While we are barely a month removed from this year’s individual income tax filing deadline, it’s not too early to start thinking about next year’s tax strategy. The changes from last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are now fully in effect for the 2018 tax year. 415 Group Manager Todd Ruggles, CPA, looks at how early planning can provide potential tax benefits.
With the April 17 individual income tax filing deadline behind you (or with your 2017 tax return on the back burner if you filed for an extension), you may be hoping to not think about taxes for the next several months. But for maximum tax savings, now is the time to start tax planning for 2018. It’s especially critical to get an early start this year because the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has substantially changed the tax environment.
Many variables
A tremendous number of variables affect your overall tax liability for the year. Looking at these variables early in the year can give you more opportunities to reduce your 2018 tax bill.
For example, the timing of income and deductible expenses can affect both the rate you pay and when you pay. By regularly reviewing your year-to-date income, expenses and potential tax, you may be able to time income and expenses in a way that reduces, or at least defers, your tax liability.
In other words, tax planning shouldn’t be just a year-end activity.
Certainty vs. uncertainty
Last year, planning early was a challenge because it was uncertain whether tax reform legislation would be signed into law, when it would go into effect and what it would include. This year, the TCJA tax reform legislation is in place, with most of the provisions affecting individuals in effect for 2018–2025. And additional major tax law changes aren’t expected in 2018. So there’s no need to hold off on tax planning.
But while there’s more certainty about the tax law that will be in effect this year and next, there’s still much uncertainty on exactly what the impact of the TCJA changes will be on each taxpayer. The new law generally reduces individual tax rates, and it expands some tax breaks. However, it reduces or eliminates many other breaks.
The total impact of these changes is what will ultimately determine which tax strategies will make sense for you this year, such as the best way to time income and expenses. You may need to deviate from strategies that worked for you in previous years and implement some new strategies.
Getting started sooner will help ensure you don’t take actions that you think will save taxes but that actually will be costly under the new tax regime. It will also allow you to take full advantage of new tax-saving opportunities.
Now and throughout the year
To get started on your 2018 tax planning, contact us. We can help you determine how the TCJA affects you and what strategies you should implement now and throughout the year to minimize your tax liability.
© 2018
It makes a good deal of sense to begin looking at next year’s taxes right now, given the sheer volume and potential impact of the changes enacted by last year’s Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. While strategic tax planning has always been important, the process may need to start earlier than in previous tax years. Certainly, every individual’s tax situation has its own set of unique circumstances. However, I expect these new tax law changes to affect a large portion of taxpayers—both positively and negatively.
In that light, it’s much better to understand your potential tax liability now, rather than waiting until the deadline to discover potentially unpleasant surprises. Under the TCJA, the IRS withholding tables have also been modified, making it a great time to find out if your withholding is in line with your expected tax liability.
I think that automatically expecting your individual tax liability to be reduced could be a real mistake. It’s true, the changes in the tax law may present significant benefits to many filers. For example, the modifications in the child tax credit provisions will likely open up this benefit to a wider range of individuals. However, other factors are at play such as the elimination of many itemized deductions. Even the state and local taxes deduction, which was commonly used by many people, has been greatly reduced. The point is when it comes to your taxes—this year especially—early preparation can help you maximize your potential benefits while avoiding tax pitfalls.
At 415 Group, we’ve dedicated substantial time to interpreting the new tax regulations put in place by the TCJA. With these new rules now firmly established, our clients can start playing the “long game” once again. And that’s where we can really help. We have the necessary tools and experience to run tax liability projections that will help you make the most informed tax strategy decisions.