I woke up Monday morning, after the wonderful holiday weekend … and I had a realization: “After today, there are only FIVE days left in 2016.”
Perhaps not a genius realization — fine. BUT, if you’re smart about how you handle these days, you can pay yourself quite well when tax time rolls around.
The VERY good news is that we’ve been able to clear out three “FAST ACTION” appointment slots this week only for clients and friends who are committed to following our advice quickly, and who want ensure that their tax bill for the 2016 tax year is the lowest it can possibly be.
Send me an email (you can use the button in the upper-right of the site here) to snag a Fast-Action Appointment, or call: (210) 905-4498 — and may I suggest you do it quickly? These slots are sure to go fast. After that point, you’ll be put on a short waiting list.
But for those of my San Antonio clients and friends who prefer to “do it yourself” (though with THIS tax code, I’m not sure that’s always wise), I’ve put together a brief, and actionable “checklist” to ensure that you’re squeezing every last drop out of the deductions still available to you for 2016.
And, on the early note — let me wish you a premature Happy New Year, 2017!
Now, let’s get deducting…shall we?
4 Last Minute Tax Savings Ideas For San Antonio Taxpayers
“Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.” – Josh Billings
Because time is short, and some moves do require more than this week to pull off, I’m restricting myself to those items which you can realistically affect for tax savings before the end of the year.
This will be short, and (hopefully) sweet to your wallet…
1) Use Your FSA Funds
Money set aside in a flexible spending account must be spent by the end of the year, else the funds are lost. Some employers allow a 2-and-a-half month grace period. So check with your employer to see what your personal deadline is for utilizing your FSA savings.
2) Make an Extra Payment on Your Mortgage
If you own a house with a mortgage, and you can swing the cashflow hit, add an additional payment before year-end, and the interest on that payment will be deductible for 2016. Of course, that means that it WON’T be so for 2017, but perhaps you can use this as an “extra” payment … and get ahead of the escrow game.
3) Make the Switch to a Roth IRA
Roth conversions are taxed in the year the conversion happens. However, taxpayers have the option to undo part or all of that conversion by their filing deadline. But in order to retroactively undo part of their conversion next year, they first have to convert this year. So if you are on the fence about converting, consider taking the plunge before the end of the year, knowing that you (and/or WE) can re-characterize some or all of the amounts early next year.
4) The old standby
You know how I feel about charitable giving by now (I hope). This week, of course, is a big one for non-profits who are the happy beneficiaries of our last-minute donations. You can pay early on a monthly gift, or give a lump-sum gift. The purpose (aside from the many, many benefits to the organization, and to you), of course, being to knock more income into a different tax bracket perhaps, or to simply cut your tax bill, regardless of the bracket status.
Now, there are plenty others. But these are the quickest, and the easiest (aside, perhaps, from the Roth conversion — but that can be done quickly).
Do you have others you want to explore? Give us a call ((210) 905-4498) or shoot me an email (again, you can just use the button in the upper-right of the site here), and we’ll help you out.
Best to you. We’d love to see your family THRIVE in 2017!
Warmly,
Sherry Tolbert
(210) 905-4498
Tolbert CPA LLC
