GET READY FOR TAX-TIME!

Learn About 4 Changes and 8 ‘To-Do’ Actions

Here we are in the closing days of December 2022. In addition to enjoying the Holiday Season, it’s also an excellent time to get ready to visit with your tax-preparer to make year-end, tax savings decisions. Your objectives: lower your tax bill and boost your retirement savings.

In this issue, we’ll start with a recap of changes in the tax code that may affect you, followed by a checklist to prepare for a smooth tax season.

4 Changes that Affect 2022 Federal Tax Returns

1. If you received third party payments in tax year 2022 for goods and services that exceeded $600, expect to receive your Form1099-K by January 31,2023.
2. The following tax credits will return to 2019 levels … reduced from tax year 2021 … Child Tax Credit; Earned Income Tax Credit and Child & Dependent Care Credit. Affected taxpayers will receive a significantly smaller refund.
3. If you file your taxes taking a standard deduction, you may not take an above-the-line deduction for charitable donations.
4. For tax year 2022, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 temporarily expanded eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the rule that a taxpayer with household income above 400% of the federal poverty line cannot qualify for a premium tax credit.

Tax-time 8-Item ‘To-Do’ List

1. Paycheck Checkup: Make sure the right amount of tax is withheld from your earnings. If not, you need to submit a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate to your employer. All taxpayers should check, but especially those who fit the following profiles:

• Are a two-income family or someone with multiple jobs
• Work a seasonal job or only work part of the year
• Claim the child tax credit
• Have dependents age 17 or older
• Itemized your deductions in previous tax years
• Have high income or a complex tax return
• Had a large tax refund last year
• Had a tax bill last year
• Received unemployment at any time during the year
• Experienced a significant life-changing event, e.g., marriage, childbirth, adoption, home purchase.

A quick way to make sure you are having the right amount of tax taken out of your pay is to use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. It will help you to lessen year-end tax bills or estimate your refund.

Important! If you have a substantial portion of income not subject to withholding, (e.g., self-employed, investors, retirees, those with interest, dividends, capital gains, alimony, and rental income), you may need to pay quarterly installments of estimated tax.

2. Unemployment Compensation: You may be one of millions of Americans currently receiving unemployment compensation … or did so earlier this year. If that’s the case, it’s important for you to know that the IRS considers unemployment benefits as taxable income.

Withholding is voluntary. That said, you may choose to have a flat 10 percent withheld from your benefits to cover all or part of your tax liability. To do that, fill out Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request (PDF) and give it to the agency paying the benefits. Do not send it to the IRS. If the payor has its own withholding request form, use that form instead.

If you don’t choose voluntary withholding, or if the withholding isn’t enough, you can make quarterly estimated tax payments. Fourth quarter 2022 payments will be due on January 17, 2023.

As an unemployment benefit recipient, expect to receive a Form 1099-G, Certain Government Payments (PDF) from the agency paying the benefits. The form will show the amount of unemployment   compensation you received during 2022 as well as any federal income tax withheld. This information, along with your W-2 income, will be included in your 2022 federal tax return.

Note: Unlike some other states, the Commonwealth of Virginia does not tax unemployment earnings.

3. Other Types of Payments to Check for Withholding: The IRS urges taxpayer to check the following sources of payments to check for withholding:

• Benefits paid by a state or the District of Columbia from the Federal Unemployment Trust Fund
• Railroad unemployment compensation benefits
• Disability benefits paid as a substitute for unemployment compensation

4. Investment Gains/Losses: If you own stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other investments … check with your investment advisor to determine any realized gains or losses that may affect your tax status.

5. Make your charitable contributions … before the end of the year to ensure your deduction.

6. Remember your RMDs if you are 72 years of age or older: Your required minimum distribution (RMD) must be withdrawn before December 31. Failure to do so may result in a 50% penalty. RMDs are applicable to the following retirement plans: Traditional IRAs, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs, Rollover IRAs, most 401(k) and 403(b) plans, as well as most small business accounts.

7. Check if you have contributed to tax-advantaged accounts: Contributions to Health Savings Accounts, IRAs, 401(k)s and 529 Plans provide significant tax savings. Important: Be aware of deadlines to contribute as they vary depending on the plan.

8. You may want to consider a Roth conversion: You and your tax advisor/preparer may decide to convert your existing IRA to a Roth IRA. The deadline to do so is December 30, not December 31.

Have Immediate Questions or Concerns?

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