Consider using tax-advantaged accounts to help lower your tax bill.
Even in the wake of complex tax provisions, a key to lowering your tax bill is really quite simple: report lower taxable income.
Since few of us actually want to earn less, the next option to consider is to stash as much income as you can into tax-advantaged accounts. If you haven’t contributed the maximum amount to a qualified retirement plan at work throughout 2021, consider adding money while you can.
- Contribution limits for 401(k) and other retirement plans for the 2021 tax year are $19,500 or $26,000 if you’re 50 or older.
- Consider making additional salary deferrals if you are eligible to participate in an employer supplemental employee retirement plan (SERP). This will enable you to further maximize contributions to reduce your taxable income now and defer more compensation into later years when your tax rate may be lower.
- You can accumulate funds on a tax-deferred basis to pay for healthcare expenses through a health savings account (HSA) or flexible savings account (FSA). Your workplace may offer one, both or neither of these options, so check with your employer. HSA contribution maximums in 2021 are $3,600 for self-only and $7,200 for families, with an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution allowed for individuals age 55 or older. Individual health FSA contributions are limited to $2,750 (note that dependent care FSAs have a higher cap of $10,500); employer contributions do not count toward this maximum.
- Once you maximize employer retirement plans, consider contributing to an IRA ($6,000/year limit, or $7,000 if you’re 50 or over). Traditional IRA contributions are tax deductible if your modified adjusted gross income is under $76,000 for individuals (phase-outs begin at $66,000) or $125,000 for joint filers (phase-outs begin at $105,000). You must establish a new IRA account by April 15, 2022 for 2021 contributions, and you have until then to make 2021 contributions to an IRA.
- If you work for yourself, consider contributing to a solo 401(k) retirement plan, SEP IRA or SIMPLE plan.
Your financial advisor can help develop a retirement account contribution strategy that’s tailored to your unique situation.
Raymond James financial advisors do not render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.
Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website’s users and/or members. Raymond James does not provide tax or legal services. Please discuss these matters with the appropriate professional.