It’s Time to Start Preparing for Your 2017 Taxes

Shot,Of,An,Attractive,Mature,Businesswoman,Working,On,Laptop,In

 

The tax season is officially over for most people, and by now many taxpayers have already put their refund to good use. However, while almost everyone would rather not think about taxes for the next 10 months, or so, the fact is, this is a good time to start looking at next year’s taxes. In fact, by taking a close look at this year’s return, you can learn some important things for next year.

So here are some things to pay attention to. First off, did you get a large refund, or did you end up owing the IRS money? Chances are, one way or the other you need to take a look at your W-4. If you get a big refund then you are probably having too much withheld. On the other hand, if you still owed the IRS money then you are not having enough withheld.

Your 401k is another thing to revisit. Are you maxing it out? If not, then you are missing out on some extra tax savings. Of course, if you need that money now then you can only set aside so much. However, if you can afford to put more away for later, then you should definitely take full advantage of it.

Another good thing to start planning for right now is your list of deductions. Start tracking your receipts and keeping an accurate record. This will help you when you try to figure out your itemized deductions next year.

Lastly, if you like to make charitable donations then you could use your IRA to make those contributions. You get to help a good cause and the contribution won’t hurt your adjusted gross income.

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/07/ignore-these-2016-tax-lessons-at-your-peril.html

Posted in
Obama Administration Looking to Make Art Collectors pay

Obama Administration Looking to Make Art Collectors pay

Are you a collector? You may have read that the Obama administration was looking to make art collectors pay more taxes.  Just last week we discussed how investors could save a lot of money on taxes from selling expensive collectibles like art. Well now it appears that they are apparently looking to put a stop…

Is Your 2015 Tax Plan Ready?

How did your 2014 tax season go? Was it a success, or did it lack something to be desired? Did you get a nice return, or did you end up owing the IRS more than you expected? Did you make any mistakes when you filed your taxes or discover after the fact that you missed…

How To Avoid Taxes on Income From Selling Expensive Art?

How To Avoid Taxes on Income From Selling Expensive Art?

Income tax on sale of Paintings Are you a collector of rare and expensive art? Are you tired of getting hit with high tax bills every time you sell one of your pieces? Anyone who deals with extremely value collectibles like artwork knows how expensive these works can be. Taxes for artists At the same…

IRS Blames Budget Cuts for Smaller Workforce, Poorer Customer Service

If you had any less than desirable experiences with the IRS this year then you’re probably not alone. That’s because the top tax agency continues to be plagued by complaints of poor customer service and a general lack of assistance. According to the IRS there’s good reason for that. The agency says it cannot keep…