Tag Archives: tax

Top 3 Actions to Take if Your Tax Outcome Was Unexpected

4/2024

Receiving a tax refund larger than expected or owing more tax than anticipated can both be surprising. Such scenarios often indicate discrepancies in your tax planning or withholding. Whether you’re puzzled by a hefty refund or a significant tax bill, here are three practical steps to manage and adjust your tax situation for future financial stability.

1. Reassess Your Withholdings

If your tax refund is larger than expected, it could mean that too much tax is being withheld from your paycheck. While a large refund might seem like a boon, it’s essentially an interest-free loan to the government. To optimize your cash flow throughout the year, consider adjusting your withholdings. You can do this by filling out a new W-4 form with your employer to decrease the amount of taxes withheld from your salary. This adjustment will increase your take-home pay, allowing you to invest, save, or spend those funds throughout the year instead of waiting for a lump sum refund.

Conversely, if you owe more tax than you anticipated, this could be a sign that not enough tax is being withheld from your earnings. In this case, you might want to increase your withholdings by updating your W-4 form. For instance, even if you’re married with kids, it may make sense to claim “Single” to ensure more dollars are paid in through payroll. This can help avoid owing a large sum when you file your next tax return, and it can also prevent potential penalties for underpayment throughout the year.

2. Review and Adjust Estimated Tax Payments

For freelancers, self-employed individuals, or those with additional income sources (such as rental income or dividends), large discrepancies in expected tax outcomes may suggest that estimated tax payments need adjustment. If you owe a significant amount, consider recalculating your estimated payments for the current year to better align with your actual income. This proactive approach can help manage cash flows more efficiently and avoid surprises in the next tax season. Conversely, if your payments are too high, reducing them can free up monthly resources for other financial priorities.

3. Consult a Financial Planner and a Tax Professional

Changes in income, life events (like marriage or having a child), or changes in tax law can all affect your tax liability. If you receive a much larger refund or owe more than expected, it may be time to consult with a financial planner and a tax professional. A professional can help you understand why your tax outcome was different than expected, provide guidance on adjusting your withholdings or estimated payments, and help you plan for future tax implications of any major financial decisions you anticipate making in the upcoming year.

In conclusion, an unexpected tax outcome, whether it’s a larger refund or a bigger tax bill, often signals a need for adjustments in your financial planning. By taking these steps, you can ensure that your tax withholdings or payments align more closely with your actual tax liability, avoiding surprises and optimizing your financial strategy for the year ahead. This approach not only helps in better managing your finances but also in making informed decisions that enhance your overall financial well-being.

Cahaba Wealth Management is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Registration as an investment adviser does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Cahaba Wealth Management is not engaged in the practice of law or accounting. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation. Content should not be construed as personalized investment advice. The opinions in this materials are for general information, and not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for an individual. Content should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor.

Updates for 2024

12/2023

As the calendar turns to the New Year, taxpayers can anticipate a series of changes in the IRS landscape, ushering in a fresh set of regulations and provisions that will impact both individuals and businesses alike. Here are a few important changes to know ahead of 2024:

Retirement Plan Limits

 2024 Limits2023 Limits
401(k)/403(b)/457(b) Elective Deferrals$23,000$22,500
Traditional and Roth IRA$7,000$6,500
Catch-Up Contribution (plans other than SIMPLE plans)$7,500 (no change)$7,500
SIMPLE Plan Employee Deferrals$16,000$15,500
SIMPLE Plan Catch-Up Contributions$3,500 (no change)$3,500
Plan Max. Annual Contribution – Defined Contribution Plans$69,000$66,000
Maximum Annual Benefit – Defined Benefit Plans$275,000$265,000
Compensation Limit under Section 401(a)(17)$345,000$330,000

Health Savings Account Limits

 2024 Limits2023 Limits
HSA Self-Only Coverage           $4,150$3,850
HSA Family Coverage$8,300$7,750
HSA Catch-Up Contributions (Age 55+)$1,000 (no change)$1,000

Standard Deductions*

 2024 Limits2023 Limits
Single$14,600$13,850
Married Filing Jointly$29,200$27,700
Head of Household$21,900$20,800
*an additional deduction will apply for taxpayers who are age 65+ and/or blind

Other changes for 2024:

  • In addition the changes mentioned above, 2024 will bring revisions to the tax brackets, exemptions and credits, and limitations.
  • A 3.2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be applied for Social Security retirement and disability beneficiaries.
  • The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $168,600.

If you’re curious how the new changes will affect your bottom line, we are here to talk about your plan. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to be of service.

We wish you a joyful and fulfilling New Year!

Sources:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-provides-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2024
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-23000-for-2024-ira-limit-rises-to-7000#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Internal%20Revenue%20Service,up%20from%20%2422%2C500%20for%202023.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-23-34.pdf
https://www.ssa.gov/cola/

Cahaba Wealth Management is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Registration as an investment adviser does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Cahaba Wealth Management is not engaged in the practice of law or accounting. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation. Content should not be construed as personalized investment advice. The opinions in this materials are for general information, and not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for an individual. Content should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor.

Navigating Capital Gains Tax

8/2023

By C.J. Laws

Whether used for capital preservation, growth, or as an additional source of income, investments are always made in hopes of seeing an increase over the long term. The appreciation of assets can eventually be capitalized on by selling. This can generate a tax liability referred to as capital gains tax.

Capital gains are created when an asset is sold at a price higher than its initial purchase price, or cost basis. Depending on the holding period of the investment, these capital gains can be long-term or short-term. A gain is considered long-term if the asset is sold after being held for more than a year, and a gain is deemed short-term if the asset is sold in less than a year from its original purchase date. Generally speaking, long-term capital gains are taxed much more favorably than short-term gains, so it’s important to understand the holding period before disposing of an asset.

Long-term gains are federally taxed at percentages of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on the investor’s taxable income for the year:

1

Based on the above table, for example, a couple that is MFJ (married filing jointly) can have a capital gains tax rate of 0% if their taxable income falls below $89,250 for the year.

Short-term capital gains, on the other hand, are taxed at the investor’s ordinary income tax rate, which can range anywhere from 10-37%.

Note that capital gains may also be taxed at the state level. Many states (such as Alabama and Georgia) tax capital gains as income. Some states allow taxpayers to deduct a certain amount of capital gains. Others don’t tax income, or capital gains at all. Taxpayers should always review the specific capital gains rules in their state.

High income earners must also pay an additional net investment income tax (NIIT) on investment earnings. This additional tax is owed if one has investment income AND has MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) above a certain threshold. These thresholds are as follows:

If one has investment income and exceeds the MAGI threshold listed above, the 3.8% tax applies to the lesser of (a) their net investment income, or (b) the portion of their MAGI over the threshold.

Example 1: Assume a single filer has earned net investment income of $25,000 from dividends and interest, and she has a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $260,000. Her MAGI falls above the single filing threshold of $200,000, so she will be subject to the net investment income tax. Since $25,000 (her net investment income) is less than $60,000 (the portion of her MAGI over the threshold), she will owe 3.8% tax on $25,000. 

As the market fluctuates year to year, not every long-term investment will generate a capital gain; some may even have unrealized capital losses. Fortunately, these losses can be used to offset any capital gains generated in your account. After this, additional capital losses can then be used to reduce taxable income. Single individuals and couples married filing jointly (MFJ) can deduct up to $3,000 in realized losses from ordinary income, and couples married filing separately (MFS) can deduct up to $1,500 from ordinary income. If your total losses exceed your total gains in a given tax year, up to $3,000 (or $1,500 based on filing status) of this excess amount can be applied to your ordinary income. The remaining surplus can be carried over into future years, but can only be utilized in increments of $3,000 or $1,500 each year when no gains have been realized. This is defined as a tax loss carryforward. Below is a demonstration of how to use this carryforward to your advantage:

Example 2: In a given tax year, a married couple realizes a long-term capital gain of $20,000 by selling Security X, and a short-term capital gain of $5,000 by selling Security Y. They also incur a short term capital loss of $40,000 selling Security Z. They can offset 100% of their total capital gains by utilizing $25,000 of their capital loss, which brings their gain liability down to $0 for the current tax year. Now, they can use an additional $3,000 in capital losses to reduce their ordinary income. The remaining $12,000 can be used as a carryforward loss in future tax years as needed.

Understanding how to utilize your capital gains/losses against your taxable income can help with strategic tax planning by knowing which investment accounts to withdraw from on a tax efficient basis.

Here at Cahaba, our holistic approach allows us to be aware of your cash needs and develop an appropriate investment strategy that will minimize capital gains. Your financial plan is always the driving force behind any tax recommendations. There is a better way!

C.J. Laws is a financial planning analyst in the Nashville office of Cahaba Wealth Management, www.cahabawealth.com.

Cahaba Wealth Management is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Registration as an investment adviser does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Cahaba Wealth Management is not engaged in the practice of law or accounting. Always consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation. Content should not be construed as personalized investment advice. The opinions in this materials are for general information, and not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for an individual. Content should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor.

1 Source: https://topdollarinvestor.com/federal-income-tax-brackets/