3 Tips to Manage Year-End Tax Liability

With the end of the tax year fast approaching, you may want to find ways to minimize your tax liability. Implementing one or more of the simple strategies discussed below may allow you to hold on to more of your earnings, potentially grow your wealth, and help lessen the taxes owed on your annual return. Read on, and then contact your financial professional to discuss the best strategies for you.

Beef Up Those 529 Plans

If you have school-aged children or grandchildren with plans for further education, consider contributing more to a 529 education plan. These plans are used for college expenses as well as K-12 private school tuition. The money that you put into the account will grow tax-deferred, and can be withdrawn tax-free as long as it is used for eligible education expenses. Single filers in 2022 are allowed to contribute up to $16,000 (up from $15,000 in 2021) annually and joint filers can contribute $32,000 (up from $30,000 in 2021).

Max Out Your 401k Contributions

You have the ability to contribute up to $20,500 per individual to your 2022 401k plan, a $1,000 increase from 2021. If you are over the age of 50, you can also contribute an annual catchup contribution to help prepare you for retirement. Since all of these contributions are tax-deductible, you could reduce your overall taxable income at the end of the year by contributing as much as possible. 

Prepare for Healthcare Expenses

One constant in most people's lives, especially as they age, is medical expenses incurred throughout the year. If you have a health savings account, you can contribute money to it and withdraw tax-free, as long as it is used for medical expenses. HSAs are not like Flexible Spending Accounts and do not need to be used within the year, so by contributing more, you will be able to reduce your tax liability. For 2022, individuals are allowed to contribute up to $3,650 annually, while couples can contribute $7,300. If you are age 55 or older, you can deposit an additional $1,000 annually into your HSA. That may not seem like much, but every little bit helps, and could help grow your nest egg of non-taxed funds to cover medical expenses.

Consider the tips above to help you tackle your year-end taxes with confidence. Need help with more year-end tips? Contact us today.

Important Disclosures:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual and is not intended for ERISA or investment advice. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional.

Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal.

Prior to investing in a 529 Plan investors should consider whether the investor's or designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program. Withdrawals used for qualified expenses are federally tax free. Tax treatment at the state level may vary. Please consult with your tax advisor before investing.

The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax planning or legal advice. We suggest that you consult with a qualified tax or legal advisor.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

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Sources:

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/taxes/09/affluent-tax-planning.asp

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business-insights-ideas/resources/tax-savings-high-earners-taxable-income

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2021/11/11/new-higher-estate-and-gift-tax-limits-for-2022-couples-can-pass-on-720000-more-tax-free/?sh=2b834ba2174f

https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/insurance/health-insurance/health-savings-accounts/601415/hsa-limits-and-minimums

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

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