Top 5 Ways to Reduce Your Taxes This Year

Tax time is officially upon us with the last bit of 1099s being mailed last week. Even in biblical times, taxes were a part of life. Now instead of Matthew being a tax collector, we have the IRS as our tax collector. However, we are very fortunate that we can actually do some tax planning. With that in mind, we cannot do anything else to help our taxes for 2011 except IRA contributions. So, here are the top 5 ways that you can help reduce your taxes for this year in 2012.

1. Feed Your IRAs

Contributions to traditional IRAs are useful tools for retirement as well as tax planning. Because you are not required to itemize to receive the income tax benefit, your taxable income is reduced by how much you contribute. For those under age 50, you can contribute up to $5,000 to a traditional IRA this year, and for those age 50 and older, that amount is $6,000 due to the catch-up provision.

2. “Flex” Your Spending

Many people have access to flexible spending accounts through their employer, so why not use them. These types of accounts allow for pre-tax spending on dependent care and medical expenses. So, at the end of the year your W-2 shows less income because your flexible spending account reduces your taxable income. It is done through your paycheck, so each month of pay period, there is an equal amount deducted based upon your annual election for expenses. Be aware that if all the funds in the flexible spending account are not used by the end of the year, you lose it.

3. Give Back

Charitable contributions not only give you the satisfaction of doing the right thing, but they also provide a wonderful tax planning tool. Any money that you give to charitable organizations such as your church, Salvation Army, etc. can be written off your taxes as long as you itemize your deductions. This means that your itemized deductions must exceed your standard deduction allowed before you can take advantage of these charitable donations.

4. Bundle Contributions

For the charitable giver that may not have enough donations to exceed the standard deduction, bundling contributions is a great way to exceed the standard deduction and take advantage of all your donations. For example in 2012, we get to the end of this year and you have donated each month to your church, but it doesn’t exceed the standard deduction. Take what you would normally donate monthly in 2013 and donate that in the 2012 to get above the standard deduction. This way smaller deductions like donating clothes to Good Will or something can now make it onto your tax return.

5. Buy Stuff (but Only When You Need It)

For years, business owners would buy more supplies than normal at the end of a tax year to take advantage of the write-offs now versus next year. This is a very good time-tested strategy. However, keep in mind that buying for the sake of buying does not achieve the ultimate goal. Only buy what you need or will need in the foreseeable future.

Mark

The Lloyd Group Inc., Expertise you can rely on and a “Team” you can Trust. Mark A. Lloyd , R.F.C., is the principal owner of The Lloyd Group Inc. He has a staff consisting of accountants as well as a full support group to serve their clients needs. Mark has been the featured speaker at many Estate Planning and Retirement Seminars for many years. He has spent his career not only educating the community, but has attended, completed and received some of the premier designations offered in the financial industry.