11 Ways for High Earners to Reduce Taxable Income 2023

If you have an overall net loss, the IRS allows you to deduct $3,000 of that (or $1,500 if you are married and filing separately) on your tax returns. Any remainder can then be applied to offset future capital gains. Taxpayers have the option of taking a standard deduction or itemizing their deductions. The standard deduction is a set amount that every taxpayer is allowed to claim each year.

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• That means you will pay taxes before you contribute but not when you withdraw.
• The Child and Dependent Care Credit can, depending on income, help offset qualified expenses for the care of children and disabled dependents.
• For Virginians who want to know how to reduce Virginia income tax, up to $4,000 per account per year is deductible for state income tax purposes.

The plan increases the amount of expense eligible for the credit, relaxes the credit reduction due to income levels, and also makes it fully refundable. This means that, unlike other years, you can still get the credit even if you don’t owe taxes. Choosing to file separate returns can have its drawbacks, such as losing certain deductions and credits available to joint filers. You’ll need to weigh this carefully to maximize your refund potential. Also, both spouses must take either the standard deduction or itemize their deductions. While Americans may disagree on how the government spends their taxes, at tax time, many of us are looking for ways to pay no more than we owe — or even boost our tax refunds.

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Under the law, an individual can give up to $75,000, or five years’ worth of gift-tax exemptions, in a single year as an initial contribution to a student’s 529 plan. If you’re planning to put up a “For sale” sign this year or refinance your home, concentrate on projects where you’ll recoup the highest amount of your investment at resale. Upgrades related to energy efficiency, curb appeal and midrange remodels in kitchens and bathrooms can often yield good returns on your investment. For the deep dive, you might wish to review Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report to see which projects might be best for your home’s value.

• Losses not used in the current year can be carried forward to subsequent years.
• Join 6,289+ individuals who receive our retirement insights by email and get a free copy of “Key Issues To Consider Before You Retire.”
• The 11 strategies we have outlined here can help you find ways to reduce your tax bill.
• Many employers offer qualified retirement savings plans such as 401(K), 403(b), and 457 plans to help attract qualified employees.
• For self-employed persons, the maximum annual addition to SEPs and Keoghs for 2022 is $61,000.

Below the line deductions, also known as standard deductions or itemized deductions, are determined after calculating your AGI. Unfortunately, not all below the line deductions will lower your taxable income. According to estimates, nearly 90% of taxpayers will end up taking the standard deduction rather than itemizing deductions. In 2022, the standard deduction is $12,950 for individuals, $25,900 for married filing jointly, and higher for the blind and individuals age 65 plus. You can estimate your tax refund easily with a few key pieces of information and a bit of math.

Find the right tax forms

Let’s start with an overview of tax rules for high-income earners. In addition to the credits listed above, there are some new tax credits that you may be able to apply specifically to your 2022 tax return. You may contribute an additional $1,000 if you are 55 or older. HSA contribution limits are linked to inflation, even though cost increases for medical expenses typically outpace inflation every year. For 2023, the maximum is increasing to $3,850 for individuals and $7,750 for families. Whether it’s an IRA, SEP IRA, 401-k, or an HSA, this is a fantastic way to defer taxes to a later year and build that bucket of wealth towards retirement.

• Before we get into the different credits you may be able to claim, it’s important to understand the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction.
• If that’s the case, you may want to increase the amount of taxes withheld from your paycheck.
• Once you know your taxable income, you can use the chart below to determine your federal tax bracket.
• You can even roll over the money in a traditional IRA or a 401(k) into a Roth IRA and reap the same benefits.
• Or you can get your taxes done right, with experts by your side with TurboTax Live Assisted.

If you are a high-income earner aged 50 plus with over $2 million saved for retirement, talk to a financial advisor today. You can adjust the assets in your portfolio to change the way your income is taxed. If you own a business, changing your business structure can be a very effective tax reduction strategy for high-income earners.

Tax deduction #4: The 20% pass-through deduction

It takes more than finding the right tax reduction strategies for high-income earners to ensure your money is working for you in the most efficient way possible. These were created in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and allow you to defer taxes on capital gains until 2026 by investing them in a QOF within 180 days of the sale. Taxes can be reduced by holding onto the investment for at https://kelleysbookkeeping.com/what-is-a-ucc-filing-how-does-a-ucc-lien-work/ least five years. Establish and contribute appreciated positions to a charitable remainder trust. Charitable remainder trusts disperse income to beneficiaries for an established period of time before the remainder is donated to charity. By contributing a long-term, appreciated asset, you avoid incurring tax on the gains and get a deduction based on the current value of the gift.

Another tax refund maximizing strategy is to increase the value of your human capital. It gets even better if you commit to investing your $3,000 refund in each of those 10 years. After letting compounding and earnings do their thing, you’ll have more than $40,000 in your investment account. If you can’t finish your return on time, make sure you file Form 4868 by April 18, 2023. Form 4868 gives you an extension of the filing deadline until October 16, 2023.

How Can I Reduce My Taxable Income?

Tax credits are some of the best tax breaks for college students. These credits apply directly toward the amount of tax you owe rather than just reducing the amount of income subject to tax. If telephone and internet services are integral to your business, they can be deductible business expenses.

Besides, the money you save in income tax and the money you create through tax-free compounding is almost guaranteed to offset the taxes you’ll pay at that point. And don’t forget the importance of sleeping soundly, knowing that you are taking care of your future self by 5 Tax Tips That Could Save You Thousands Of Dollars In 2020 saving and planning wisely. Roth IRAs are tax-free retirement accounts that can help you to reduce your tax burden and save money on your taxes, even if you are in one of the top brackets. Unlike a traditional IRA, Roth IRA contributions are made from post-tax income.

In addition to taking your standard deduction and other deductions, there are many things you can do to lower the amount you pay. Contributing to a 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan is one of the easiest ways to defer investment income. As noted above, the SECURE Act lets high-income earners age 50 and over save $27,000 a year in a 401(k) so you have more control over when you retire.

This year, the standard deduction is $12,400 for singles and $24,800 for married couples filing jointly. However, many people can save more money by itemizing their tax deductions. Tax deduction examples like mortgage interest and charitable donations can really add up – and investors can save even more. Employees with a high-deductible health insurance plan can use a health savings account (HSA) to reduce taxes.