Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP®
With the end of the year fast approaching, end of year tax planning is top of mind for many clients. At The Center, we are proactive throughout the entire year when it comes to evaluating a client’s current and projected tax situation but now is typically the time most people really start thinking about it. Let’s be honest, how many of us feel like we don’t pay ENOUGH tax? Most clients want to lower their tax bill and be as efficient with their dollars as possible.
Here is a brief list of items we bring up with clients that could ultimately lead to lowering one’s tax bill for the year:
Are you currently maximizing your company retirement account (401k, 403b, Simple IRA, SEP-IRA, etc.)?
These plans allow for the largest contributions and are deductible against income.
In our eyes, this is often times the most favorable way to help reduce taxes because it also goes towards funding your retirement goals!
How are you making charitable donations?
Consider gifting appreciated securities to charity instead of cash if you have an after-tax investment account with appreciated positions. By doing so, you receive a full tax-deduction on the value of the security gifted to the charity and you also avoid paying capital gains tax – a pretty good deal if you ask me!
Donor Advised Funds are a great way to facilitate this transfer and are becoming increasingly popular lately because of the ease of use and flexibility they provided for those who are charitably inclined.
If you’re over the age of 70 ½ and own a Traditional IRA, taking advantage of the now permanent Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) could be a great option as well.
Should I be contributing to an IRA? If so, should I put money in a Traditional or Roth?
As I always say, in financial planning, there is never a “one size fits all” answer – it really depends on your income and your current and projected tax bracket
Keep in mind, not all IRA contributions are deductible, your income and availability to contribute to a company sponsored retirement plan plays a major role.
If your current tax bracket is lower than your projected tax bracket in the future, it more than likely makes sense to invest within a Roth IRA, however, as mentioned, everyone’s situation is different and you should consult with your advisor before making a contribution.
Do you have access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flex Spending Account (FSA) at work?
These are fantastic tools to help fund medical and dependent care costs in a tax-efficient manner.
HSAs can only be used, however, if you are covered under a high-deductible health plan and FSAs are “use it or lose it” plans, meaning money contributed into the account is lost if it’s not used throughout the year.
This is a busy time of year for everyone. Between holiday shopping, traveling, spending time with family, completing year-end tasks at work, taxes are often times lost in the shuffle. We encourage you to keep your eyes open for our year-end planning letter you will be receiving within the next few weeks which will be a helpful guide on the items mentioned in this blog as well as other items we feel you should be keeping on your radar.
Nick Defenthaler, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Nick is a member of The Center’s financial planning department and also works closely with Center clients. In addition, Nick is a frequent contributor to the firm’s blogs.
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