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Maximize Your Year-End Tax Savings: Strategies for 2025

As we approach the close of another year, it's crucial to align your tax planning with your financial goals. Before the holiday cheer takes over, take a moment to consider strategic tax moves that can enhance your 2025 tax return. Here are key strategies to optimize your tax position:

Assessing Your Filing Requirements - Not everyone needs to file a 2025 tax return, but that doesn't mean you should skip it. If your earnings and tax situation suggest non-filing, explore tax-free income avenues. You might benefit from selling appreciated stock without triggering tax, or consider a tax-free IRA distribution if specific conditions are met. Filing could also mean claiming significant refundable credits.

Leverage Low-Income Opportunities - After a low-income year, take advantage of this by converting to a Roth IRA, gaining from the low tax rate on the conversion. If your retirement account stocks have declined, converting these could yield further tax savings.

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Education Tax Benefits - For those with college-going children, maximize the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning credits. Prepaying 2026 tuition could heighten credits for 2025, especially for newcomers to college.

Home Sale Gains - Sold your home? Be sure your gain benefits from the primary residence exclusion. Even partial exclusions are possible for sales due to job change or health reasons, contingent on meeting key conditions.

Health Accounts - Evaluate your contributions to health savings and flexible spending accounts. For FSAs, increase your contributions to cover future expenses adequately, utilizing any carryover by March 2026. Consider maxing HSA contributions if you qualify, even if eligibility was gained late in the year.

Optimize Retirement Contributions - Don’t miss out on maximizing your retirement plan contributions. These not only secure your future but also reduce your taxable income. Extra contributions from those aged 60 to 64 can significantly boost retirement savings.

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Income-Timing Strategies - Expecting a bonus? Defer income to manage your tax bracket effectively. Check if your employer can shift the bonus or any significant payment to leverage a lower bracket in future years.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) - For those turning 73, understanding RMDs is essential. First-time qualifiers have until March 2026, but careful planning is necessary to avoid dual distributions in one year. Inherited accounts also have distinct RMD requirements starting 2025.

Portfolio Management - Identify underperforming stocks to offset capital gains taxes, considering the wash sale rule in your calculations. Hold onto low-income stocks for future gain opportunities in low-income years.

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State and Local Tax Planning - With the increased SALT deduction, consider prepaying state or property taxes to maximize deductions under the new limits.

Charitable Contributions - Contribute or prepay to maximize deductions, especially in light of the upcoming 2026 deduction floor. Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs for those over 70½ offer a non-deductible, yet impactful tax-savings route.

Medical and Gift Planning - Pre-pay outstanding medical or dental bills and utilize the annual gift tax exclusion for non-deductible personal gifts, maintaining these within tax-free gift limits.

Disaster and Scam Loss Claims - If affected by federally declared disasters or scams, claim these losses wisely for maximum benefit.

Tax strategies can be complex, but they also offer unique opportunities for savings and efficiency if executed correctly. For detailed guidance suited to your situation, we encourage reaching out.

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