Report: Year End Tax Moves for 2018

YEAR END TAX MOVES for 2018

One of our main goals as holistic financial advisors is to help our clients recognize tax reduction opportunities within their investment portfolios and overall financial planning strategies. Staying current on the ever-changing tax environment is a key component necessary to help our clients benefit from potential tax reduction strategies.

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The act is complex and impacts numerous tax specializations, including individual, corporate, and international planning. This report focuses on what individual taxpayers can do to save money in 2018. Unless indicated otherwise, the act provisions discussed here take effect in 2018 and expire after 2025.

The objective of this report is to share strategies that could be effective if considered and implemented before year-end. Please note that this report is not a substitute for using a tax professional. In addition, many states do not follow the same rules and computations as the federal income tax rules. Make sure you check with your tax preparer to see what tax rates and rules apply for your particular state.

Tax Reform Update

As we enter into year-end tax planning, our main goal shifts to helping clients understand the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and optimizing their tax positions. That is no small task given that there are over 130 new tax provisions. This report offers many suggestions and reviews strategies like loss and gain harvesting that have been useful even before the current round of tax law changes.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created some changes with regards to tax planning opportunities for individuals in 2018.

Some things to consider include:

Evaluating the use of itemized deductions versus the standard deduction

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act roughly doubles the standard deduction. For single and married filing separate, the standard deduction is increased from $6,350 to $12,000, while married filing jointly has gone from $12,700 to $24,000. The new laws also eliminate or limit many of the previous laws concerning itemized deductions. An example is the state and local tax deduction (SALT), which is now capped at $10,000 per year, or $5,000 for a married taxpayer filing separately. Additionally, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act temporarily eliminates miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the 2% floor (like tax preparation fees and employee business expenses) and limits the home mortgage interest deduction to home acquisition debt of up to $750,000, or $375,000 for a married taxpayer filing separately.

So, what should a taxpayer consider?

For those who typically claim the standard deduction, it is more than likely that their tax bill will decrease for 2018. Although personal exemption deductions are no longer available, a larger standard deduction, combined with lower tax rates and an increased child tax credit, could now result in less tax. According to Accounting Today, some taxpayers who itemized last year won’t itemize this year, or they may be able to itemize for state income tax purposes but not for federal. You should consider running the numbers to assess the impact on your situation before deciding. Depending on the results, you may even need to adjust your estimated quarterly tax payments or think about turning in a new Form W-4 to your employer.

Considering bunching charitable contributions or using a donor-advised fund

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act temporarily increases the limit on cash contributions to public charities and certain private foundations from 50 to 60 percent of adjusted gross income. For many taxpayers, the doubling of the standard deduction and changes to key itemized deductions will result in them not itemizing in 2018, therefore benefiting from this increased limit. One way to combat this is to bunch or increase your charitable contributions in alternating years. Another strategy is to consider using a donor-advised fund. A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is a philanthropic vehicle established at a public charity. It allows donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit and then recommend grants from the fund over time. Taxpayers can take advantage of the charitable deduction when they’re at a higher marginal tax rate while actual payouts from the fund can be deferred until later. It’s a win-win situation.

Reviewing your home equity debt interest

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, home equity debt interest is no longer deductible. Or so it was originally proposed. According to the IRS, interest paid on home equity loans and lines of credit is deductible if the funds were used to buy or substantially improve the home that secures the loan. In other words, it can be treated as home acquisition debt subject to the new $750,000/$375,000 limit. This is good news for homeowners, if they used the funds for the home. Please share with your tax preparer how the proceeds of your home equity loan were used. If you used the cash to pay off credit card or other personal debts, then the interest isn’t deductible, even if the payoff occurred prior to 2018.

Revisiting the use of qualified tuition plans

Qualified tuition plans, also named 529 plans, are a great way to tax efficiently plan the financial burden of paying for college. Earnings in a 529 plan could be withdrawn tax-free only when used for qualified higher education at colleges, universities, vocational schools or other post-secondary schools. However, they changed that so 529 plans can now be used to pay for tuition at an elementary or secondary public, private or religious school, up to $10,000 per year. Unlike IRAs, there are no annual contribution limits for 529 plans. However, there are maximum aggregate limits, which vary by plan. Under federal law, 529 plan balances cannot exceed the expected cost of the beneficiary’s qualified higher education expenses. Limits vary by state, ranging from $235,000 to $520,000. Some states even offer a state tax credit or deduction up to a certain amount. If you are paying tuition for children or grandchildren to attend elementary or secondary schools, it might be advantageous to set up or revisit a 529 plan. This is also a strategy that can reduce your estate. If you want to explore setting up a 529 plan, call us.

Maximizing your qualified business income deduction (if applicable)

One of the most talked about changes from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is the new qualified business income deduction under Section 199A. Taxpayers who own interests in a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or S corporation may be able to deduct up to 20 percent of their qualified business income. Please be careful, because this deduction is subject to various rules and limitations.

There are some planning strategies that should be considered for business owners. For example, business owners can adjust their business’s W-2 wages to maximize the deduction. Also, it may be beneficial for business owners to convert their independent contractors to employees where possible, but before doing so, please make sure the benefit of the deduction outweighs the increased payroll tax burden and cost of providing employee benefits. Other planning strategies can include investing in short-lived depreciable assets, restructuring the business, and leasing or selling property between businesses. This new piece of tax legislation would take an entire report to discuss, so we recommend that if you are a business owner, you should talk with a qualified tax professional about how this new Section 199A could potentially work for you.

Consider All of Your Retirement Savings Options for 2018

If you have earned income or are working, you should consider contributing to retirement plans. This is an ideal time to make sure you maximize your intended use of retirement plans for 2018 and start thinking about your strategy for 2019. For many investors, retirement contributions represent one of the smarter tax moves that they can make.

Here are some retirement plan strategies we’d like to highlight:

401(k) contribution limits increased. The elective deferral (contribution) limit for employees under the age of 50 who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is $18,500, up from $18,000. (On November 1, 2018, the IRS announced an increase to $19,000 for 2019.) The catch-up contribution limit for employees aged 50 and over who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan remains at an additional $6,000 ($24,500 total). As a reminder, these contributions must be made in 2018.

IRA contribution limits unchanged. The limit on annual contributions to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) remains unchanged at $5,500. (On November 1, 2018, the IRS announced an increase to $6,000, the first adjustment since 2013). The additional catch-up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 and over is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $1,000 (for a total of $6,500). IRA contributions for 2018 can be made all the way up to the April 15, 2019 filing deadline.

Higher IRA income limits. The deduction for taxpayers making contributions to a traditional IRA is phased out for singles and heads of household who are covered by a workplace retirement plan and have modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGI) of $63,000 and $73,000 for 2018. For married couples filing jointly, in which the spouse who makes the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the income phase-out range is $101,000 to $121,000 for 2018. For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement plan and is married to someone who is covered, the deduction is phased out in 2018 as the couple’s income reaches $189,000 and completely at $199,000 for 2018. For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is $0 to $10,000 for 2018. Please keep in mind, if your earned income is less than your eligible contribution amount, your maximum contribution amount equals your earned income.

Increased Roth IRA income cutoffs. The MAGI phase-out range for taxpayers making contributions to a Roth IRA is $189,000 to $199,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2018. For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is $120,000 to $135,000 in 2018. For a married individual filing a separate return, the phase-out range is $0 to $10,000 for 2018. Please keep in mind, if your earned income is less than your eligible contribution amount, your maximum contribution amount equals your earned income.

Larger saver’s credit threshold. The MAGI limit for the saver’s credit (also known as the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is $63,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2018, $47,250 for heads of household and $31,500 for all other filers.

Be careful of the IRA one rollover rule. IRA investors were always limited to one rollover per year, per IRA. Investors are still limited to make only one rollover from all of their IRAs to another in any 12-month period. A second IRA-to-IRA rollover in a single year could result in income tax becoming due on the rollover, a 10% early withdrawal penalty, and a 6% per year excess contributions tax as long as that rollover remains in the IRA. Individuals can only make one IRA rollover during any one-year period, but there is no limit on trustee-to-trustee transfers. Multiple trustee-to-trustee transfers between IRAs and conversions from traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs are allowed in the same year. If you are rolling over an IRA or have any questions on this, please call us.

Roth IRA Conversions

Some IRA owners may want to consider converting part or all of their traditional IRAs to a Roth IRA. This is never a simple or easy decision. Roth IRA conversions can be helpful, but they can also create immediate tax consequences and can bring additional rules and potential penalties. Under the new laws, you can no longer unwind a Roth conversion by re-characterizing it. It is best to run the numbers with a qualified professional and calculate the most appropriate strategy for your situation. Call us if you would like to review your Roth IRA conversion options.

Capital Gains and Losses

Looking at your investment portfolio can reveal a number of different tax saving opportunities. Start by reviewing the various sales you have realized so far this year on stocks, bonds and other investments. Then review what’s left and determine whether these investments have an unrealized gain or loss. (Unrealized means you still own the investment, versus realized, which means you’ve actually sold the investment.)

Know your basis. In order to determine if you have unrealized gains or losses, you must know the tax basis of your investments, which is usually the cost of the investment when you bought it. However, it gets trickier with investments that allow you to reinvest your dividends and/or capital gain distributions. We will be glad to help you calculate your cost basis.

Consider loss harvesting. If your capital gains are larger than your losses, you might want to do some “loss harvesting.” This means selling certain investments that will generate a loss. You can use an unlimited amount of capital losses to offset capital gains. However, you are limited to only $3,000 if married filing jointly ($1,500 if married filing separately) of net capital losses that can offset other income, such as wages, interest and dividends. Any remaining unused capital losses can be carried forward into future years indefinitely.

Be aware of the “wash sale” rule. If you sell an investment at a loss and then buy it right back, the IRS disallows the deduction. The “wash sale” rule says you must wait at least 30 days before buying back the same security in order to be able to claim the original loss as a deduction. The deduction is also disallowed if you bought the same security within 30 days before the sale. However, while you cannot immediately buy a substantially identical security to replace the one you sold, you can buy a similar security, perhaps a different stock, in the same sector. This strategy allows you to maintain your general market position while utilizing a tax break.

Sell worthless investments. If you own an investment that you believe is worthless, ask your tax preparer if you can sell it to someone other than a related party for a minimal amount, say $1, to show that it is, in fact, worthless. The IRS often disallows a loss of 100% because they will usually argue that the investment has to have at least some value.

Always double-check brokerage firm reports. If you sold a security in 2018, the brokerage firm reports the basis on an IRS Form 1099-B in early 2019. Unfortunately, sometimes there could be problems when reporting your information, so we suggest you double-check these numbers to make sure that the basis is calculated correctly and does not result in a higher amount of tax than you need to pay.

Some Notable Tax Changes for 2018

Several itemized deductions are significantly different under the new tax laws. They include:

The floor for deductible medical expenses is reduced to 7.5 percent (from 10 percent) for 2018, and 2019. It makes sense to schedule discretionary medical procedures in 2018 and 2019 if doing so will lead to a medical expense deduction.

State and local income, sales, and real and personal property taxes (SALT) are limited to $10,000.

Although existing mortgages are grandfathered in subject to the prior $1 million cap, interest expense on acquisition indebtedness for up to two homes is capped at $750,000 total for loans incurred after December 15, 2017 through 2025. Interest on home equity loans is not deductible after 2017 through 2025.

The deduction for casualty and theft losses is allowed only for presidentially declared disaster areas.

Miscellaneous itemized deductions disallowed after 2017 include: tax preparation fees, investment expenses, and unreimbursed employee expenses. Individuals with significant unreimbursed employee expenses, including mileage, internet/phone charges, and education costs should consider setting up an excludable working condition fringe benefit arrangement or accountable plan from their employers.

Alimony deduction changes. Under prior law, alimony and separate maintenance payments were deductible by the payor and includible in income by the payee. For divorce and separation instruments executed or modified after December 31, 2018, alimony and separate maintenance payments are not deductible by the payor-spouse, nor includible in the income of the payee-spouse. These changes will profoundly affect the structure of divorce settlements.

The moving expense deduction is suspended, except for the in-kind moving and storage expenses for members of the Armed Forces (or their spouse or dependents) on active duty who move pursuant to a military order and incident to a permanent change of station.

Alternative MinimumTax (AMT) Changes

When Tax Law changes were initially discussed, there were high hopes that the dreaded individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) would be repealed. Unfortunately, it still exists under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. However, the AMT rules are now more taxpayer-friendly.

The AMT calculation can be complicated and you should discuss your situation with your tax professional, but here are some basic facts. In 2017, the AMT exemption amount was $54,300 for unmarried individuals ($84,500 for married individuals filing a joint return). This exemption is phased out at a 25 percent rate when alternative minimum taxable income (AMTI) exceeds $120,700 ($160,900 for married individuals filing a joint return). In 2018, the exemptions significantly increase to $70,300 for unmarried individuals ($109,400 for married individuals filing a joint return). More importantly, the phaseout thresholds are increased to $1 million for married individuals filing a joint return and $500,000 for other individual taxpayers. High-income taxpayers, particularly those in high-tax states like California, New York, and New Jersey, are going to lose significant amounts of deductions because of the $10,000 cap on state and local taxes, but they could have some relief because of the lower tax rates and changes made to the alternative minimum tax.

Although the new tax laws reduce the odds that you will owe the AMT for 2018-2025, if your AMT bill exceeds your regular tax bill, you owe the higher AMT amount. The good news could be that if you owe the AMT under the new rules for 2018-2025, you probably owe less (maybe a lot less) than under the old rules.

Other Family and Education Planning Changes

Child and family credit. The act increases the child tax credit to $2,000 per qualifying child, with $1,400 of this amount being refundable. The act also adds a $500 nonrefundable credit for qualifying dependents other than children. More importantly, the act increases the phaseout for the child tax credit to $400,000 from $110,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return and to $200,000 from $75,000 for other taxpayers.

The “kiddie tax.” The tax on unearned income of children is completely overhauled by the act. Parents’ income and the unearned income of siblings no longer factor into the equation. Instead, earned income of a child is taxed according to an unmarried taxpayer’s rates. Taxable income attributable to net unearned income is taxed according to the unfavorable tax rates applicable to trusts and estates.

Education benefits. Although they were in jeopardy, education benefits – the student loan interest deduction, education credits, exclusion for savings bond interest, tuition waivers for graduate students, and the educational assistance fringe benefit – remain intact.

ABLE accounts. Contributions to ABLE accounts are now eligible for the retirement saver’s credit and a child’s 529 account can be rolled over to an ABLE account for the child.

Qualified Charitable Giving

The law allowing taxpayers age 70½ and older to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD)in the form of a direct transfer of up to $100,000 directly from their IRA over to a charity, satisfying all or part of the required minimum distribution (RMD) was made permanent in 2015. If you meet the qualifications to utilize this strategy, the funds must come out of your IRA by your RMD deadline (i.e. December 31, 2018).

Additional Year-end Tax Strategies and Ideas

Make use of the annual gift tax exclusion. You may gift up to $15,000 tax-free to each donee in 2018. These “annual exclusion gifts” do not reduce your $11,180,000 lifetime gift tax exemption. This annual exclusion gift is doubled to $30,000 per donee for gifts made by married couples of jointly-held property or when one spouse consents to “gift-splitting” for gifts made by the other spouse.

Help someone with medical or education expenses. There are opportunities to give unlimited tax-free gifts when you pay the provider of the services directly. The medical expenses must meet the definition of deductible medical expenses. Qualified education expenses are tuition, books, fees, and related expenses, but not room and board. You can find the detailed qualifications in IRS Publications 950 and the instructions for IRS Form 709 at www.irs.gov.

Contribute to a Qualified Tuition Plan (529 Plan) on behalf of a beneficiary. The effective annual contribution limit to 529 Plans for 2018 is $15,000. Transfers to 529 Plans count as annual exclusion gifts. Withdrawals (including earnings) used for qualified education expenses (tuition, fees, books and other related expenses) are income tax free. The tax law even allows you to give the equivalent of five years’ worth of contributions up front ($15,000 x 5 = $75,000) with no gift tax consequences. Earnings on non-qualifying distributions are subject to income tax and a 10% penalty. Overall contribution limits vary by state. Many states also provide contribution incentives such as tax deductions, tax credits or matching grants. If you’d like to learn more about what your state’s parameters are for 529 plans, please call us and we can assist you.

Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Tax Changes

Exemption amounts for gift, estate, and generation-skipping taxes have almost doubled from $5.6 million to $11.18 million ($22.36 million for couples), and the income tax basis step up/down to fair market value at death continues under the act. These changes provide high net worth individuals a significant planning window to make gifts and set up irrevocable trusts.

Remember, as of now, the exemption amounts will revert in 2026 to 2017 levels (although the exemption amount has never decreased before), claiming the portable exemption will remain an important discussion topic for decedents with more than $3 million in assets.

Conclusion

One of our primary goals is to keep clients aware of tax law changes and updates. This report is not a substitute for using a tax professional. Please note that many states do not follow the same rules and computations as the federal income tax rules. Make sure you check with your tax preparer to see what tax rates and rules apply for your particular state.

There are many other additional tax reduction strategies that will vary depending on your financial picture. We encourage you to come in so that we can review your particular situation and hopefully take advantage of those tax rules that apply to you. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to assist you in addressing your financial matters and look forward to seeing you soon!

Is YOUR financial strategy tax efficient?

When it comes to investments and returns, many times, it’s not what you make but what you keep. A qualified financial professional should understand your tax situation so they can try to always maximize your tax efficiency.

Please take this quiz to see if you are currently maximizing YOUR tax efficiency.

Tax planning strategies involve understanding important issues and sometimes the integration of your overall financial position. If you answered NO to any of these questions, we would like to review your situation. It is always imperative that you seek educated, qualified financial counseling when integrating tax planning into your financial picture.

Should you have any questions or would like some assistance in weighing your options, then please contact us for a complimentary financial consultation. Remember a small mistake can sometimes lead to a big problem!

We Welcome Questions

While no financial professional can guarantee any type of specific return, we strive to continually oversee your situation and our recommendations.

We pride ourselves in monitoring the market environment and offering all clients a financial review when necessary. If you have any questions or items you would like to discuss, please contact us and we would be happy to assist you!