Now's the time to sneak in year-end tax savings: Tax Strategy Scan

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

Time is running out for these 2018 tax-savings tips
Clients have two months left to make financial moves that will enable them to save on taxes for this year, according to this article on CNBC. Reviewing and adjusting tax withholding, "bunching multiple years' worth of charitable donations in one year and claiming business-related losses and expenses are some of the last-minute tips that can help clients enhance their tax savings," an expert says. "If the income is the same, but your withholding is considerably less this year, then you have reason to be concerned."

Tax-Planning-forms-1040
U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 1040 Individual Income Tax forms for the 2014 tax year are arranged for a photograph in Tiskilwa, Illinois, U.S., on Monday, March 16, 2015. The deadline for filing 2014 U.S. income taxes is Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Your clients' tax situations will look different this time around
While many clients can expect a reduction in their tax bill this year, one expert says many others are likely to owe greater taxes as the new law has scrapped valuable tax deductions, Motley Fool reports. "There's elimination of many assorted deductions," the expert says. "Too many to list, but some of the more common ones were unreimbursed employee expenses, tax prep expenses."

How to use retirement accounts to reduce your clients’ 2018 tax bills
Clients can save more on taxes for this year by boosting pretax contributions to their 401(k) plans, according to this article on U.S. News & World Report. They may also consider contributing to an IRA and make the most of the saver's credit to further reduce their tax bill. Retirees who want to minimize the tax bite have the option of donating their mandatory 401(k) and IRA distributions directly to a charity. "This can be advisable for people that don't need the funds to supplement their income and would prefer to keep their income tax lower for the year," an expert says. “Unlike the required minimum distribution, the entire amount taken out is 100% tax free and not counted towards income.”

Planning tips for taxes in retirement
Tax planning is important for clients to reduce the tax bite on income in retirement, according to this article on CNNMoney. To do this, clients should determine their cash flow needs and identify their possible sources of income. They should also sock away money in investment accounts with different tax treatments and take taxable distributions during the tax window, when they are in a low tax bracket. This strategy will reduce their taxable income and subsequently their tax bill in the future.

Most outrageous tax deductions IAG

What some clients tried to claim on their tax returns shows they often don't know much about accounting.

1 Min Read

Tax law changes for clients gifting stock
Children who received appreciated stock from their parents as a gift and decide to sell the share will face capital gains tax based on the original cost basis, according to this article on Kiplinger. The rate will depend on their income. Those who sell shares they inherited after their parents died will owe no capital gains taxes, as the tax basis will be stepped up to the investment's value at the time of their parents' death.

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