Congress is enacting the biggest tax reform law in thirty years. One that will make fundamental changes in the way you, your family and your business calculate your federal income tax bill. Also the amount of federal tax you will pay. Since most of the changes will go into effect next year, there’s still a narrow window of time before year-end to soften or avoid the impact of crackdowns. Also to best position yourself for the tax breaks that may be heading your way. Here’s a quick rundown of last-minute moves you should think about making.
Lower tax rates coming
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will reduce tax rates for many taxpayers, effective for the 2018 tax year. Additionally, many businesses, including those operated as passthroughs, such as partnerships, may see their tax bills cut.
The general plan of action to take advantage of lower tax rates next year is to defer income into next year. Some possibilities follow:
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Disappearing or reduced deductions, larger standard deduction
Beginning next year, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspends or reduces many popular tax deductions. This is in exchange for a larger standard deduction. Here’s what you can do about this right now:
- Individuals will only be able to claim an itemized deduction of up to $10,000 ($5,000 for a married taxpayer filing a separate return) for the total of (1) state and local property taxes. And (2) state and local income taxes. To avoid this limitation, pay the last installment of estimated state and local taxes for 2017 no later than Dec. 31, 2017. Rather than on the 2018 due date. But don’t prepay in 2017 a state income tax bill that will be imposed next year. Congress says such a prepayment won’t be deductible in 2017. However, Congress only forbade prepayments for state income taxes, not property taxes. So a prepayment on or before Dec. 31, 2017, of a 2018 property tax installment is apparently OK.
- The itemized deduction for charitable contributions won’t be chopped. But because most other itemized deductions will be eliminated in exchange for a larger standard deduction (e.g., $24,000 for joint filers). Charitable contributions after 2017 may not yield a tax benefit for many because they won’t be able to itemize deductions. If you think you will fall in this category, consider accelerating some charitable giving into 2017.
- The new law temporarily boosts itemized deductions for medical expenses. For 2017 and 2018 these expenses can be claimed as itemized deductions. This is to the extent they exceed a floor equal to 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). Before the new law, the floor was 10% of AGI, except for 2017 it was 7.5% of AGI for age-65-or-older taxpayers. But keep in mind that next year many individuals will have to claim the standard deduction. This is because many itemized deductions have been eliminated. If you won’t be able to itemize deductions after this year, but will be able to do so this year. Consider accelerating “discretionary” medical expenses into this year. For example, before the end of the year, get new glasses or contacts, or see if you can squeeze in expensive dental work such as an implant.
Other year-end strategies
Please keep in mind that we’ve described only some of the year-end moves that should be considered in light of the new tax law. If you would like more details about any aspect of how the new tax reform law may affect you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
