Please note: We DO NOT offer free tax advice for TurboTax users or self-preparers.

Strategic Year-End Tax Planning for 2025

As the year comes to a close and holiday festivities abound, it's crucial to focus on finalizing your tax planning strategies before December 31st. Taking proactive steps now can significantly impact your 2025 tax filings, potentially leading to substantial tax savings. Below, we outline strategic year-end tax moves tailored to varied financial situations:

Exempt from Filing for 2025? - Even if your financial situation exempts you from filing a return this year, consider capitalizing on tax-free income opportunities. For instance, you might liquidate appreciated stock without tax consequences or take a penalty-free distribution from your IRA if eligible by age or exceptions.

Also, remember that choosing not to file might mean forfeiting advantageous refundable tax credits.

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Low Income in 2025? - This is an opportune time to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA while leveraging lower tax rates, especially if your retirement portfolio's stocks have depreciated.

College Tuition and Education Credits - Utilize the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning credits by prepaying 2026 tuition that covers the initial months, maximizing your eligible credit this year.

Home Sale Considerations - If you've sold your primary residence in 2025, ensure compliance with the ownership and occupancy rules to exclude significant gain under IRS guidelines. Partial exclusions may apply for specific scenarios like job relocations.

Employer Health FSAs - If underfunded, contemplate increasing contributions for next year, particularly as the carryover provision allows up to $660.

HSA Contributions - New eligibility in 2025 allows full-year contributions, beneficial even if eligibility began in December. Maximize tax benefits by contributing the allowed amounts, ensuring adherence to IRS regulations.

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Maximizing Retirement Contributions - Boost your retirement nest egg and take advantage of employer match programs. For pre-tax options like traditional IRAs, maximizing contributions can also lower your taxable income.

Spousal IRA Contributions - Non-working spouses can base IRA contributions on the working spouse's income, a key benefit often neglected when one partner retiree.

Enhanced Catch-up Contributions - For individuals between 60-64, enhanced catch-up limits in 2025 bolster your retirement funds—review these to optimize your future financial security.

Bonus Deferral - If expecting a year-end bonus, consider deferring to minimize current year taxable income, discussing timing with your employer for planning purposes.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) - For those aged 73 and over, adhering strictly to the RMD timeline is crucial to avoid penalties and align with financial strategies for dual-year distributions when first applying the rule.

Reviewing Stock Positions - Identify loss-harvesting opportunities in your portfolio to offset gains, carefully managing sales to avoid wash sale violations.

State and Property Tax Prepayments - With SALT deduction caps rising, accelerate these payments where practical to maximize deductions on your 2025 return.

Charitable Donations - Optimize deductions by bunching donations into one year, especially before the new floor on deductibles begins, allowing larger contributions in 2025.

Medical Expense Timing - Overcome AGI hurdles by consolidating medical expenses within the year to maximize deductions.

Gift Tax Exemption - Utilize the $19,000 annual exclusion per individual, ensuring gifts are made before year-end to utilize this advantage.

Avoiding Under-Withholding Penalties - Ensure withholdings or estimated tax payments meet the safe harbor thresholds to avoid penalties, tweaking withholdings for optimal benefit.

Disaster and Scam Loss Recovery - Understand your rights to claim losses from federally declared disasters on the most beneficial year’s return and note the exception for investment-related scams.

Impact of Divorce on Taxes - Address significant changes in filing status, child claims, and deductions early to ensure tax efficiency post-separation.

Energy and Environmental Credits - Finalize electric vehicle purchases ahead of the credit cessation and leverage home energy improvement credits while they're available.

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For further clarification on any of these strategies, reach out to our office for tailored guidance.

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