Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
An alternative, separate tax calculation based on the taxpayer's regular taxable income, increased by the taxpayer's preferences for the year. The resulting amount is called the alternative minimum taxable income (AMTI).
After certain exemptions and offsets, the taxpayer determines its AMT and is required to pay the larger of the regular tax or alternative minimum tax. Among the preferences that can increase the taxpayer's AMTI is the accelerated portion of depreciation, thereby making it more likely that a taxpayer that buys equipment may be subject to the AMT rather than to regular tax.