Tax preparation top providers in Houston, TX? Charitable deductions. If you made small gifts, you may not have received any acknowledgment from the organization, but you can still deduct these contributions as long as you have a canceled check or other proof. Consult last year’s list of organizations you donated to and see whether you made similar gifts this year. Whether you do your own taxes or hire someone else to handle it, keeping good records will save you time and, in the case of a paid preparer, money. The earlier you start, the more smoothly it should go, and the sooner you’ll have put the process behind you for another year.
Why Change the Character of Your Income? One way to reduce your tax burden is to change the character of your income. If you’re wondering why you should do so, here are some of the ways it can help you to lower your tax bill. Convert your SIMPLE, SEP, or traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. If you are over the age of 591/2 and you meet the five-year rule, Roth distributions are tax free. Because they are not considered investment income, they will not increase your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which is used to calculate the 3.8% Medicare surtax.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) created the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction when the law went into effect in 2018. You might be able to deduct 20% from your qualifying business income if your business is a pass-through entity—a sole proprietorship, an S corporation, or a partnership, passing its income and deductions down to its shareholders, partners, or owners to report on their personal returns. This deduction is in addition to claiming your ordinary business expense deductions. You should qualify if your taxable income is below $157,500, or $315,000 if you’re married and filing a joint return. Special rules apply if you earn more than these amounts, so you might still qualify depending on the nature of your business. Read extra information at https://greentree.tax/best-bookkeeping-service-in-houston-texas/.
Slow Down to Save Taxes. If you buy a house or condo, fix it up and then sell it in less than a year, you’ll pay taxes on the profit at ordinary income tax rates (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, or 35%) based on your income. Hold it for more than a year and you’ll be taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20%), depending on your income. You may decide it is worth it to you to flip the property quickly, but if you get caught in a slower market and can’t unload it quickly, you’ll save a lot on your taxes by holding it more than a year.