Lower tax bill by year's end
17.05.12
Time is running out on year-end tax planning.
Acting now can reduce your tax bill for the year, which will pay off when you file taxes in the spring.
Here are some tips on where to start.
Harvest your losses.
If youre anticipating capital gains on your investments this year, you can offset those gains dollar for dollar by taking a loss on another investment or two before the end of the year.
If youve been waiting for an investment to hopefully turn around and it hasnt, this is an opportune time to sell, said Janet Fox of ACH Investment Group in Raleigh, N.C.
Then, if youre expecting your losing stock market investment to turn around – but not soon – you can buy back the stock without penalty after waiting 30 days. If you buy back the stock sooner than that, the loss is disallowed.
Alternatively, if youre not anticipating capital gains from investments, you can offset up to $3,000 in ordinary income with losses.
Source: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette