10 least tax-friendly states for retirees: Tax Strategy Scan

Our weekly roundup of tax-related investment strategies and news your clients may be thinking about.

10 least tax-friendly states for retirees, 2017
Minnesota, Connecticut, Kansas, Vermont and Nebraska are among the 10 states that impose the highest taxes to retirees, according to Kiplinger. Seniors in New Mexico, Utah, Maryland, Indiana and Wisconsin also pay higher state taxes than those in other states. The analysis from Kiplinger ranks the states based on their state income tax, state and local sales tax and property tax, among others.

Seniors in New Mexico, Utah, Maryland, Indiana and Wisconsin pay the highest state taxes, Kiplinger reports.
Hatsu Murakami, 90, knits at the Kirigaoka Day Home in Kita ward in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Tokyo is one of only four cities among the 71 most-populous urban centers ranked by the United Nations that are poised to shrink between 2014 and 2030, and the other three are also in Japan. Photographer: Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Hatsu Murakami

“Where you live in retirement matters just as much to your tax bill as what you have,” said Kiplinger Senior Editor Sandra Block. “Retirees and near-retirees can use Kiplinger’s Retiree Tax Map to plan ahead and determine which locations fit best based on their sources of income, spending habits and value of their estate.”

Multitaskers balance retirement investing, college funding
A young couple can still save for retirement despite their many financial obligations, according to Morningstar. Couple may contribute to a 529 college savings plan for their children's college education, as the plan provides tax-free investment growth and withdrawals for qualified expenses, an advisor says. These clients should also consider directing most of their retirement savings to accounts such as SEP-IRAs and 401(k) plans to make the most of the tax benefits.

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Advisors with clients opting to stay in more expensive states need to be prepared to help them with those costs.

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How to give wisely to those in need this year
Investors who intend to make charitable donations this year should consider giving away appreciated securities to their favorite charity, according to this article on the Business Journals. This strategy will enable those clients to avoid capital gains taxes if they sell the shares. Moreover, the charitable tax deduction could be more valuable this year than in the future when income and capital gains tax rates would be reduced as part of tax reform.

Why bitcoin splits are both a cash windfall and tax nightmare
Bitcoin investors should account for the tax consequences of a windfall, according to this Fortune article. “A lot of people will assume the value is a capital gain and can pay when trade it out,” an expert says. “But doing that and not paying income tax now could bite you if the IRS treats this as ordinary income. Paying at distribution is the safest route.”

7 smartest tax moves to make before the year ends
Despite the looming tax reform, clients should plan for their investments under the existing taxation rules, according to the Street. Some of the best strategies include contributing the maximum amount to their tax-sheltered savings vehicles and doing tax-loss harvesting. These cleints should also adjust their tax withholding if necessary and take the mandatory distributions from their tax-deferred retirement accounts when they reach the age of 70 1/2.

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Retirement planning Tax reform Capital gains taxes Income taxes Bitcoin 529 plans SEP IRA 401(k) Philanthropy IRS Morningstar
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