Muni bond math: A tax-time refresher

Tax preparers everywhere are explaining to clients what they can expect with this year’s tax filing. Going forward, investors will be seeking ways to minimize that future tax burden, especially for those in states with high state and local taxes (SALT).

Municipal bonds, which are issued by state and local governments, occupy a special place in the investing landscape. The income from these bonds is exempt from federal income tax and sometimes state income taxes as well. This treatment can make them especially attractive for investors looking for ways to minimize their tax burden.

It’s all in the math

To account for their tax benefit, municipal bonds tend to have lower yields than comparable taxable securities, such as corporate bonds or U.S. Treasuries. Calculating a tax equivalent yield lets you fairly compare these two types of bonds.

The formula is straightforward:

Tax equivalent yield = Muni bond yield / (1 – tax rate)

In 2019, the highest marginal tax bracket is 37% and the 3.8% Health Care Act tax also applies to investment income, giving us a maximum marginal tax rate of 40.8%.[1] Thus, if you had a muni bond that was yielding 2%, then it had a tax equivalent yield of 3.4% (2% / (1 – 40.8%). In other words, a taxable bond would need to yield at least 3.4% to provide a comparable return.

Ramping up tax efficiency with ETFs

For most investors, the choice of a muni bond fund is primarily driven by the need for tax efficient income. But the income is only part of the story. Here is a checklist you can use to help determine the tax efficiency of a muni bond investment:

Consider state-specific options if you live in a high-SALT state

For many investors in high tax states, such as California or New York, only $10,000 of state income taxes can be deducted.¹ State-specific funds let investors deduct bond income from their federal and state tax returns.

Minimize capital gains payouts

Both mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) must pay out any realized capital gains. According to data from Morningstar, 33% of intermediate-term municipal bond mutual funds paid out capital gains in 2018.  These distributions may be taxable events, increasing an investor’s tax burden.

Look out for AMT-eligible securities

Income from bonds issued by non-governmental entities, such as a development project for a municipal airport, might be subject to the alternative minimum tax. These bonds might yield more to make up for this tax treatment, but the bond holder will have to report this income and potentially pay tax on the interest. When evaluating an individual bond, mutual fund or ETF, make sure to check for the AMT exposure. (This can typically be found in the annual report or a fund company’s website.)

iShares muni bond ETFs check all three tax efficiency boxes. They have:

• Monthly income that is exempt from federal income taxes.
• A history of no capital gains payouts. Since 2007, no iShares municipal bond ETFs have distributed capital gains.
• No AMT exposure. The iShares Municipal Bond ETFs seek to track S&P Municipal Bond indexes that screen out any bonds with income subject to AMT.

Over time, tax savings can have a big impact on your bottom line. April 15 is a good reminder that tax awareness isn’t a seasonal activity, but one that’s good practice all year around.

[1] Source: Forbes, March 7, 2018; irs.gov. Carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds’ prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses which may be obtained by visiting www.iShares.com or www.blackrock.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Fixed income risks include interest-rate and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in bond values. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the bond issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments. There may be less information on the financial condition of municipal issuers than for public corporations. The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. Some investors may be subject to federal or state income taxes or the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Capital gains distributions, if any, are taxable. Shares of ETFs trade at market price, which may be greater or less than net asset value. This material is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. The information contained herein is based on current tax laws, which may change in the future. BlackRock cannot be held responsible for any direct or incidental loss resulting from applying any of the information provided in this publication or from any other source mentioned.  The information provided in this material does not constitute any specific legal, tax or accounting advice. Please consult with qualified professionals for this type of advice. Transactions in shares of ETFs will result in brokerage commissions and will generate tax consequences. All regulated investment companies are obliged to distribute portfolio gains to shareholders. iShares Funds are obliged to distribute portfolio gains to shareholders by year-end. These gains may be generated due to index re-balancing or to meet diversification requirements. Trading shares of the iShares Funds will also generate tax consequences and transaction expenses. Past distributions are not indicative of future distributions. Certain traditional mutual funds can also be tax efficient. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency and its return and yield will fluctuate with market conditions. The Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, “BlackRock”). This material is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed are as of March 2019 and may change as subsequent conditions vary. The information and opinions contained in this post are derived from proprietary and non-proprietary sources deemed by BlackRock to be reliable, are not necessarily all-inclusive and are not guaranteed as to accuracy. As such, no warranty of accuracy or reliability is given and no responsibility arising in any other way for errors and omissions (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence) is accepted by BlackRock, its officers, employees or agents. This post may contain “forward-looking” information that is not purely historical in nature. Such information may include, among other things, projections and forecasts. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. Reliance upon information in this post is at the sole discretion of the reader. This document contains general information only and does not take into account an individual’s financial circumstances. This information should not be relied upon as a primary basis for an investment decision. Rather, an assessment should be made as to whether the information is appropriate in individual circumstances and consideration should be given to talking to a financial advisor before making an investment decision. ©2019 BlackRock. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. ICRMH0319U-779228-1/1

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