Beginning in 2013, the 2010 Health Care Act, as amended by the 2010 Health Care Reconciliation Act, imposes a Medicare contribution tax on unearned income (Medicare contribution tax) on individuals, estates, and trusts. The tax is generally levied on income from interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents, and capital gains, but can also be levied on home sale gains in excess of the applicable exclusion amount.

 

For individuals, the tax is 3.8% of the lesser of (a) net investment income or (b) the excess of modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over the applicable threshold amount. Net investment income is investment income reduced by the deductions properly allocable to such income. Fortunately, qualified retirement plan distributions are not included in investment income. MAGI is adjusted gross income (AGI) increased by the amount excluded from income as foreign earned income, net of the deductions and exclusions disallowed with respect to the foreign earned income. The threshold amount for those subject to the tax is 0,000 for joint returns or surviving spouses, 5,000 for separate returns, and 0,000 in other cases.