Ten Ways to Lower Your Taxes

Paying taxes, while a civic duty, isn't always an enjoyable experience, mostly because of the complicated paperwork involved. However, that stack of papers could unlock considerable tax savings, with the proper planning and strategies. Here's an introduction to some basic strategies that could help lower your taxes.

1. Earn Tax-Free Income

Some income is not subject to income tax. By earning more tax-free income, a taxpayer can lower their tax liability. You could do this by selling a primary home, investing in bonds, depositing money in a tuition plan for your child's education, opening a health savings account, and taking advantage of certain employer benefits like health/life insurance, disability insurance, dependent care assistance, and educational assistance.

2. Contribute to a Flexible Spending Account

Another easy way to lower your taxes is to pay into a tax-free health flexible spending account. Contributions made to a flexible spending account are not subject to employment or federal income taxes.

If the employer participates, an employee can voluntarily elect to contribute a certain amount of money into the account at the beginning of the year. During the year the employee participates, the employer will periodically deduct a payment for the elected amount from the employee's paycheck, but the employee can receive the maximum reimbursement at any time.

3. Maximize Deductions

Tax deductions reduce taxable income. The amount saved in taxes depends on the taxpayer's tax rate. A taxpayer can either take a standard deduction or can take itemized deductions for medical and dental costs, mortgage points, mortgage interest, property taxes, state income taxes, charitable contributions, and business expenses, among others.

4. Maximize Tax Credits

As opposed to a tax deduction, a tax credit can lower your taxes dollar for dollar. A tax credit will reduce the amount of taxes you must pay. The government uses tax credits to encourage taxpayers to engage in certain activities or to grant tax relief.

The IRS gives the following types of credits: earned income credit, first-time homebuyer credit, child and dependent care credit, adoption credit, education credit, and retirement savings contributions credit. The IRS adds new tax credits every year.

5. Contribute to a 401k

Contributions to a 401k retirement account can help lower your taxes by reducing taxable income. The pre-tax money is deposited directly into the 401k account and the growth is tax deferred.

6. Donate to Charity

Donating to a charitable organization can also lower your taxes. The IRS allows taxpayers to make itemized deductions on their tax return for gifts made to qualified charitable organizations. A taxpayer can deduct donations of money, stock, or noncash contributions and, in some cases, out-of-pocket expenses like transportation costs.

7. Pay Medical Bills

If you itemize deductions, deducting medical expenses can lower your taxes. The IRS defines medical expenses as costs incurred for diagnosis, treatment, cure, mitigation, or the prevention of a disease. The taxpayer can deduct medical and dental expenses that exceed 7.5% of their adjusted gross income. Qualified expenses include those for yourself, a spouse, or dependents. Regardless of when the taxpayer incurs the medical costs, the expenses are eligible for deduction in the year paid.

8. Sell Losing Investments

A taxpayer can reduce tax liability by benefiting from losses sustained on an investment. To qualify for the deduction, the taxpayer must have taxable gains and losses. The IRS allows taxpayers to use a loss to offset capital gains. If the loss exceeds gains, the taxpayer can deduct the loss against ordinary income. It is permissible to carry over a loss to later years if it exceeds the limit.

9. Reduce Your Tax Rate

Because federal income tax rates vary, it's possible to lower your taxes by reducing your tax rate. Tax rates range from 5% to 35%. The IRS assesses tax on income earned from work at an ordinary income rate of up to 35%. In contrast, a lower tax rate applies to income earned on stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate investments. The rate depends on the taxpayer's tax bracket and the holding period for the investment.

10. Income Shifting

Shifting income to a child in a lower tax bracket can reduce your income taxes. This is also referred to as splitting income. Shifting income accomplishes two goals: it reduces tax liability and decreases a taxpayer's adjusted gross income.

Let an Attorney Help You Lower Your Taxes

There are a number of ways to reduce your tax exposure, but these can shift as laws change. As you sit down to work on your tax planning, having a qualified tax attorney at the table with you can make all the difference. Get your questions answered and start the process of lowering your tax burden by speaking with a local tax law attorney.