--- title: Major Tax Changes for 2022 description: Regarding your taxes, the rules and regulations can be rewritten and tweaked; some of the major changes for 2022 just announced – and effective by the IRS! image: https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hubfs/2022_Tax_Laws.jpg --- (888) 913-9745 Need Assistance With Your Tax Issues Quickly? [![POWELL](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/POWELL.png?width=241&height=27&name=POWELL.png "POWELL")](https://powelltaxlaw.com/) - ABOUT - [ABOUT](https://powelltaxlaw.com/about/) - [THE ATTORNEYS](https://powelltaxlaw.com/about/the-attorneys/) - [BLOG](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/) - LOCATIONS - [HOUSTON](https://powelltaxlaw.com/locations/houston-tax-attorney/) - [SAN ANTONIO](https://powelltaxlaw.com/locations/san-antonio-tax-attorney/) - [AUSTIN](https://powelltaxlaw.com/locations/austin-tax-attorney/) - IRS SOLUTIONS - [OVERVIEW](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/) - [BACK TAXES](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/back-taxes/) - [WAGE GARNISHMENT](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/wage-garnishment/) - [IRS AUDIT](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/irs-audit/) - [AMENDED TAX RETURNS](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/amended-tax-returns/) - [FILE A CLAIM IN FEDERAL COURT](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/file-a-claim-in-federal-court/) - [FILE TAX RETURNS TO REPLACE RETURNS CREATED BY THE IRS](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/file-tax-returns-to-replace-returns-created-by-the-irs/) - [INNOCENT SPOUSE](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/innocent-spouse/) - [INSTALLMENT AGREEMENT](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/installment-agreement/) - [NON-COLLECTIBLE STATUS (CNC)](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/non-collectible-status-cnc/) - [OFFER IN COMPROMISE (FRESH START)](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/offer-in-compromise-fresh-start/) - [PENALTY ABATEMENT](https://powelltaxlaw.com/irs-solutions/penalty-abatement/) - [FAQ](https://powelltaxlaw.com/frequently-asked-questions/) - [TESTIMONIALS](https://powelltaxlaw.com/testimonials/) - [CONTACT](https://powelltaxlaw.com/contact/) **Here you can edit the background of the section** # Powell Tax Law Blog EXPLORE TOPICS IRS Tax Law Tax Debt Tax Audit Tax tips Tax Season Documents 1099 Estate Tax Texas Business Laws Cryptocurrency Dependents Divorce Scams Tax Credits AI Bankruptcy Identity Theft Investments Recession Tax Compliance Tax Fraud Tax Levies Tax certificate Treasury Department W-2 property tax --- 4 min read SHARE - - - ![New 2022 Tax Laws](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2022_Tax_Laws.jpg?width=900&name=2022_Tax_Laws.jpg) # Major Tax Changes for 2022 Posted by **Powell Tax Law** on 7 Jul, 2022 When we think of important tax dates, April 15 always comes to mind – after all, the traditional IRS tax deadline day is usually the culmination of blood, sweat, tears and a few broken No. 2 pencils. As far as major tax changes, however, the rules and regulations can be rewritten and tweaked on any page of the calendar with some of the major changes for 2022 just announced – and effective! -- by the [IRS on July 8, 2022](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-22-32.pdf). “The wealthy now have more time to avoid estate taxes, thanks to an IRS change,” [is the spin CNBC put on the IRS change to its “portability” rules](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/21/the-wealthy-now-have-more-time-to-avoid-estate-taxes.html). As for the rest of the tax return you will file next year, expect plenty of number changes. “The old saying that nothing is certain except death and taxes is only partly true. Yes, you can certainly expect to pay taxes in 2022, but you may not see the same kind of tax return thanks to a number of tax law changes,” [reported Wall Street veteran John Csiszar](https://www.gobankingrates.com/taxes/filing/new-tax-laws-changes/) ## **Tax Changes Affect High Net Worth Married Couples** The “portability” changes – portability allows a surviving spouse to use their partner’s unused exemption along with their own – were [announced in an 11-page letter from the IRS](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-22-32.pdf). [CNBC explained](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/21/the-wealthy-now-have-more-time-to-avoid-estate-taxes.html) that portability works like this: - While a spouse may inherit all their partner’s assets tax-free, estate taxes may be owed after the surviving spouse passes, depending on total value. - In 2022, the per person exemption for gifts and estate taxes is $12.06 million (up from $11.7 million) – meaning no federal taxes are owed for giving away up to that amount to children or other non-spouse beneficiaries while living or at their death. - If the surviving spouse elects portability, however, it allows them to use their partner’s unused exemption along with their own, meaning a couple could gift up to $24.1 million before estate taxes come into play. Some of the big changes that are effective July 8, 2022: - Spouses now have up to five years after their partner’s death to elect portability, an increase from two years. - Spouses, electing portability within the 5-year window, no longer need to request guidance from the IRS (called a private letter ruling) but can simply file an estate tax return. “That’s incredibly simple, so it makes it almost a no-brainer,” [CFP Michael Whitty told CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/21/the-wealthy-now-have-more-time-to-avoid-estate-taxes.html). ## **Annual Inflation Adjustments Change 60+ Tax Provisions** [The IRS announced some 60+ tax provisions have been adjusted for annual inflation](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-provides-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2022). Highlights of these changes for the tax year 2022 (which generally applies to tax returns field in 2023) include: - **Standard Deduction:** o   Married couples filing jointly for tax year 2022 rises to $25,900, up $800 from the prior year.   o   Single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, rises to $12,950 for 2022, up $400.   o   Heads of households, the standard deduction rises to $19,400 for 2022, up $600. - **Marginal Rates:** For tax year 2022, the top tax rate remains 37 percent for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $539,900 ($647,850 for married couples filing jointly). The other rates are: o   35 percent, for incomes over $215,950 ($431,900 for married couples filing jointly)   o   32 percent for incomes over $170,050 ($340,100 for married couples filing jointly)   o   24 percent for incomes over $89,075 ($178,150 for married couples filing jointly)   o   22 percent for incomes over $41,775 ($83,550 for married couples filing jointly)   o   12 percent for incomes over $10,275 ($20,550 for married couples filing jointly)   o   The lowest rate is 10 percent for incomes of single individuals with incomes of $10,275 or less ($20,550 for married couples filing jointly) - **Personal Exemptions:** The personal exemption for tax year 2022 remains at 0, as it was for 2021, this elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. - **Itemized Deductions**: For 2022, as in 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there is no limitation on itemized deductions, as that limitation was eliminated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. - **Alternative Minimum Tax:** AMT exemption amount for tax year 2022 is $75,900 and begins to phase out at $539,900 ($118,100 for married couples filing jointly for whom the exemption begins to phase out at $1,079,800). The 2021 exemption amount was $73,600 and began to phase out at $523,600 ($114,600 for married couples filing jointly for whom the exemption began to phase out at $1,047,200). - **Earned Income Tax Credit:** Tax year 2022 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amount is $6,935 for qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, up from $6,728 for tax year 2021. - **Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit:** For tax year 2022, the monthly limitation for the qualified transportation fringe benefit and the monthly limitation for qualified parking increases to $280. - **Employee Salary Reductions:** For the taxable years beginning in 2022, the dollar limitation for employee salary reductions for contributions to health flexible spending arrangements increases to $2,850. For cafeteria plans that permit the carryover of unused amounts, the maximum carryover amount is $570, an increase of $20 from taxable years beginning in 2021. - **Medical Savings Account:** For tax year 2022, participants who have self-only coverage in a Medical Savings Account, the plan must have an annual deductible that is not less than $2,450, up $50 from tax year 2021; but not more than $3,700, an increase of $100 from tax year 2021. For self-only coverage, the maximum out-of-pocket expense amount is $4,950, up $150 from 2021. For tax year 2022, for family coverage, the annual deductible is not less than $4,950, up from $4,800 in 2021; however, the deductible cannot be more than $7,400, up $250 from the limit for tax year 2021. For family coverage, the out-of-pocket expense limit is $9,050 for tax year 2022, an increase of $300 from tax year 2021. - **Health Savings Account:** For tax year 2022, HAS contribution limits rise to $3,650 for self-only coverage (up from $3,600) and $7,300 for families (up from $7,200). Annual “catch-up” contribution for individuals aged 55 or older remains $1,000. - **Lifetime Learning Credit:** Modified adjusted gross income amount used by joint filers to determine the reduction in the Lifetime Learning Credit is not adjusted for inflation for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020. The Lifetime Learning Credit is phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income more than $80,000 ($160,000 for joint returns). - **Foreign Earned Income Exclusion:** For tax year 2022, the foreign earned income exclusion is $112,000 up from $108,700 for tax year 2021. - **Annual Exclusion for Gifts:** Increases to $16,000 for calendar year 2022, up from $15,000 for calendar year 2021. - **Maximum Credit Allowed for Adoptions:** For tax year 2022 is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $14,890, up from $14,440 for 2021. --- [IRS](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/irs), [Tax Law](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-law) ## RELATED ARTICLES ### [Tax Fraud in 2025: What You Need to Know and How to Protect Yourself](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tax-fraud-in-2025-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-protect-yourself) Posted by **Powell Tax Law** on 16 Apr, 2025 [![Handcuffs on 1040 document](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-1127961704.jpg?width=500&name=iStock-1127961704.jpg)](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tax-fraud-in-2025-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-protect-yourself) Tax fraud isn’t just a headline—it’s a real risk that can impact anyone, from individuals to large businesses. With the IRS ramping up enfor... [Read More >](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tax-fraud-in-2025-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-protect-yourself) --- [IRS](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/irs), [Tax Law](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-law), [Tax Fraud](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-fraud) ### [IRS Lien on Your Home? What Does that Mean and What Do You Need to Do?](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/irs-lien-on-your-home-what-does-that-mean-and-what-do-you-need-to-do) Posted by **Powell Tax Law** on 30 May, 2023 [![Tax liens on your home](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/canva-MAEZfQyc44s.jpg?width=500&name=canva-MAEZfQyc44s.jpg)](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/irs-lien-on-your-home-what-does-that-mean-and-what-do-you-need-to-do) There are nearly 10 million taxpayer delinquent accounts in the U.S. and for those who own their own home, the IRS may place a federal tax l... [Read More >](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/irs-lien-on-your-home-what-does-that-mean-and-what-do-you-need-to-do) --- [IRS](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/irs), [Tax Law](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-law), [Tax Debt](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-debt) ### [IRS Plan to Hire New Agents and What That Means for Taxpayers](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/irs-plan-to-hire-new-agents-and-what-that-means-for-taxpayers) Posted by **Powell Tax Law** on 5 Oct, 2022 [![People waiting in an office to be interviewed](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20of%20applicants%20for%20a%20vacant%20post%20or%20corporate%20job%20sitting%20in%20a%20long%20line%20with%20folders%20containing%20their%20credentials%20carefully%20ignoring%20each%20other.jpeg?width=500&name=Group%20of%20applicants%20for%20a%20vacant%20post%20or%20corporate%20job%20sitting%20in%20a%20long%20line%20with%20folders%20containing%20their%20credentials%20carefully%20ignoring%20each%20other.jpeg)](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/irs-plan-to-hire-new-agents-and-what-that-means-for-taxpayers) News that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plans to hire some 87,000 new employees over the next decade has some taxpayers guessing if tha... [Read More >](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/irs-plan-to-hire-new-agents-and-what-that-means-for-taxpayers) --- [IRS](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/irs), [Tax Law](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-law), [Tax Debt](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-debt) ### [Tax Controversies and Disputes: When to Consult a Tax Attorney for Legal Protection](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tax-controversies-and-disputes-when-to-consult-a-tax-attorney-for-legal-protection) Posted by **Powell Tax Law** on 18 Dec, 2023 [![Legal Advice on Blue in Flat Design with Long Shadows.](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Legal%20Advice%20on%20Blue%20in%20Flat%20Design%20with%20Long%20Shadows..jpeg?width=500&name=Legal%20Advice%20on%20Blue%20in%20Flat%20Design%20with%20Long%20Shadows..jpeg)](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tax-controversies-and-disputes-when-to-consult-a-tax-attorney-for-legal-protection) Even the most organized individuals and businesses find the prospect of doing their taxes daunting. While most tax matters can be handled in... [Read More >](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tax-controversies-and-disputes-when-to-consult-a-tax-attorney-for-legal-protection) --- [IRS](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/irs), [Tax Law](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-law), [Tax Audit](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-audit) ### [IRS Makes Minor Changes to Updated Form W-4 for 2023](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/irs-makes-minor-changes-to-updated-form-w-4-for-2023) Posted by **Powell Tax Law** on 8 Feb, 2023 [![IRS Document with American Flag](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/canva-MAEEq5RSM_c.jpg?width=500&name=canva-MAEEq5RSM_c.jpg)](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/irs-makes-minor-changes-to-updated-form-w-4-for-2023) The IRS Form W-4 is important for employers and employees, so any changes are always closely examined. While there are some minor changes fo... [Read More >](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/irs-makes-minor-changes-to-updated-form-w-4-for-2023) --- [IRS](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/irs), [Tax Law](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/tag/tax-law) ### Subscribe to Our Blog ### Recent posts [![Man using a calculator to calculate expenses](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-1503229700.jpg?width=300&name=iStock-1503229700.jpg)](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/appealing-an-irs-audit-decision-your-rights-and-the-process) [Appealing an IRS Audit Decision: Your Rights and the Process](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/appealing-an-irs-audit-decision-your-rights-and-the-process) 20 Feb, 2026 [![Couple filing taxes in living room](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-1158702105.jpg?width=300&name=iStock-1158702105.jpg)](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/salt-act-changes-under-the-big-beautiful-bill-what-taxpayers-should-know) [SALT Act Changes Under the Big Beautiful Bill: What Taxpayers Should Know](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/salt-act-changes-under-the-big-beautiful-bill-what-taxpayers-should-know) 4 Feb, 2026 [![Close up of overdue notice from IRS](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-520961749.jpg?width=300&name=iStock-520961749.jpg)](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/what-happens-if-you-ignore-an-irs-notice) [What Happens If You Ignore an IRS Notice?](https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/what-happens-if-you-ignore-an-irs-notice) 21 Jan, 2026 POWELL TAX LAW - THE WOODLANDS The Woodlands Location 2170 Buckthorne Place Ste. 300 The Woodlands, TX 77380 281.298.2916 Phone 281.298.5437 Fax POWELL TAX LAW - SAN ANTONIO San Antonio Location 1100 NW Loop 410 Ste. 700 San Antonio, TX 78213 281.298.2916 Phone 281.298.5437 Fax The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. --- ©2026 Powell Tax Law. All Rights Reserved. [![linkedin icon](https://powelltaxlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/icon-linkedin-light-gray.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/powell-tax-law-firm/) [![facebook icon](https://powelltaxlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/icon-social-facebook-light-gray-1.png)](https://www.facebook.com/PowellTaxLaw/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Powell Tax Law", "url" : "https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/author/powell-tax-law" }, "dateModified" : "2022-08-03T16:23:47.104Z", "datePublished" : "2022-07-07T18:40:00.000Z", "headline" : "Major Tax Changes for 2022", "image" : [ "https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/hubfs/2022_Tax_Laws.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.powelltaxlaw.com/major-tax-changes-for-2022", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" }, "name" : "Powell Tax Law" } } ```