Income tax best services in Houston, Texas? Charitable deductions. If you made small gifts, you may not have received any acknowledgment from the organization, but you can still deduct these contributions as long as you have a canceled check or other proof. Consult last year’s list of organizations you donated to and see whether you made similar gifts this year. Whether you do your own taxes or hire someone else to handle it, keeping good records will save you time and, in the case of a paid preparer, money. The earlier you start, the more smoothly it should go, and the sooner you’ll have put the process behind you for another year.
That might not seem like an advantage, but it is. Any income earned on the money in your Roth IRA is also tax free. You can even roll over the money in a traditional IRA or a 401(k) into a Roth IRA and reap the same benefits. Some of the best times to do a Roth IRA conversion are when you’ve had a year with less income than the previous year, or when you’ve retired and are temporarily in a lower tax bracket. This strategy makes sense if you can wait until the age of 70 ½ to make mandatory withdrawals. We like to suggestion this option to our clients because it’s easy to overlook, especially when people are focused on tax deductions as a way of reducing their taxable income.
Tax credits are the federal government’s way of encouraging businesses and individuals to do things—or not do things—that affect the greater good. For example, you can take tax credits for hiring employees, going green, providing access to disabled employees and the public, and providing health coverage for employees. Most are part of the General Business Credit, which is quite extensive so it’s quite possible that you qualify under some of its terms. Check with your accountant. Discover extra information at https://greentree.tax/bookkeeping-services-near-me-houston-tx/.
Slow Down to Save Taxes. If you buy a house or condo, fix it up and then sell it in less than a year, you’ll pay taxes on the profit at ordinary income tax rates (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, or 35%) based on your income. Hold it for more than a year and you’ll be taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20%), depending on your income. You may decide it is worth it to you to flip the property quickly, but if you get caught in a slower market and can’t unload it quickly, you’ll save a lot on your taxes by holding it more than a year.