Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act

Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act

This bill increases the tax deduction for state and local taxes in 2019 to $20,000 for persons filing a joint tax return if the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer does not exceed $100 million. It eliminates the current $10,000 cap on the deduction in 2020 and 2021 except for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $100 million.

The bill increases the deduction for the expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers from $250 to $1.000. It also allows a deduction from gross income (above-the-line deduction) for expenses of first responders, up to $1,000, for tuition or fees for professional development courses related to service as a first responder or for uniforms used by first responders. The bill defines "first responder" as any individual employed as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, paramedic, or emergency medical technician for at least 1,000 hours during the taxable year.

The bill increases the top marginal income tax rate to 39.6% beginning in 2020, and reduces the dollar amount at which the increased tax rate begins.