A provision of President Obama’s health care law imposes a second Medicare tax on investment income for Americans classified as wealthy, effectively raising taxes on investment income and taxing investors twice.
The provision, a little-known part of ObamaCare, levies a 3.8 percent Medicare tax on investment income for couples making more than $250,000 or individuals making more than $200,000 a year. The tax is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2013.
Currently, the government levies a 2.9 percent Medicare payroll tax on all wages, with half (1.45%) paid by the individual and half by the employer.
Beginning in 2013, couples making more than $250,000 (or individuals making $200,000) will have to pay an additional 3.8 percent Medicare tax on any investment income (unearned income) they might have.
In other words, beginning in 2013, wealthy Americans who have investment income will be taxed twice to pay for Medicare – once on their regular salary and again on their investment income.
This new Medicare tax will be in addition to the taxes investors already pay on their investment returns – known as capital gains taxes – effectively raising capital gains taxes by 3.8 percent.
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