2003 through 2008 Annual limits and rates for Fica tax, Social Security tax, maximum pension & 401K deductions contributions, reimbursed mileage rate, depreciation, self-employed heath, insurance deduction, gift tax and corporate tax rates. QuickBooks help and training for small business. QuickBooks help and training for small business.
   
   

   
2003 Tax Rates and Limits



You landed on  our 2003 Rates page


Please click below to see current year
 2008 limits



 2008 FICA/Pension and Other Limits/Rates Click here

 

2004 Rates Click here  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Payroll tax Social Security Fica and Futa Limit

 

 

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Create  & customize estimates & invoices; generate business reports; track mileage; track multiple jobs per customer; accounts receivable reports; track accounts payable; guidance for starting & running a business.
 

 

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Hidden Financial Risk
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Off-Balance Sheet Accounting

What went wrong and how to fix it

$27.17
Explains  methods by debt is hidden and the failure by management and auditors and investors  to detect and eliminate these tools of deception


FICA Tax (941 Tax) limit  - Fica Limit

Social Security tax includes FICA 6.2% and Medicare 1.45%. The FICA tax limit (Social Security) changes annually. The Medicare tax has no limit.  Employer FICA tax and Employee FICA have the same limits. Both FICA tax rate (6.2%)  and Medicare tax rate (1.45%) as a rule do not change. In addition to FICA tax limit and Social Security Limit, other tax limits and tax rate (s) can be found on this webpage.

2003 Social Security Wage Base limit 

2004 Social Security Wage Base limit   

Medicare Wage Base limit                   

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$ 87,000

$ 87,900 

Unlimited

FUTA Tax (940) limit

Federal Unemployment limit

$   7,000

Shortcuts, tips, resources  for payroll taxes and human resources

QuickBooks Payroll

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2003 Mileage Rate

For deducting or reimbursing 2003 business mileage on a personally owned vehicle
2003 Mileage- Business rate
.36 cents per mile    
(increases to .375 in 2004)
2003 Mileage -Charity rate
.14 cents per mile 
(no change in 2004)
2003 Milage -Medical and moving rate
.12 cents per mile    
 (increases to .14 in 2004)

Payroll tax rules for employees or owners using a company vehicle

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2003 Maximum contributions and limits to pensions and 401 K

2003 Maximum employee 401K contribution limit
 





2003 $12,000 +$2,000 (over age 50)
2004 $13,000 +$3,000 (over age 50)
2005 $14,000 +$4,000 (over age 50)
2006 $15,000 +$5,000 (over age 50)

Catch up contribution Limit  (over age 50)

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$   2,000  (included in above)
(increases to $3000 in 2004)
 

Compensation limit

2003 Maximum Annual Compensation limits  for determining benefits or contributions under  a qualified plan  (401(a)(17), 404(l), 408(k)(3)(C), & 408(k)(6)(D)

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$200,000  
(increase in 2004 to $205,000)

2003 Maximum Annual Defined Contribution- Contributions you make for 2003 to an employee SEP-IRA cannot exceed the lesser of 25% of the employee's W2 compensation (limited to $200,000)

Special rules apply to the self-employed:
for a worksheet on how to calculate a 2003 SEP contribution for a self employed Schedule C tax filer click here:



$ 40,000  
(increases to $41,000 in 2004)
Simplified Employee Pension minimum compensation

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$     450

2003 Simple Retirement Account (Simple IRA)
Maximum Pretax Employee contribution




$   8,000   + over age 50 catch up
(2004 $ 9,000)
(2005 $10,000)

Simple Catch up Deferral (over age 50)

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$   1,000
(2004 $1,500)
(2005 $2,000)
(2006 $2,500)

2003 Limit to  Traditional IRA, nondeductible IRA, or Roth IRA..     Who can contribute




$   3,000 + over age 50 catch up
(2004 $3,000)
(2005 $4,000)

IRA Catch up Deferral (over age 50)

$     500

Learn about small business pensions

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2003 Maximum Earnings for Retirees

Maximum retirement earnings before Social Security benefits are reduced
(One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit).
 

over age 65


under age 65 reduction begins
unlimited earnings permitted - no reduction

over $ 11,520 ($960 / month)
(increases to $11,640 - $970 /month in 2004)

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Minimum Wage hourly rates

Link to a chart of all States Minimum Wage rates
Federal minimum wage 

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2003 Corporation and Individual Tax Rates

 2003 Corporate tax rates
2003 Federal Income Tax Rates and Jobs and Growth tax act
State income tax rates
2003 Standard Deduction
  • $4,750 2003 Standard deduction for  Single

  • $4,750 2003 Standard deduction for Married filing separately

  • $7,000 2003 Standard deduction for Head of household

  • $9,500 2003 Standard deduction for Married filing Joint

New 2003 Individual Tax  Rates 10% 15% 25% 28% 33% 35%

Single

7,000
 
next 21,950
to 27,950
next
39,750
 to 67,700
next
73,550
to 141,250
next
165,800
to 307,050
amounts over
 307,050

Head Of Household

10,000
 

next 27,470
to 37,450
next
59,250
 to 96,700
next
59,900
to 156,600
next
150,450
to 307,050
amounts over
 307,050

Married Joint

14,000
 

next 43,900
to 57,900
 
next
54,950
 to 112,850
next
59,100
to 171,950
next
135,100
to 307,050
amounts over
 307,050

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2003 Gift Tax

2003 Federal gift tax exclusion


2003 Estate Tax Applicable Exclusion Amount

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$11,000
(no change in 2004)

$1,000,000


Self Employed Health Insurance Deduction

Deductible Percentage for 2003 health insurance premiums
 2003  100%   (2002=70%)

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Depreciation

2003 Section 179 depreciation $100,000 see more
2003 regs now permit Section 179 on off-the-shelf software

2003 Depreciation MACRS Tables
2003 Complete depreciation guide

2003 Luxury Auto depreciation rules

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Statute of Limitations

 
3 years from tax period due date or 3 years from date original return received whichever is later
See more Statute of Limitations guidelines

How long to keep business records

 

2004 rates and limits -
Social Security, Mileage, Pension, 401K, IRA
 

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