The AMT numbers don't make sense. They would still result in a joint filer at the top of the 24% bracket paying AMT, even if they're not claiming anything other than the standard deduction. The whole AMT concept is designed to limit deductions and force some level of tax payments. If somebody isn't deducting anything, I don't understand how they could still have to pay the AMT.
I tried to decipher the inflation adjustments, and it may be that the thresholds published in the bill (exemption and phaseout threshold), are in 2011 dollars, which will then be escalated to 2018 equivalents. That would "almost" eliminate the AMT for the situation I described above. I will be interested in hearing others' understanding of the revised AMT for individuals.
Edit: I just ran the comparison of the published AMT thresholds against the original Senate brackets. In this case, the AMT stays just below the 25% bracket top. Do you suppose that when they wedged the AMT revival in at the eleventh hour they forgot to take into account their earlier amendment to reduce the brackets. Nah, that would never happen in Washington.........would it?