Generally, most Americans dislike tax season. It is overwhelming, frustrating, and even downright perplexing. This is particularly relevant in light of the 2018 U.S. tax rules, rates, and brackets changes. Employing an accountant is helpful, but there are still steps you must take for the finest service and highest profits. One of them is tax planning. This will enable you to capitalize on the new tax laws while minimizing your total tax liability and boosting your earnings. However, what exactly is tax planning? This article will discuss the fundamentals of tax planning and various tax planning options for the present and future.
List of Contents
What Exactly Is Tax Planning?
Everyone deals with money, but often in various ways. Tax planning is one technique for managing one’s finances. It is a method for minimizing the taxes owed at the end of each year. Genuinely, there are a variety of approaches to tax planning. However, the three most important are minimizing your total income, boosting your tax deductions during the year, and taking advantage of specific tax credits.
The Importance of Tax Planning
The importance of tax planning is straightforward. It helps you save money and avoid overpaying taxes. Aside from that, tax planning can help you understand where your money is going and how you might be rewarded for saving for retirement or furthering your education.
5 Tax Planning Techniques
If you are ready to start enjoying the advantages, learning some fundamental tax planning techniques is crucial. These will help you get started, and as you continue, you will discover variants of these techniques that will enable you to save more.
1. Reducing your earnings
Reducing your earnings is an amazing idea to begin your tax planning since your adjusted gross income (AGI) is likely the single most significant tax factor. Your AGI is the portion of your taxable income, making it more significant than your gross income. It is what you have remaining after making changes, such as 401(k) and IRA contributions, paying down student loan interest, and more. On the 1040 form, there is a list of modifications that may be utilized, or you can meet with an accountant to discuss the specifics of your situation. Investing in your future is one of the most prevalent techniques to lower your income. In addition, it helps you plan for the future.
Nevertheless, you should remember that when you contribute to a 401(k) or IRA, your assets are locked in until you reach a specific age, often around 60. If you remove funds before that date, they will be added to your taxable income. In addition, you will incur extra taxes for early withdrawals. Nevertheless, you should keep your donation if you make one. In addition, before contributing to a 401(k) or IRA, you should build up your savings if you are unsure whether you will need the money.
2. Enhancing your tax deductions
In addition to reducing your earnings, you may also labor throughout the year to increase your taxable deductions. Your tax deductions might be large, depending on your profession, charity contributions, and various costs. Deductions include personal property taxes, any mortgage interest paid, charity contributions or gifts, and costs directly tied to your employment, investment expenses, state taxes, and more. Over the years, these deductions build up. In addition to receipts, you must maintain an itemized account of your costs throughout the year. Something may be used online or offline. We suggest establishing a basic spreadsheet and adding line items whenever you incur a deduction.
3. Using tax credits
Tax planning is crucial since it allows for future planning. You cannot use a number of tax credits during the year if you do not prepare. Tax credits function as incentives and can reduce your tax liability. They do not lower your taxable income but may be deducted from your total tax liability. This helps to significantly reduce your tax debt.
Moreover, tax credits may be obtained for a variety of reasons. However, the most significant is adopting a kid or paying for college tuition. Adopting a child should never be done only for a tax credit, but if your family is considering adoption, it is important to be aware of the tax credit. Taking a few college courses is a wonderful way to continue your education and apply it to your career, even if you have already graduated. In addition, the courses might be about anything, not only career advancement-related topics.
For example, if you have always desired to master photography, enroll in a local college course and get tax credits. Another option to receive tax credits is determining your eligibility for the Earned Income Credit (EIC). If you do, you may be eligible for a refund even if your overall tax liability is zero.
4. Increasing your 401(k) contributions
Contributing to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k), can enable you to save for retirement while receiving a tax deduction. Contributions are normally paid before taxes, so they might lower your annual taxable income.
How much you contribute will likely depend on your financial situation and how close you are to retirement. In 2022, taxpayers will be able to contribute up to $20,500 to a 401(k), while those 50 or older will be able to contribute up to $27,000. Frequently, employers will match a percentage of your contributions. According to a survey conducted by Vanguard in 2022, the average employee match was 4.4% of pay in 2021.
5. Considering funds from a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Finally, you should ensure that you report FSA spending at the end of the year unless your FSA permits you to carry over monies to the next year. An FSA allows you to use pre-tax funds to cover qualifying out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Spending this money does not immediately reduce your taxes, but remember that the FSA’s goal is to give tax savings on contributions. If you do not spend the cash, you will lose both the tax advantage and the amount put aside. FSAs may be used for a wide range of costs, though the IRS can alter which expenses qualify.
Conclusion
In conclusion, most people and small companies pay too much in taxes every year. Therefore, you can be better prepared for the upcoming tax season with the five mentioned tax planning techniques before the year ends.
FAQs
While a tax deduction lowers the amount of your taxable income, a tax credit directly lowers your tax bill.
Your age and income will determine your maximum 401(k) and IRA contributions. Employees’ 401(k) plan contributions are capped at $20,500 as of 2023, with an additional $6,500 catch-up contribution available to individuals who are 50 years old.
The tax year typically starts on January 1 and ends on December 31, but this can vary depending on a specific action that has been taken.
Related Articles:
- Tax Breaks for Homeowners and Home Buyers: 13 Important Tax Tips
- What Is Tax Liability?
- What Are Real Estate Taxes And Personal Property Taxes?
Read more: Taxes
Source: Delrealtax