With inflation hitting many and their ability to support families, the holidays may be the time to say a special “thank you” to those who help keep us and our families, homes and businesses on track, who keep our homes clean, help us stay fit, and help us in other ways to get through each day throughout the year. With that in mind, we updated our suggested gifts and tips for 2022 on our sister website.
Gift giving etiquette may not always be obvious when considering gifts for people outside of your friends and family, so be mindful of the message you send. Giving should show appreciation and respect. Sometimes a smile, a note or a kind word can really make someone’s day.
We are told to act before year end because it is our last chance to have an impact on our 2022 taxes. Planning throughout the year could be even better, if you recognize when to act, but most of us are pulled in so many directions that it is hard to organize and act until there is an external pressure, such as the looming end to the calendar year. So, when you are ready to take stock of your situation, you can make the planning effort even more productive by reviewing your investments, estate plan, and finances, not just your taxes – consider it a “financial checkup.”
Overview
This year, there are changes that occurred due to inflation as well as legislation. While we had expected tax increases, none materialized (there may still be tax law changes, but legislation such as the “SECURE Act 2.0,” child credit and tax extenders all remain in flux). We review the changes that did occur before turning to actual year-end tax planning strategies.
Impact of inflation
Is there ever a good side to inflation? Perhaps the IRS adjustments to several tax-related thresholds that change for 2023 count, such as these:
The standard deduction MFJ $27,700 up from $25,900
The gift and estate tax credit $12.92 million from just over $12 million
The annual gift tax exclusion $17,000 up from $16,000
401(k) maximum contribution $22,500 plus $7,500 (for over 50)
IRA max. $6,500 plus $1,000
SEP-IRA max. $66,000
The tax brackets at which rates increase have also gone up, so more is taxed at lower the brackets.
Inflation Reduction Act
The Inflation Reduction Act passed this summer and included changes to tax laws regarding energy saving credits. The Act also contained other provisions, such as the 15% AMT for C corporations and 1% stock buyback tax. It’s unfortunate that the abbreviation for the act is IRA, as we already have that in our tax lexicon.
Beginning in 2023, this new law changes conditions for obtaining the $7,500 credit for new electric vehicles (EVs) and adds a $4,000 credit for used EVs (EVs that are 2 or more years old). The Act also expanded the reporting requirements for the credits on your tax returns. Finally, EV buyers can monetize the credit at purchase to reduce the sale price, rather than wait for their tax filing. Remember there is also a credit for installing a home charger.
To obtain a credit for new EVs, the battery’s minerals must be extracted or processed in the US or a free-trade partner. The battery must also be manufactured or assembled in North America. Final assembly of the EV must be in North America. There are price ceilings on EVs and income limits on claiming taxpayers.
The Act extend and expanded home energy credits but also expanded the reporting requirements.
Tax planning
Start with this goal: to lessen the total tax due in 2022 and 2023 combined. Usually that means delaying income to 2023 and accelerating deductions to 2022. For 2022-2023, the jump in the standard deduction could mean losing itemized deductions in 2023, so pay special attention to what you can shift to 2022. As we pointed out our post for 2021 year-end planning, if you are concerned about future tax rate increases, you can use a Roth Conversions to bring future income into 2022.
Now to the planning: Can you act at all?
Each year, we advise that you be practical, focusing on where you can actually make moves. For many, the high standard deduction (which is even more for over age 65 taxpayers) means you will not itemize (i.e., your total for itemized deductions is less than the standard amount so you take the higher standard deduction). And, if you are not itemizing, you have fewer ways in which to affect change in the taxes due in either year. If you can itemize, you have more tools for planning.
Tools – income
You can reduce taxable income by maximizing your retirement contributions with your employer via 401(k) or 403(b) plans and IRA contributions if you are below the thresholds. If you are self-employed, you can contribute to your own qualified plan such as a SEP-IRA.
You may also be able to contribute to a health savings or flex account. Be sure to see to use any flex account balances before they expire.
Review your investments to see if you can take losses to reduce capital gains and up to $3,000 of ordinary income. ax loss harvesting reduces net taxable capital gains, but be sure not to run afoul of the wash-sale rule.
Tools – deductions
Review your unreimbursed medical expenses, which you can deduct if the total is over 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.
State and local taxes are capped at $10,000, so you may not be able to shift much between years. And it is difficult to accelerate mortgage interest on first and second homes.
Often, the place for the most change is in charitable deductions, where you can bunch two- or three-years’ worth into a single year so you can itemize. You can use a donor advised fund (“DAF”) to bunch, by contributing all in one year, then having the DAF send annual amounts. Also, you can transfer up to $100,000 from a traditional IRA directly to charity if you are over 70½. Note that Congress has not extended the $300 above the line charitable deduction.
Before you finish, check withholdings and estimates paid
Especially if you increase income in 2022, review your total paid to the IRS and state via withholdings and estimates make sure that you meet the safe harbor rules. If not, you could owe interest for under-withholding.
And remember your estate plan review
As noted above, the federal gift and estate tax credit is close to $12 million for 2022 and increases to $12.92 million in 2023. If you have excess wealth, you may want to gift while you can, especially if you want to use certain trusts, like a GRAT or QPRT. For more on estate planning updates, see our estate planning checkup post.
If you do review your estate plan documents, also review beneficiary designations and asset ownership to make sure everything is current and flows correctly.
Summary
As you review your 2022-2023 tax planning, determine what you can shift and project the impact. Then follow through on the details.
Let us know if you have any questions.
Good luck and best wishes for happy and healthy holidays!
Checking your income tax planning now is a good idea – tax planning can be done year-round. As with any planning, acting while you can have an impact is best. Tax laws may change before the end of 2022, e.g. Secure Act 2.0 may be adopted, but it’s still wise to know where you stand now.
The IRS seems to have a similar thought about tax planning as they created a website with tools and resources at Steps to Take Now to Get a Jump on Your Taxes – if you check it out, let us know what you think.
First question: did you get a tax refund, or did you owe?
Refunds
Some people enjoy seeing a big refund, but as you may have heard, you are giving the government an interest-free loan with your money. If you want to save, there are better ways, like an auto-debit to an IRA or to a savings account.
Not sure what happened to your refund? There is a updated IRS tool for “where’s my refund” that now goes back three years at “Where’s My Refund?”
The tool confirms receipt of your tax return, shows if the refund has been approved and indicates when it will be or has been sent. If three weeks pass without receiving the refund, then you may want to contact the IRS.
Owed taxes
If you owed a significant amount for 2021, the IRS has another tool that helps make sure you have enough withheld for 2022 at Tax Withholding Estimator. This way you can avoid penalties and interest for under withholding.
If you do not get clear answers using the estimator tool, try comparing your 2022 paystub to your 2021 tax return, review the IRS guidance at Publication 505, or contact us for help.
Second question: what happens if you act now?
Marginal vs. average tax rate
Knowing the rate at which additional net income will be taxed helps you make decisions such as the one in the next section, whether to convert an IRA to a Roth IRA or not.
The marginal rate is your tax bracket, the rate at which the last portion of your income is taxed. Any additional income would be taxed at this rate. Your average tax rate is the percentage of income taxes to total taxable income. You can have a low average rate but hit a high marginal rate, which may mean that taking more income into the current year would be costly.
Time to convert to a Roth IRA?
The decision to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA depends on several factors. One is the rate of tax you pay now compared to the rate you expect to pay in retirement. If your rate will be the same at retirement as now, then there are many reasons to convert, such as no required minimum distributions at retirement for a Roth IRA. If your tax rate at retirement will be significantly less than currently, then converting now would be less tax efficient.
Last question: how with this affect the rest of your finance?
Coordinate with investing and estate planning
Make sure any changes take for tax reasons do not foul your investment or estate planning. For more on estate planning, see estate planning checkup post.
Summary
As you review your 2022 tax planning, check your 2021 returns for ideas on what to adjust, consider the impact of future tax rate increases and act when the impact on other planning also makes sense.
The holidays are a great time to say “thanks” and show appreciation for those who help us keep our families, homes and businesses on track, keep our homes clean, help us stay fit, and help us in other ways to get through each day throughout the year. With that in mind, we updated our suggested gifts and tips for 2021 on our sister website.
Gift giving etiquette may not always be obvious when considering gifts for people outside of your friends and family, so be mindful of the message you send. Giving should show appreciation and respect. Sometimes a smile or kind word can really make someone’s day.
Many of the expected tax law changes have not materialized, but legislation remains in flux. This means we plan year-end moves while we continue to monitor new legislation. It is safe to bet that income tax rates will rise over the next several years. This may mean putting year-end tax planning on its head, where you increase taxable income for 2021. The goal is to lessen income ultimately taxed in future years. However, you may not want to delay taking deductions until 2022 (so planning not completely on its head?) For the standard approach, see our 2020 year-end post.
Roth Conversion – One way to increase income now, avoiding future income, is to convert part of an IRA to a Roth IRA, converting from taxable to non-taxable distributions in the future. Decide on the amount to convert by projecting the impact of the conversion on your marginal tax rate. Converting to a Roth also saves you from required minimum distributions, RMDs, in future years (but non-spouse beneficiaries still face the 10-year limit from the SECURE Act on IRA distributions).
Back-Door Roth – Along with converting, the “back-door Roth” is still available, at least for 2021, so you can put more retirement funds aside with no tax on future distributions. That is, for those who cannot contribute to a Roth due to income limits, they can contribute to a non-deductible IRA and then convert that IRA to a Roth IRA. If you have other IRAs, that may affect the amount that is taxed, so review this carefully first to see if it still makes sense.
More income – Other ways to increase income for 2021 include billing more for your S Corp., LLC or partnership in 2021, exercising stock options, and selling ESPP shares.
Capital gains – You probably do not want to accelerate capital gains, as those should still be tax at a lower rate in future years.
On to other considerations: first, SALT deductions
The limit on state and local taxes, or SALT, may increase from $10,000 to $80,000. Also, a number of states have created pass-through entity elections so that the S Corp., LLC or partnership pays the tax and deducts against the income of the shareholder/member/partner. This way, their net federal taxable income is reduced, and they get a credit for the payment on their personal tax returns.
The SALT changes may affect your itemized deduction strategy if you are bunching.
Check the details
Declare Crypto – If you had any crypto currency transactions during the year, selling, buying or receiving, be sure to declare on your federal 1040 filing.
Unemployment tax – Remember, unemployment benefits are fully taxable for 2021, so be sure you withheld taxes or paid estimates.
Charities – If you cannot itemize, you still get up to $300 as an above the line charitable deduction, and up to $600 for a married couple.
Child credits – There are changes in the credits for children and dependent care. Let us know if you have questions on the benefits and strategies for maximizing.
Kiddie tax – The so-called kiddie tax has been restored to pre-TCJA terms, so you may want to review filings for the last two years.
Address change – You will want to file form 8822B to indicate the change of address if your corporation, LLC or partnership moves. On that form, you can also change the responsible party so that the IRS knows whom to contact – this is quite important if you sell your business!
IT PIN – If you are concerned about identity theft, consider obtaining an IT PIN as discussed in our post on IRS scams.
Flex and retirement accounts – Check to see if you have any flex account balances that expire; contribute the maximum to your qualified plans; and setup a new qualified plan if you have a new business.
Before you finish, check withholdings and estimates paid
Especially if you increase income in 2021, review your total paid to the IRS and state via withholdings and estimates make sure that you meet the safe harbor rules. If not, you could owe interest for under-withholding.
IRS disaster relief
Have you received a penalty notice from the IRS? The Pandemic was declared a federal disaster. This means it may provide an exemption to the penalties if you can show that you suffered from the Pandemic.
And remember your estate plan review
While you review your taxes, review your estate plan as well. The federal gift and estate tax credit is close to $12 million for 2021, but that may change in 2022. So, if you have excess wealth, you may want to gift while you can, especially if you want to use certain trusts, like a GRAT or QPRT, that may no longer be permitted in future years. For more on estate planning updates, see our estate planning checkup post.
Update: the annual exclusion for gifts rises from $15,000 per person, per year to $16,000 next year.
If you do review your estate plan documents, also review beneficiary designations and asset ownership to make sure everything is current and flows correctly.
Summary
As you review your 2021-2022 tax planning, consider the impact of future tax rate increases: will bringing future income into 2021 avoid taxes on future income? Then follow through on the details.
Let us know if you have any questions.
Good luck and best wishes for happy and healthy holidays!
