always added to regular taxable income. Not getting anywhere with Becker or Ninja book as of right now. Any help is appreciated!

Viewing 14 replies - 1 through 14 (of 14 total)
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  • #683437
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    it is. I would look up videos on the subject in youtube. It helped a little bit especially as you study it more. I wouldnt worry about it too much though…its not as important as other topics in REG

    #683438
    More_Coffee
    Participant

    It's not just you! That was one of my weak areas that I had to go through over and over again… the mnemonics Becker gives you are useful, but they don't really help you with applying them… 🙁 The Youtube videos sound like a good idea though.

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    #683439
    rana_cali
    Member

    It's very confusing. There's a video on youtube that Jeff made to explain AMT. Look it up…he simplifies it pretty well!

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    #683440
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Everyone hates AMT but it's something you really need to know for the exam. After you pass you can, safely, forget all of it.

    #683441
    texashect
    Member

    Yeah, you can almost bet on having an AMT question on your exam, whether it's corporate or individual!

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    #683442
    tcheney3
    Participant

    It's intimidating at first, but if you really think about it conceptually, it makes sense. AMT is just designed to reduce deductions for high income taxpayers in areas that aren't necessities. For example you don't add back medical expenses (I guess you do add back the difference between the 7.5% and the 10%), but you do add back real estate taxes. Think through it logically and with some light memorization you will be fine.

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    #683443
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Nope, it's not just you. Individual AMT is pretty confusing. Corporate AMT even more so..

    #683444
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    That was my weak area as well. The most important pieces are remembering what is added, what is subtracted, and what is not counted. They will likely throw in some “adjustments” that aren't actually adjustments just to throw you off.

    #1440341
    Wannafree
    Participant

    You are not alone .I had used Becker's Homework and that helped me a lot to clarify the confuson.My another suggestion regarding AMT , please imagine that whole big question of Becker will not be asked in MCQ ,accordingly you slice and dice the question into smaller parts.Try to solve some questions on AMT and then you would see it's doable in exam.

    WannaB
    #1441064
    cpa1982
    Participant

    You are not the only one. Both individual and corporate AMT are confusing. I have read many times and still make alot mistakes during calculations. I have hard time remembering what is adjustment and preferences and what things should add back and what's not. overall AMT sucks big time.

    #1441848
    Yolonge
    Participant

    AMT is such a small topic, you are expected to get no to very little question on it. I only tried to understand the logic and key items, but that was it. Do not sweat over AMT, it is very likely you will see 0 or 1-2 questions on it.

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    #1441851
    Skynet
    Participant

    AMT should be referred to as “Another Mindnumbing Tax” topic, because that was what it was. Mindnumbing while to study for as well as confusing too.

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    #1441998
    aaronmo
    Participant

    AMT is, conceptually, very easy…it just turns into memorizing what goes back into the gumbo. Focus on the word alternative.

    All it is is an adjustment to deductions…where stuff gets added back into the gumbo…and then running some fairly simple formulas. It's basically memorization of form and components. Use whatever memorization techniques work for you…

    The only confusing part for me was the different kinds of depreciation, but I doubt they'd test that conceptually. Memorizing which deductions go back into the gumbo should, IMO, be enough. I had just a few questions on AMT as I recall…and they were fairly basic. I'd also understand that AMT is, in future years, a credit. I don't remember how that part works now, but I knew it the day I took the exam.

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    #1442198
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I didn't study AMT at all, which is probably why I only made a 79 on REG.

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