Members of the House of Representatives after the Fiscal Cliff vote (Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla)  Since the 157-page American Taxpayer Relief Tax Act Of 2012 (a.k.a. the “fiscal cliff” bill) became available on New Year’s Eve, Forbes staff and contributors have done something I’d wager few of the Senators and Congressmen who voted for (or against) it have done: They’ve read the law to see how it affects real taxpayers.  Forbes Senior Editor Deborah L. Jacobs explains what you need to know now about estate planning, while Associate Editor Ashlea Ebeling details everything from commuter tax benefits to new opportunities for Roth 401(k)s. CPA Tony Nitti has the scoop on how those with capital gains and salary combined above $450,000 will really be taxed; tax lawyer (and former Senate tax staffer) Dean Zerbe tells small businesses what they need to know; and tax lawyers Kelly Phillips Erb (A.K.A. Taxgirl) and Robert W. Wood, offer their takes here and here on the top points every citizen should know about the deal.  For those interested in policy and politics as well as their own purses, Howard Gleckman, of the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, delivers the real bottom line on what the deal did to the deficit, and Syracuse University tax expert Len Burman explains why reports that the new act discourages charitable giving are hogwash. Meanwhile, Forbes contributors (from the left and the right) pull no punches in telling us what they really think of the deal, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). Check back on this page for updates—our staff and contributors haven’t put away their green eyeshades yet.  Advice and facts to help you make the most of the new law  New: Updated Tax Brackets For 2013!  After The Fiscal Cliff Deal, The Estate And Gift Tax Explained  Capital Gains And The New Higher Rates: How They Really Work  Roth 401(k) Conversions Can Now Spread, Thanks To Fiscal Cliff Budget Gimmick Deal  What The Tax Deal Means For Small Business  Eight Ways To Protect Your Finances From Washington’s Craziness  You Can Give IRA Assets To Charity Again; Act Fast For A Special January 2013 Break  Planning To Some Green Home Remodeling? Uncle Sam Might Kick In A $500 Tax Credit  Good News For Transit Commuters: Bigger Tax Break For 2012 And 2013  Fiscal Cliff, Dairy Cliff, But What About The Payroll Tax Cliff?  Ten Things You Should Know About The Fiscal Cliff Deal  Five Post Fiscal Cliff Facts To Consider  Secrets Of The Fiscal Cliff Deal: Section 179 Expensing And Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Are Back  Four Important Payroll Updates And Tax Changes For Small Business  Wind Power Tax Credit Survives Fiscal Cliff Deal  What The Deal Means For Long Term Care  Analysis and commentary on the deal, the deficit, the debt ceiling and what comes next.  The Bottom Line: What The Fiscal Cliff Deal Really Means For Taxes And Spending  No Ari, The Cliff Deal Will Raise The Economic Incentive To Give To Charity  The World Will Keep Turning Even With The Expiration Of The Payroll Tax Cut  Obama Turned His Back On Tax Fairness  The Fiscal Cliff Deal Is A Disaster  Why Boehner Lost The Fiscal Cliff Battle  Republicans Raised Taxes And Redefined Wealth In America  Fiscal Cliff Deal Will Be The First Of Many Republican Capitulations in 2013
Our best practical advice on making the most of the massive new tax law and a look at what comes next in the federal deficit follies.