Q: With the end of the year quickly approaching, what are some important tax, estate planning and financial planning measures we can take to reduce our taxes and improve our financial position?
A: Year-end financial oversights and mistakes can be costly.
With so many gifts to purchase and holiday parties to attend, it is easy to forget important year-end tax estate planning and financial planning measures that can save you or your loved ones taxes or provide financial benefits for years to come.
The solution is to take action before the end of the year.
Many tax and financial planning deadlines are based on a calendar cycle - complete them after December 31st and lose the benefit for that year. Outlined below are some of the most common oversights and mistakes to avoid before the year comes to a close.
1. Not contributing to your 401(k) or 403(b) and/or 457(b).
Not only do you build your retirement nest egg, but you also gain a tax break by contributing to your employer's retirement plan. Better yet, many employers will match your contributions. Unfortunately, there is a cap on contributions each year. For 2014, it is $17,500 for those under the age of 50 and $23,000 for those ages 50 and over. Additional contributions can be made with the "lifetime catch-up" with a 403(b) and a "double-limit catch-up" with a 457(b). Contributing to your retirement plan reduces your adjusted gross income (AGI), which can reduce your income tax rate and potentially avoid investment surtaxes. Once you maximize your contribution you cannot make additional contributions to make up for under-contributing in previous years.
2. Not timing capital gains and losses.
Capital gains and losses are classified as either short-term (less than one year) or long-term (more than one year). Long-term losses can only offset long-term gains, and vice versa. Selling investments, like stocks, bonds, or mutual funds you have held for more than one year generates a 0%, 15% or 20% capital gains tax rate (based on your income). Realizing a gain on investments held for less than one year could generate a 39.6% tax rate (based on your income). On top of the capital gains tax is a 3.8% investment surtax (based on your income). Review your portfolio to maximize your gains and losses and remember losses can be carried forward to future years. Do not get tripped up with the wash sale rule - selling a security at a loss and buying the same or "substantially identical" security within 30 calendar days before or after the sale. Wash sale losses are typically disallowed for current income tax purposes.
3. Paying the alternative minimum tax.
Also known as AMT, the alternative minimum tax is running rampant in New Jersey. Instead of prepaying your state income taxes and real estate taxes pay them when they are due. Instead of exercising your incentive stock options early exercise them when they are closer to their expiration date. Verify your municipal bonds and municipal bond funds holdings are exempt from AMT, as many are not exempt. Each of these measures could eliminate or mitigate your AMT exposure.
4. Forgetting to take your required minimum distribution.
Also known as RMD, required minimum distributions are necessary on traditional IRA accounts once you turn 70 ½ years old (with certain exceptions) or if you inherit an IRA (with exceptions for spouses). If you have a 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b) from a former employer and you are at least 70 ½ years old, RMD applies as well. Forget to take your RMD and you can be subject to a 50% tax penalty.
5. Forgetting to fund or change your 529.
For 2014, the maximum contribution per person, per beneficiary, to a 529 higher education savings plan is $14,000. There is a special five-year pull-forward rule, allowing you to contribute $70,000 in a single year, per owner, per beneficiary. Like a 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b), once you maximize your contribution you cannot make additional contributions to make up for under-contributing in previous years. Funding your 529 also provides valuable estate planning benefits.
6. Forgetting to make annual exclusion gifts.
For year 2014, the maximum amount you can give, without impacting the amount you can leave estate tax free when you die, is $14,000. You can give this amount to anyone you want, but if you do not make the gift prior to the end of the year, you cannot catch up later. Also, if you give a check, it must clear your bank prior to the end of the year to be considered a 2014 annual exclusion gift.
7. Timing income and deductions to minimize income taxes over this year and next.
The income tax rules are complex and if you do not consider the progressive nature of the income tax rules and the phase outs of the deductions, then you will pay more income tax than necessary. It is important to make charitable contributions in a year when they can be fully deducted. Moreover, it may make sense to prepay your mortgage or real estate taxes to deduct them in 2014, when you know that your income will be greater in 2015, when some or all of the deductions will be phased out.
8. Failing to update estate planning documents.
Though not necessary a year end requirement, it is never too soon to make sure that your estate planning documents are in order.