Tax bills can be a big source of stress for many people every year. This is especially true if you find not enough money was withheld from your paychecks during the year and now owe more than expected from your tax bill.
Spending time to plan for taxes ahead of time can be a big help in lowering your tax bill. Here are some tips from PayStubsNow experts on how you can get the most out of your money.
Benefits of Lowering Your Tax Bill
There are a few significant benefits to reducing your tax bill. The biggest one is that you will have more money in your pocket each month. This can be used for anything from savings to investments or even extra money to spend on things you enjoy.
Another benefit of having a lower tax bill is that it can help reduce stress levels. Nobody wants to worry about money, especially not during the holiday season. Knowing that you have taken steps to reduce your tax bill can help ease some of that stress. It can be much less stressful if you have everything organized and know what to expect.
Lastly, lowering your tax bill can also help improve your credit score. This is because one factor that calculates your credit score is how much debt you owe compared to your total income.
Tips on How to Lower Your Tax Bill
There are several different ways that you can go about lowering your tax bill. Here are some tips from the experts at PayStubsNow:
Claim All Tax Deductions You Are Eligible For
One of the best ways to reduce your taxable income is to take advantage of all the tax deductions you are eligible for. These can include things like the home office deduction, student loan interest deduction, and more. It’s important to do your research and claim all the deductions you are entitled to.
Find Out if You Qualify for Any Tax Credits
Another way to reduce your tax bill is by taking advantage of tax credits. Tax credits are a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax bill, so they can be a great way to save money. There are a variety of tax credits available, so it’s important to find out if you qualify for any of them.
Adjust Withholdings
Withholding tax means your employer withholds money from your paycheck and sends it to the IRS on your behalf. This is used to cover your tax bill throughout the year.
Your company’s generated W-2 form can help you know how much money is being withheld. If you think you will be eligible for a refund, you can adjust your withholding to take less money from each paycheck.
Adjusting withholdings will give you more cash in hand each month, but make sure you don’t forget about your tax bill at the end of the year if the amount withheld is not enough. You may also want to adjust your withholding if you expect to have a large tax bill this year.
Track Expenses
Tracking expenses like charitable donations, medical bills, and work-related travel can help you see where your money is going and what you can do to cut back on spending. Make sure that you keep all of your receipts so that they don’t get lost or thrown away because if not, it will be hard to deduct them from next year’s taxes.
If you are also planning on making any large purchases, make sure to keep your receipts in case you need them later. You never know when the IRS might ask for proof of what expenses were made during a specific period.
Keeping all these receipts together in one place will be easier to find them when needed and help you avoid any penalties from the IRS.
Consult a Tax Professional if You Have Complicated Finances or Investments
If you have complicated finances or investments, it may be worth hiring a tax professional to do your taxes. They can save you time and energy when filing since they are the experts in this field. Their services can often come with big savings that could help reduce your taxable income even more.
A tax professional can help you generate and fill up your 1099s, W-forms, and more. They can also help you file your taxes electronically, which will considerably speed up the process.
Just make sure that they are reputable with their services before hiring someone, as not all tax professionals can guarantee a particular outcome for your taxes.
In some cases, using a professional could cost more money than it saves since there is often an additional fee involved. If you feel confident in your abilities to complete your taxes, there is no need to hire a professional.
Reduce Your Taxable Income by Donating Appreciated Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds to a Qualified Charity
Donating appreciated stock, bonds, and mutual funds to a qualified charity can have significant tax benefits. You can deduct the total value of your donated asset, but you won’t have to pay capital gains taxes on it which can help reduce your overall taxable income.
Consider Retirement Savings Plans Before Taking the Standard Deduction
Several different tax-advantaged accounts can help reduce your taxable income. These include things like 401ks, Roth IRAs, and 529 plans. Make sure you are taking advantage of all the benefits these accounts offer.
Final Thoughts
Tax bills can be very confusing and stressful. However, following these best tips from PayStubsNow experts to Lower Your Tax Bill can help you save money on your taxes this year and leave you with more money to spend on the most important things.
