Each February when the President releases his proposed Federal Budget for the following year, Treasury releases the General Explanations of the Administration's Revenue Proposals. Known as the “Green Book” (or Greenbook), the document provides a concise explanation of each of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2014 tax proposals for raising revenue for the Government. This annual document clearly recaps each proposed change, reviewing the provisions in the Current Law, outlining the Administration's Reasons for Change to the law, and explaining the Proposal for the new law. Ideal for anyone wanting a clear summary of the Administration's policies and proposed tax law changes. While many of the proposals included in the FY 2014 budget are either the same or modified versions of proposals included in the Administration’s FY 2013 budget, there are nearly 50 new revenue proposals in the 2014 budget, including closing loopholes and changing tax credits and incentives. Following are a few of the President's new revenue proposals that are explained in the Treasury FY2014 Green Book: Extending employment tax credits for hiring veterans; Requiring derivatives contracts to be marked to market and taxed as ordinary income on an annual basis; Repealing the domestic manufacturing deduction for oil and natural gas production; Establishing multiple incentives for investment in infrastructure, including “America Fast Forward” Bonds and increasing caps on other bonds; Taxing carried interest as ordinary income; Returning the estate tax to 2009 levels, modifying the recent estate tax exclusions and rates signed into law earlier this year under the American Taxpayer Relief Act; Prohibiting individuals from accumulating more than $3 million in tax-preferred retirement accounts; and Capping the benefit of certain deductions (such as a charitable contribution deduction) to 28 percent for taxpayers at or above the 33% marginal tax rate.

The BBEDCA baseline, which is commonly used in budgeting and is defined in the statute, reflects, with some exceptions, the projected receipts level under current law, including the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA). However, while ATRA made much middleclass tax relief permanent, it extended the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansions, and Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansions only through 2017. This Budget uses an adjusted baseline that is intended to be more realistic. The adjusted baseline permanently continues the AOTC, EITC, and CTC expansions extended through 2017 in ATRA.

The BBEDCA baseline, which is commonly used in budgeting and is defined in the statute, reflects, with some exceptions, the projected receipts level under current law. However, while the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) made most of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and Alternative Minimum Tax relief permanent, it extended the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansions, and Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansions only through 2017. This Budget uses an adjusted baseline that permanently continues the AOTC, EITC, and CTC expansions extended through 2017 under ATRA.

The BBEDCA baseline, which is commonly used in budgeting and is defined in the statute, reflects, with some exceptions, the projected receipts level under current law. However, while the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) made most of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and Alternative Minimum Tax relief permanent, it extended the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansions, and Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansions only through 2017. This Budget uses an adjusted baseline that permanently continues the AOTC, EITC, and CTC expansions extended through 2017 under ATRA.

The Making Work Pay credit is a temporary provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In 2010 individual taxpayers are eligible for a refundable income tax credit equal to 6.2 percent of earned income up to a maximum credit of $400. Thus workers receive a credit on the first $6,452 of earned income.

In 2009 and 2010, individual taxpayers are eligible for a refundable tax credit of 6.2 percent of earned income up to a maximum credit of $400 ($800 for joint filers). Thus, workers receive a credit on the first $8,065 of earned income ($16,130 for joint filers). The credit phases out at a rate of 2 percent for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers). Dependent filers are not eligible for the credit. Neither the maximum credit amount nor the beginning of the phase-out range is indexed for inflation.