Returning Value Blog

Everybody wants to pay as little in taxes as possible. Most people use software or hire an accountant to help them find all the deductions they can subtract from their taxable income and all the credits they can subtract from their final bill. But most tax breaks require you, the taxpayer, to plan ahead. Even the most skilled accountant can't deduct a charity donation from your income if you forgot to save the receipt. Here are some tips from the IRS about year-round tax planning:

For 2018, taxpayers can itemize medical expenses that total only 7.5% of AGI.

Is paying down your mortgage a smart move?

Protect your wealth from creditors and litigants.

This is the time of year to start thinking about depreciated stock, it may help you reduce your 2017 tax bill.

Choose one of three tax-savers

Now that your children are back in school, you might consider the available tax breaks for higher education expenses. Following extensions and modifications under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, there are three primary tax provisions that may benefit parents: the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) and the tuition deduction.

What to Look For

When was the last time you checked the beneficiaries you selected for your qualified retirement plan or IRA? Chances are that the choices you made when you initiated the account may no longer be appropriate. Anyone with funds in one or both of these accounts should have at least one beneficiary listed should anything happen to the owner.

Divide interest into these categories

Are interest expenses deductible? The answer is a complicated “yes and no.” Essentially, it depends on the type of interest expense incurred. Although there are technically other types, interest expenses can be lumped into four main baskets for tax purposes.