tax planning - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

4 Ideas That May Help Reduce Your 2023 Tax Bill

If you’re concerned about your 2023 tax bill, there may still be time to reduce it. Here are four quick strategies that may help you trim your taxes before year end.

Accelerate deductions and/or defer income. Certain tax deductions are claimed for the year of payment, such as the mortgage interest deduction. So, if you make your January 2024 payment in December, you can deduct the interest portion on your 2023 tax return (assuming you itemize).

Pushing income into the new year also will reduce your taxable income. If you’re expecting a bonus at work, for example, and you don’t want the income this year, ask if your employer can hold off on paying it until January. If you’re self-employed, you can delay sending invoices until late in December to postpone the revenue to 2024.

You shouldn’t follow this approach if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket next year. Also, if you’re eligible for the qualified business income deduction for pass-through entities, you might reduce the amount of that deduction if you reduce your income.

Take full advantage of retirement contributions. Federal tax law encourages individual taxpayers to make the […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2023-12-05T16:55:42+00:00December 5th, 2023|individuals, tax planning, year-end|0 Comments

Key 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Tax Amounts for Individuals

The IRS recently announced various 2024 inflation-adjusted federal tax amounts that affect individual taxpayers.

Most of the federal income tax rate bracket thresholds are about 5.4% higher than for 2023. That means that you can generally have about 5.4% more income next year without owing more to the federal government.

Standard deduction

Here are the inflation-adjusted standard deduction numbers for 2024 for those who don’t itemize:

$14,600 if you’re single or use married filing separate status (up from $13,850 in 2023).
$29,200 if you’re married and file jointly (up from $27,700).
$21,900 if you’re a head of household (up from $20,800).

Older taxpayers and those who are blind are entitled to additional standard deduction allowances. In 2024 for those age 65 or older or blind, the amounts will be: $1,550 for a married taxpayer (up from $1,500 in 2023) and $1,950 for a single filer or head of household (up from $1,850 for 2023).

For an individual who can be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return, the 2024 standard deduction will be the greater of: 1) $1,300 (up from $1,250 for 2023) or 2) $450 (up from $400 for 2023) plus the individual’s earned income, not […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2023-11-27T14:11:21+00:00November 27th, 2023|inflation, tax planning|0 Comments

Proactive Year-End Tax Planning: Navigating 2023’s Tax Landscape with Linkenheimer LLP

As the year winds down, businesses are presented with the critical task of year-end tax planning — a complex endeavor, especially with the ever-evolving tax regulations and economic climate of 2023. For savvy business owners, this period is not just about compliance, but an opportunity for tax optimization. Linkenheimer, with its deep understanding of current tax laws and dedication to client success, stands ready to guide businesses through the maze of tax planning strategies.

Strategies for Year-End Tax Planning

Maximize Deductions and Credits

Businesses should review their expenditures throughout the year to ensure they capitalize on all available deductions and credits. This could include investments in energy-efficient equipment, research and development expenses, and charitable contributions.

Defer Income and Accelerate Expenses

If your business anticipates a lower tax rate in the next year, it may be beneficial to defer income to the following year and accelerate expenses into the current year, thereby reducing taxable income.

Consider Equipment Purchases

Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation are potent tools for businesses. Evaluate your need for new equipment or technology upgrades — purchasing before year-end can result in substantial tax savings.

Assess Inventory Strategy

Review your inventory management strategies. If you use the accrual method, consider […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2023-11-15T19:05:19+00:00November 15th, 2023|tax planning, year-end|0 Comments

A Tax-Smart Way to Develop and Sell Appreciated Land

Let’s say you own highly appreciated land that’s now ripe for development. If you subdivide it, develop the resulting parcels and sell them off for a hefty profit, it could trigger a large tax bill.

In this scenario, the tax rules generally treat you as a real estate dealer. That means your entire profit — including the portion from pre-development appreciation in the value of the land — will be treated as high-taxed ordinary income subject to a federal rate of up to 37%. You may also owe the 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) for a combined federal rate of up to 40.8%. And you may owe state income tax too.

It would be better if you could arrange to pay lower long-term capital gain (LTCG) tax rates on at least part of the profit. The current maximum federal income tax rate on LTCGs is 20% or 23.8% if you owe the NIIT.

Potential tax-saving solution

By Linkenheimer LLP|2023-08-21T18:24:54+00:00August 21st, 2023|real estate, tax planning|0 Comments

Reduce the Impact of the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax

High-income taxpayers face a regular income tax rate of 35% or 37%. And they may also have to pay a 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) that’s imposed in addition to regular income tax. Fortunately, there are some ways you may be able to reduce its impact.

Affected taxpayers

The NIIT applies to you only if modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds:

$250,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly and surviving spouses,
$125,000 for married taxpayers filing separately,
$200,000 for unmarried taxpayers and heads of household.

The amount subject to the tax is the lesser of your net investment income or the amount by which your MAGI exceeds the threshold ($250,000, $200,000, or $125,000) that applies to you.

Net investment income includes interest, dividend, annuity, royalty and rental income, unless those items were derived in the ordinary course of an active trade or business. In addition, other gross income from a trade or business that’s a passive activity is subject to the NIIT, as is income from a business trading in financial instruments or commodities.

There are many types of income that are exempt from the NIIT. For example, tax-exempt interest and the excluded gain from the sale […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2023-06-06T14:52:58+00:00June 6th, 2023|investment, tax planning|0 Comments