Why Reducing Your Tax Refund is a Good Thing

With tax day fast approaching, many people are counting on receiving a big check back from the Government. While you’re probably looking forward to this windfall, there are reasons why you may wish to minimize your end-of-year refund.

Why Big Refunds are Bad

Taxes are refunded to you when the Government takes too much of your pay each pay period. By overpaying each paycheck, only to get the money returned to you once a year, you are essentially lending the Government money at zero percent interest.

This is money that could have been budgeted for and spent, or invested, throughout the year. Even if you had put the money in a savings account over the year, you still would be better off.

How to Minimize Your Refund

In order to adjust the amount that is withheld for the IRS each pay period you need to fill out/change your W-4 form.

The W-4 allows you to specify allowances or exemptions that you are eligible for.

These can include:

  • Donations to charitable organizations
  • Interest on a home mortgage
  • Interest on student loan debt
  • Contributions to traditional IRAs

The W-4 form estimates the amount that you would receive from a tax refund. This amount is then distributed over the number of weeks remaining in the tax year, lowering the amount withheld from your paycheck each pay period.

You should also look into filling out a new W-4 every time you have experienced a major change in your life. Examples of this include:

  • Switching jobs
  • Marriage
  • Having a child
  • Losing a dependent (They either file their own tax return, or you can no longer claim them)

While trying to lower the amount that is withheld in taxes each pay period generally makes sense, it may be prudent to not list all of the exemptions you are eligible for on your W-4.

Why You May Not Want to Claim all Your Allowances

While having too much in taxes withheld can be compared to lending the Government money at a rate of zero percent interest, the reverse is also true.

If you underpay in taxes each paycheck, you end up owing money to the Government. In theory this is great. You could put the money in a savings account, and then at the end of the year pay back the Government while pocketing the interest that you collected.

In practice however this is not a prudent strategy for most people.

Individuals have a tendency to spend money that they have, and forget about longer-term consequences of their actions. Additionally while receiving a refund at the end of the year is exciting, the opposite is also true.

This is why it may make sense for you to leave a few deductions you are eligible for unlisted on your W-4. This ensures that you receive a tax refund, albeit a smaller one, rather than owing money.

What to Do When You Do Receive a Refund

While this advice can be helpful for next year, chances are this year’s tax season will provide you with a large refund.

If you do receive a large refund there are a series of things you can consider to maximize its value. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Invest in yourself – Sometimes the best investment you can make is in yourself. Consider buying a book or taking a class to help improve your performance in work or at life.
  • Get your will done – this can often cost less than a $1,000 in total but can save your beneficiary’s significantly more both in terms of money as well as headache
  • Put money into a college savings plan
  • Pay down your mortgage
  • Invest in a non-tax-exempt account – if you have already maxed out your IRA
  • Save for a rainy day
  • Open/add to an IRA
  • Pay off student loan debt
  • Pay off credit card debt – if you have any credit card debt, this should be an immediate priority
  • Save the money and increase your 401(k) contributions – put your money in a safe place such as a savings account, and bump up your 401(k) contributions to reflect the fact that you have this money sitting on the side.

Regardless of what you do with your tax refund, it is important that you come up with a plan. A trusted financial planner can help you in the process of creating one.

With over a decade’s worth of experience in the financial services industry Brad Sherman is committed to helping individual investors plan and prepare for retirement.

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The views expressed in this blog post are as of the date of the posting, and are subject to change based on market and other conditions. This blog contains certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected.

Please note that nothing in this blog post should be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase an interest in any security or separate account. Nothing is intended to be, and you should not consider anything to be, investment, accounting, tax or legal advice. If you would like investment, accounting, tax or legal advice, you should consult with your own financial advisors, accountants, or attorneys regarding your individual circumstances and needs. No advice may be rendered by Sherman Wealth unless a client service agreement is in place.

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Don’t Forget This Year’s Tax Deadline Extension

As we kick off April and financial literacy month, we want to remind you about the tax deadline extension the IRS instated this year. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government extended this year’s federal income tax filing deadline from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. This extension automatically applies to filing and payments. So, if you owe taxes for 2020, you have until May 17, 2021, to pay them without interest or penalties. This extension applies to all filers, including businesses, individuals, trusts, estates, and more. This gives you plenty more time to fund your HSA’s along with your Traditional or Roth IRA’s (depending on what you are eligible for). 

Taxes likely won’t be the only aspect of your finances to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Speak with your financial professional or tax professional about your particular situation. Before making any decisions, make sure to check your state deadlines to ensure there are no different cut-offs you must comply with. Check out the video below as Brad discusses the unemployment benefits and how those will affect your tax situation this year. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a 30-minute introductory call here. 

How To Take Advantage of the Tax Deadline Extension

For those scrambling to get their tax returns together before next month’s deadline, you’re in luck. The federal income tax filing deadline has been extended one month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the U.S. Treasury Department announced this week. It’s official. The federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year is now May 17, 2021 instead of April 15, 2021.

The 2021 tax filing season began on February 12th, 2021. The IRS is still urging Americans to file as soon as possible even though the deadline has been extended. The filing deadline extension applies to individual taxpayers, including those who pay self-employment tax, the IRS said. After May 17, Americans who have not filed will be subject to penalties, interest and additions to tax. 

Because the tax deadline has been extended, that means you have more time to fund your retirement accounts as well. Take advantage of this extension to make sure you are well prepared for the May deadline. If you have any questions regarding this year’s tax return, as always, reach out to your tax professionals or CPA for guidance on your particular circumstance. Additionally, for more detailed information, check out the IRS website detailing the fine print of this extension. As always, you can reach us with any questions at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation here.

What You Need To Know About the Third Stimulus Package

On Wednesday March 10th, Congress approved the American Rescue Plan, the third stimulus relief package since the pandemic started a year ago. The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act includes measures ranging from stimulus checks to child tax credits, jobless benefits to vaccine-distribution funds, healthcare subsidies to restaurant aid. The legislation is the largest aid package to pass since widespread restrictions tied to the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020.

Here’s what to know: 

  • Federal unemployment benefits of $300 per week have been extended until early September.
  • If you collected unemployment in 2020 or do so in 2021, you do not owe taxes on the first $10,200 in assistance. 
  • Lots of people will receive $1,400 stimulus checks in the coming weeks. Individuals with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less and married couples earning $150,000 or less qualify. 
  • Most Americans with kids will qualify for a new child tax credit: $3,600 per year for every child under 6 and $3,000 for each kid ages 6-17. 

Aside from these stimulus bill changes, tax day, April 15th, remains the same. Make sure to file your return on or before that date to avoid penalties. Check out our definitive guide to your 2021 tax return with detailed information on this year’s tax season. In addition, make sure to fund your retirement accounts by this year’s deadline. We will continue to monitor any changes to 2021 filing dates, but we recommend to check with your CPA with any questions on your situation. 

If you have any questions on the third stimulus package and what it entails, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call here.

Definitive Guide To Your 2021 Tax Return

The IRS has tons of rules and forms when it comes to your tax return. And a ton of those rules affect investing for retirement, so we rounded them up in one place. Below are some of the many limits that affect your retirement savings for the 2021 tax year. Click here for this downloadable pdf.

Contribution limits on retirement accounts

Annual 401(k) contribution limit

$19,500 if you’re under 50 years old, and $26,000 if you’re over 50. If you have both a traditional and a Roth 401(k), that’s the total limit you can contribute across both accounts.

Annual IRA contribution limit

$6,000 if you’re under 50, and $7,000 if you’re over 50. Again, this is the total contribution limit across both traditional and Roth IRAs.

Annual SEP IRA and Solo 401(k) contribution limits

25% of your “net earnings from self-employment” or $58,000, whichever is lower.

Annual SIMPLE IRA and SIMPLE 401(k) contribution limits

$13,500 if you’re under 50, and $16,500 if you’re over 50. (Btw, these count toward your overall 401(k) contribution limit, too.)

Income limits to contribute to a Roth IRA

Depending on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), you might be partially or fully ineligible to contribute to a Roth IRA. Note that these limits don’t apply to Roth 401(k)s. (Those don’t have income limits at all.)

If your filing status is single, head of household, or married filing separately

If your MAGI is over $140,000, you can’t contribute to a Roth IRA. If it’s between $125,000 and $140,000, you can contribute a reduced amount. And if it’s less than $125,000, you can contribute up to the full $6,000 / $7,000 limit.

Except: If your status is married filing separately and you lived with your spouse at any time during the year, you can’t use a Roth IRA if your MAGI is over $10,000. If it’s under $10,000, you can contribute a reduced amount.

If your filing status is married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)

If your MAGI is over $208,000, you can’t contribute to a Roth IRA. If it’s between $198,000 and $208,000, you can contribute a reduced amount. And if it’s less than $198,000, you can contribute up to the full $6,000 / $7,000 limit.

Income limits to deduct traditional IRA contributions

Anyone with an earned income (investment income doesn’t count) can contribute to a traditional IRA up to the limit. If your MAGI is greater than a certain amount, you may be partially or fully ineligible to deduct them on your tax return, though.

If you are covered by a retirement plan at work (ie 401(k), SEP IRA)

If your filing status is single or head of household

If your MAGI is over $76,000, you can’t deduct your traditional IRA contributions. If it’s between $66,000 and $76,000, you can deduct a reduced amount. And if it’s less than $66,000, you can deduct up to the full $6,000 / $7,000 contribution limit.

If your filing status is married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er)

If your MAGI is over $125,000, you can’t deduct your traditional IRA contributions. If it’s between $105,000 and $125,000, you can deduct a reduced amount. And if it’s less than $105,000, you can deduct up to the full $6,000 / $7,000 contribution limit.

If your filing status is married filing separately

If your MAGI is over $10,000, you can’t deduct your traditional IRA contributions. If it’s under $10,000, you can deduct a reduced amount.

If you aren’t covered by a retirement plan at work (ie, 401(k), SEP IRA)

If your filing status is single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er)

None. You can deduct up to the full $6,000 / $7,000 contribution limit.

If your filing status is married filing jointly or separately

If neither you nor your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, there’s no income limit. You can deduct up to the full $6,000 / $7,000 contribution limit.

But say your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work:

  • If you file jointly and your MAGI is over $208,000, you can’t deduct your traditional IRA contributions. If it’s between $198,000 and $208,000, you can deduct a reduced amount. And if it’s less than $198,000, you can deduct up to the full $6,000 / $7,000 contribution limit.
  • If you file separately and your MAGI is over $10,000, you can’t deduct your traditional IRA contributions. If it’s under $10,000, you can deduct a reduced amount.

Limit on indirect IRA rollovers per year

You can’t do an indirect rollover from one IRA into another IRA more than once a year. That’s not once per calendar year, or even once per tax year — it’s once per rolling 12-month period.

This applies whether it’s traditional-to-traditional or Roth-to-Roth. However, direct rollovers don’t count, and traditional-to-Roth conversions don’t count. (Neither do rollovers from your employer retirement plan, like a 401(k) — those are different.)

Age limits on retirement accounts

There’s no age limit on IRAs. But you do have to stop contributing to your other tax-advantaged retirement accounts when you hit age 70½ — unless you’re still working, in which case you can keep contributing to a plan that’s sponsored by that employer.

And at age 72, you have to start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your retirement accounts (except for Roth IRAs — no RMDs on those). If you’re still working, RMDs on non-IRA retirement accounts can be waived, unless you own 5% or more of the company that employs you. (The CARES Act waived all RMDs for 2020, but 2021 RMDs seem to be back on. We’ll update this page in the event that changes.)

Those are the limits you need to know about. Now go forth and invest for that dream retirement.

Disclosures:

Sherman Wealth Management LLC (“Sherman Wealth”) is a Registered Investment Advisor (“RIA”), located in the State of Maryland. Sherman Wealth provides asset management and related services for clients nationally. Sherman Wealth will maintain all applicable registration and licenses as required by the various states in which Sherman Wealth conducts business, as applicable. Sherman Wealth renders individualized responses to persons in a particular state only after complying with all regulatory requirements, or pursuant to an applicable state exemption or exclusion.

Sherman Wealth may utilize third-party websites that include social media websites, blogs and other interactive content. Sherman Wealth considers all interactions with clients, prospective clients and the general public on these sites to be advertisements under the securities regulations. As such, Sherman Wealth may retain a copy of information that Sherman Wealth or third-parties may contribute to such sites. This information is subject to review and inspection by the CCO of Sherman Wealth or the securities regulators.

Information provided on these sites is for informational and/or educational purposes only and is not, in any way, to be considered investment advice nor a recommendation of any investment product. Advice may only be provided by Sherman Wealth’s advisory persons after entering into an advisory agreement and provided Sherman Wealth with all requested information about your background.
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Is Tax Being Withheld From Your PayCheck?

Do you know how much money is being withheld from your pack check? Probably not. In fact, 45% of the people polled by the American Institute of CPAs said they don’t know when they last reviewed the amount of tax withheld from their paychecks.

Truthfully, many people we talk to do not really understand their tax implications nor understand their W-4 forms. Why should you care about your W-4 forms? Because, even though your taxes and filing a tax return may seem daunting, it’s important to remain on top of the situation to know how it will impact your finances. 

You might think that you just owe taxes, but thats not necessarily true. Indeed, the IRS issued 125.3 million refunds for the 2019 year, with recipients getting back an average of $2,535, according to agency data as of Nov. 20.

With the new year approaching, it’s important to become aware of your financial situation so that you can be in good shape come the beginning of next year. 

While tax season can be confusing and stressful, it’s crucial to understand your situation. Consider seeking help from a financial advisor or accountant when it comes to your taxes to help you better understand your withholdings. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com or schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

New Fed Strategy Means Cheaper Loans For A Long time — Here’s How You Can Benefit

As we’ve all been waiting to hear about the outcome and policy changes from the Jackson Hole symposium, there’ve been some updates that you should know. The Federal Reserve has said that it will let inflation run “hotter than normal” to help the economy bounce back from the coronavirus crisis, according to a CNBC article. According to some commentary, it seems as though this policy change is meant as a stimulus, to get people to spend more. 

Since the central bank lowered its benchmark rate to near zero in March, credit card rates have hit a low of 16.03%, on average, according to Bankrate.com. The average interest rate on personal loans is currently about 12.07% and home equity lines of credit are as low as 4.79%, according to Bankrate, both notably less than the APR on a credit card.

On the flipside, “Low inflation has helped suppress mortgage rates,” said Tendayi Kapfidze, chief economist at LendingTree, an online loan marketplace. “If you let inflation go up, mortgage rates will also go higher.”

Given this new economic data, and with these cheaper loans for a longer period of time, it’s important to take a look at where you can lock in those lower rates, such as through credit card balance transfers or refinancing your mortgage. If you have any questions about this new policy, and want to see how this could be an advantage for your portfolio, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com and we would be happy to discuss with you. 

What’s Ahead For Your Taxes If Biden Takes The Presidency

With the election around the corner and recent news of Joe Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris, we wanted to take a look at his proposed tax plan and what impact it may have on the finances and current tax plans of Americans.

As Biden accepts his party’s nomination for president this week at the Democratic National Convention, high-income earners are beginning to wonder if it’s time to revisit their tax plans. Indeed, taxpayers with taxable income over $400,000 could see their individual income taxes tick up under a Biden presidency. The former vice president has also called for raising taxes on wealth transfer.

Below we will outline Biden’s proposed tax plan, which CNBC has sliced into two categories, income taxes and estate planning. 

Income Tax 

On the income tax side, Biden calls for raising the top individual income tax rate to 39.6% from 37%, and applying it to taxpayers with taxable income over $400,000, according to an analysis from the Tax Policy Center.

He’s also talking about an increase to payroll taxes. Biden would apply the 12.4% portion of the Social Security tax — which is normally shared by both the employee and employer — to earnings over $400,000, the Tax Policy Center found. Currently, the Social Security tax is subject to a wage cap of $137,700 and is adjusted annually.

Finally, Biden would also boost rates on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends to 39.6% — the same top rate as ordinary income — for those with income over $1 million, according to theTax Foundation.  The long-term capital gains tax rate in 2020 is 20% for single households with more than $441,451 in taxable income ($496,601 for married-filing-jointly).

Estate Planning 

Last month, the Democratic presidential contender collaborated with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and the two formed six task forces to release a 110-page policy document. The document gives some insight on what we might expect from a Biden administration. “Estate taxes should also be raised back to the historical norm,” the task force wrote in the policy plan.         

Indeed, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act roughly doubled the amount that you can transfer to other people — either at death or as a gift during life — without facing the 40% estate and gift tax. The gift-and-estate tax exemption is $11.58 million per individual in 2020.

Biden has set his sights on the “step-up in basis,” a provision in the tax code that allows an individual to hold onto an asset for years, watch it appreciate and then bequeath it to an heir at death. The owner’s basis — the original investment in the asset — steps up to market value at death, which means the heir is subject to little to no capital gains taxes if he sells it. Biden proposes taxing the unrealized capital gains in the asset at death, which essentially does away with the step-up. Wealthy households are likely to use gifting strategies to head off this change, said Bertles of Tiedemann Advisors. “This can be as simple as giving assets to a trust or outright to kids or grandkids while using the exemption,” he said.

Make sure to take a look at Biden’s proposal and think about how that may impact your situation. In just a few short months, this plan could be put into effect, so start thinking about any changes you could make to your tax plan and talk to an advisor for some guidance. As always, we are here to help if you have any questions regarding what these changes could mean for you. 

 

You’re Running out of Time to Reverse this Retirement Withdrawal and Save on Taxes

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are the annual withdrawals you must take from your individual retirement account and 401(k) plans after you reach age 72 (or age 70 ½ if you turned 70 ½ prior to January 1, 2020).  The CARES Act, the coronavirus relief act that took effect this spring, allowed retirement account holders to bypass required minimum distributions for 2020. Those that inherited IRAs are also allowed to skip the RMD this year.  (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-20-51.pdf)

For those of you who have taken a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your retirement savings at some point in the year, the clock is ticking for you to put that money back. If you already took the money out, you have until August 31st to put it back.  However, you shouldn’t wait much longer than August 20th, as there are several steps and contacts involved in the process. In order to avoid any errors in the transaction, it is advised to return any RMD funds as soon as possible. It’s important to note that this RMD waiver only qualifies for 2020, meaning next year you’ll be required to take your distribution as per usual. 

RMDs from traditional IRAs and 401(k) plans are subject to income taxes, so waiving the distribution or returning the funds could help you save on levies. But, make sure to give back the income taxes your custodian may have withheld, not just the net amount you may have received.

In other cases, some retirees opt to split their annual RMDs into 12 monthly disbursements, which means they have to return their monthly RMDs. In this scenario, you may have taken multiple distributions over the course of the year. Therefore, you’ll have to contact your custodian and have them hold the payments for the remainder of the year. You are allowed to replace the payments you have already received, too, but just ensure you cover the taxes withheld and act quickly.

Lastly, since the tax rules changed so rapidly this spring amid the coronavirus pandemic, savers should ensure that their custodians are marking the transaction as a “return of funds” and not a “contribution”, where you’d essentially be getting additionally taxed. 

Make sure to talk with your custodian to see if you are squared away and eligible to return your mandatory distribution for the year. If you have any questions or concerns about your RMDs, please reach out to us at info@shermanwealth.com and we’d be happy to assist you in any way. 

Tax Scams

Tax season is upon us and, unfortunately, with that comes a variety of tax fraud.  These scams often involve phone calls, phishing, identity theft and fraudulent accountants.  Phone scams are one of the most prevalent forms of fraud and have cost victims more than $72 million since October 2013.  The good news is that data suggest some hoaxes are on the decline due to stepped-up security efforts from the IRS, but that doesn’t mean they still aren’t happening.  Here are a few things to look out for to prevent yourself from falling prey to these scams.

These schemes involving phone calls typically threaten arrest, deportation or license revocation if the victim doesn’t pay a fake tax bill.  Victims sometimes give sensitive personal information that can be used for identity theft. In order to prevent this, don’t ever give out personal information to anyone you don’t know over the phone.  The IRS never makes initial contact with taxpayers via an unsolicited phone call and never asks for personal information over the phone.

Phishing is another way that fraudsters use e-mails, text messages, websites and social media to bait taxpayers into providing their personal information or clicking a compromised link that can then be used to install malware onto a computer or other device.  These crooks often pose as a legitimate organization, such as a bank, credit card company or government organization like the IRS and might promise a big refund or personally threaten you. Don’t ever open attachments or click on links in suspicious e-mails. The IRS generally only contacts people by mail.

Another form of tax fraud is identity theft.  This occurs when thieves typically steal a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number to file a fraudulent return claiming a tax refund.  If a thief claims a refund in your name, you still will get a proper tax refund, but it will take time and a lot of paperwork.

It is also important to do your research in order to avoid fraudulent accountants.  There are scammers who pose as tax professionals and rip off customers via refund fraud, identity theft and other schemes.  These criminals typically promise overly large tax refunds to prey on older Americans, low-income taxpayers and non-English speakers.  Make sure to Visit the Better Business Bureau’s website to run a check. Look for disciplinary actions and the license status for credentialed preparers. For CPAs, check with your state’s Board of Accountancy. The IRS also has some tips on how to choose a tax professional.

In order to avoid these types of scams, the best thing is to trust your gut.  If something seems to good to be true, it probably is. Never give out personal information via a phone call or e-mail and if you have questions about anything, ask for a detailed letter.