The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) was created in the 1960s to prevent high-income taxpayers from avoiding the individual income tax. This parallel tax income system requires high-income taxpayers to calculate their tax bill twice: once under the ordinary income tax system and again under the AMT. The taxpayer then needs to pay the higher of the two.

The AMT uses an alternative definition of taxable income called Alternative Minimum Taxable Income (AMTI). To prevent low- and middle-income taxpayers from being subject to the AMT, taxpayers are allowed to exempt a significant amount of their income from AMTI. However, this exemption phases out for high-income taxpayers. The AMT is levied at two rates: 26 percent and 28 percent.

The AMT exemption amount for 2023 is $81,300 for singles and $126,500 for married couples filing jointly (Table 3).

2023 Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Exemptions

Filing Status	Exemption Amount
Source: Internal Revenue Source
Unmarried Individuals	$81,300
Married Filing Jointly	$126,500

In 2023, the 28 percent AMT rate applies to excess AMTI of $220,700 for all taxpayers ($110,350 for married couples filing separate returns).

AMT exemptions phase out at 25 cents per dollar earned once AMTI reaches $578,150 for single filers and $1,156,300 for married taxpayers filing jointly (Table 4).

2023 Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Exemption Phaseout Thresholds

Filing Status	Threshold
Source: Internal Revenue Service.
Unmarried Individuals	$578,150
Married Filing Jointly	$1,156,300