It’s been two years since the last major tax changes were made by congress in 2017, but some of the changes were slow to be defined and understood. Here are some that affected most individual taxpayers to consider as we reach the end of the year.
Withholdings and Estimates
Withholdings and estimated taxes should be verified before year end, as the IRS withholding tables have been unclear since the tax law changes. Employees should check their withholdings before year end and make any necessary adjustments. Quarterly payments made by business owners and 1099 taxpayers should be caught up and revised.
Most taxpayers must pay 90% of their income and self-employments taxes by year end or face penalties. This past tax season, the IRS forgave these penalties for some taxpayers, but intends to enforce them this year.
Itemized Deductions
Of the various changes that came about by the new tax rules, itemized deductions affected essentially all taxpayers. Over 25 million taxpayers opted to replace itemized deductions with standard deductions. The increase in the standard deduction to $12,200 for single filers and $24,400 for married couples simplified the deduction quandary for many taxpayers. Simply taking the standard deduction fulfilled and exceeded itemized deductions for many, with no need for receipts or documentation to back up submitted expenses.
Retirement Savings Deadlines
IRAs and Roth IRAs for tax year 2019 can be opened and funded up to April 15, 2020.
Self-employed earners may have up to October 15, 2020, to set up and fund a SEP IRA if filing an extension for the business return. Solo, or one person, 401(k) plans must be established before December 31, 2019 but may be funded thereafter depending on the details of the plan.
Required Minimum Distributions
IRA owners over the age of 70½ are required to take a minimum distribution, also known as a RMD, before December 31, 2019. Congress is currently considering increasing the RMD age to 72, but it hasn’t been signed into legislation yet.
A single RMD may be taken for multiple IRAs, but an RMD bust be taken from each individual 401(k) account if more than one exists. This is starting to affect more taxpayers since more retirees are leaving retirement plan balances in their 401(k) plans.
Kent G. Forsey, CFP®
President
Source: Tax Policy Center, Tax Foundation, IRS, ©OneBlueWindow, LLC.