What You Should Start Doing Now To Ensure a Big Tax Refund Next Year

The number one thing to do when you want to receive a tax refund next tax season is to start planning as soon as possible. The choices you make today impact how much you’ll owe – or, hopefully, how much you’ll get back – next year, so the sooner you start accurately documenting your deductions and using sound financial planning strategies, the better prepared you’ll be whether you owe Uncle Sam or are owed a return.  Below are some tips to help you get ready for a big tax refund next year.

Seek Advice from a Tax Accountant or CPA

You’ve decided to get your taxes together and organized this year so you can get a big tax refund next year. That means no more pulling your hair out while trying to look for receipts and paperwork. It’s an excellent idea to start a file in which you keep everything and anything that could be remotely related to your taxes.

There are all kinds of credits and deductions, so make sure you don’t leave things out that could qualify. Seeing a tax planning professional or buying a computer program to help with tax planning in the coming year is a strategic way to start the year organized and stay that way all the way through tax season. Tax pros and tax planning software offer information on the strategies that will result in a higher tax refund when tax time rolls around.

Software programs may offer either free phone or chat support, or charge an extra fee to speak with a CPA. An alternative option is to seek out a local tax professional or CPA and schedule a meeting so that they can provide a framework for organizing your tax information and offer recommendations for maximizing your tax savings. They, or you, will find credits and deductions you didn’t know you could take.

Reduce Exemptions and Find All of Your Deductions

Another thing to think about is changing your exemptions. If you’re employed by a company, you filled out a W-4 form when you were hired specifying the number of exemptions you wanted such as single, head of household, etc. The more exemptions you claim, the less money they withhold for taxes, so you could end up owing money at the end of the year. If you’re able to, change your exemption status to one so that your employer will withhold more money out of every check – but you’ll get more back at the end of next tax season.

Deductions are essential to ensuring a big tax refund. Be sure that throughout the year you keep very thorough and detailed records of the different deductions you plan to claim. Some of these deductions may include:

• Charitable donations: Cash donations are acceptable, and you can also donate clothing, household items, furniture, and many other items. If you volunteer and use your car to help the nonprofit, you can deduct your mileage. Make sure that the nonprofit can prove 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
• Mortgage interest
• Student loan interest
• Moving expenses
• Job hunting expenses
• Gambling losses
• Medical deductions: Keep in mind that you may need a letter on official letterhead from a healthcare provider documenting that certain medical equipment or supplies are medically necessary.

Have you thought about starting your own business? If you decide to start your own small business there are many deductions you can claim. Some of these deductions include:

• General office supplies
• Office equipment
• Home office expenses
• Telephone use
• Internet service
• Advertising
• Don’t forget to deduct the mileage used for your small business. If your business requires you to travel to different locations – such as a dog walking or dog sitting business, don’t forget to track your mileage so that you can use it for a deduction at the end of the year.

There are many other deductions you may be able to use, so a tax preparer or computer program are the best ways to make sure you don’t miss any of them, and to be sure that you do qualify for them.

Tax Credits and Your IRA

Tax credits are another great way to ensure a big tax refund. Some of the credits you can claim are:

• New homebuyer
• Energy-saving improvements
• Owning a hybrid vehicle
• Education credits
• Child and dependent care tax credits
• Earned income tax credit

If you don’t have an IRA you should open one. If you have one, make contributions to it and even max it out if you can.

Put It All Together

Consider using all of these tips in order to really minimize your tax obligations next year. Get a certified tax preparer, keep track of all receipts and paperwork, and learn what deductions and credits you can claim. When all is said and done, hopefully next year you’ll be on the receiving end of a check from the IRS.

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