Schedule D Tax Worksheet line 15 and 19

[Rchtang]

I’m learning the Schedule D Tax Worksheet and find the line 15 and 19 have a fixed amount per filing status.  e.g.  for head of of household, line 15 has 54,100 and line 19 has 164,900.  It seems IRS sets different values yearly.  What do we call these?  They’re used in the calculation but I don’t find any explanations of what they are in IRS publications.  Can you provide more insights?

[AmyC]

Yes. Some figures are adjusted annually for inflation, including these set by Congress. The Instructions for Schedule D (Form 1040) contain 

• Schedule D Tax Worksheet
• Schedule D Tax Worksheet—Continued

[Rchtang]

Thanks Amy.  Are there any name/term for these figures?  Or, how would people refer to them?  Technically, what do these figures mean?  The publication only refer them as their respective line number no descriptions.

[DawnC]

Those amounts are capital gains tax bracket calculators.   The income up to those levels are taxed at one rate and the income over those levels are taxed at a different rate.  Long-Term capital gains are taxed at either 0%, 15%, or 20%.    Short-term capital gains are taxed at ordinary income tax rates.   The worksheet separates the different categories and applies the correct tax rate to each block of income depending on the holding period.   

A Guide to the Capital Gains Tax Rate: Short-term vs. Long-term Capital Gains Taxes   This link has the tax bracket charts for LT and ST.   The numbers in the worksheet correspond to the numbers in the tax bracket charts.