IRS Revenue Procedures: Annual Tax Inflation Adjustments

Every year, the IRS publishes Revenue Procedures that announce inflation adjustments for tax brackets, standard deductions, and dozens of other tax provisions. Here's everything you need to know about these critical annual announcements.

📋 What Are IRS Revenue Procedures?

Revenue Procedures are official statements published by the IRS that provide guidance on how tax laws will be administered. The annual inflation adjustment Revenue Procedures are typically published in October or November each year.

🎯 Key Purpose:

Adjust tax parameters annually to prevent "bracket creep" — where inflation pushes taxpayers into higher brackets without real income gains.

📅 Revenue Procedures Available

🔧 What Gets Adjusted Each Year?

Revenue Procedures adjust 50+ different tax provisions. Here are the most important:

💰 Income & Deductions

  • • Standard deduction amounts
  • • Tax bracket thresholds
  • • Personal exemption
  • • Additional standard deduction (age 65+/blind)

👨‍👩‍👧 Credits & Benefits

  • • Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
  • • Child Tax Credit income limits
  • • Adoption credit
  • • Foreign earned income exclusion

🏢 Business & Employment

  • • Social Security wage base
  • • Section 179 expensing limit
  • • Qualified Business Income (QBI) threshold
  • • Transportation fringe benefits

💼 Retirement & Savings

  • • 401(k) contribution limits
  • • IRA contribution limits
  • • Catch-up contribution limits
  • • Health Savings Account (HSA) limits

❓ Why Revenue Procedures Matter to You

💵 Your Take-Home Pay

Inflation adjustments mean you might pay less tax on the same incomecompared to the previous year, increasing your take-home pay.

📊 Tax Planning

Knowing next year's numbers helps you plan deductions, conversions, and timing of income and expenses for maximum tax savings.

🏦 Retirement Contributions

New limits mean you can contribute more to 401(k)s and IRAs, potentially reducing taxable income significantly.

📄 Official IRS Sources

Revenue Procedures are published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin and available on IRS.gov:

Related Guides

This guide is for educational purposes. Always verify current tax provisions with official IRS publications or consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.