One of our main goals as holistic financial professionals 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 to help our clients benefit from potential tax reduction strategies.
2021 has been an unusual year and there is still major legislation being discussed that could have an effect on your taxes. It is the first year of a new administration, so investors should consider taking into consideration the impact of possible future tax strategies. This report includes information on possible tax law changes and some notable changes proposed in the Build Back Better Act that you should be aware of. The main focus of this report is on what individual taxpayers can do to potentially save money on their 2021 taxes.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted in 2017 brought many changes to the tax code. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included many provisions for individuals that took effect in 2018 but are currently set to expire after 2025. One big uncertainty for all taxpayers is what will happen to the tax code after 2025.
As financial professionals, we try to be proactive when it makes sense. 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.
Income Tax Rates for 2021
For 2021 there are still seven tax rates. They are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Under current law this seven-rate structure will phase out on January 1, 2026.
| Tax Rate | Single | Married/Joint & Widow(er) |
Married/Separate | Head of Household |
| 10% | $0 to $9,950 | $0 to $19,900 | $0 to $9,950 | $0 to $14,200 |
| 12% | $9,951 to $40,525 | $19,901 to $81,050 | $9,951 to $40,525 | $14,201 to $54,200 |
| 22% | $40,526 to $86,375 | $80,051 to $172,750 | $40,526 to $86,375 | $54,201 to $86,350 |
| 24% | $86,376 to $164,925 | $172,751 to $329,850 | $86,376 to $164,925 | $86,351 to $164,900 |
| 32% | $164,926 to $209,425 | $329,851 to $418,850 | $164,926 to $209,425 | $164,901 to $209,400 |
| 35% | $209,426 to $523,600 | $418,851 to $628,300 | $209,425 to $314,150 | $209,401 to $523,600 |
| 37% | $523,601 or more | $628,301 or more | $314,151 or more | $523,601 or more |
Year-end Tax Planning for 2021
One of our primary goals is to help our clients try to optimize their tax situations. This report offers many suggestions and reviews strategies that can be useful to achieve this goal.
Everyone’s situation is unique but it is wise for every taxpayer to begin their final year-end planning now! Choosing the appropriate tactics will depend on your income as well as a number of other personal circumstances. As you read through this report it could be helpful to note those strategies that you feel may apply to your situation so you can discuss them with your tax preparer.
Some items to consider include:
Evaluate the use of itemized deductions versus the standard deduction.
For 2021 tax returns, the standard deduction amounts will increase to $12,550 for individuals and married couples filing separately, $18,800 for heads of household, and $25,100 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses.
As a reminder, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act roughly doubled the standard deduction. Its goal was to decrease tax payments for many of those who typically claim this standard deduction. Although personal exemption deductions are no longer available, the larger standard deduction, combined with lower tax rates and an increased child tax credit, could result in less tax. You should consider running the numbers to assess the impact on your situation before deciding to take itemized deductions.
The TCJA still eliminates or limits many of the previous laws concerning itemized deductions. An example is the state and local tax deduction (SALT), which is still currently capped at $10,000 per year, or $5,000 for a married taxpayer filing separately.
Consider bunching charitable contributions or using a donor-advised fund.
For those taxpayers who are charitably inclined it makes sense to think about a plan. One way to utilize the tax advantages of charitable contributions is through a strategy referred to as “bunching”. Bunching is the consolidation of donations and other deductions into targeted years so that in those years, the deduction amount will exceed the standard deduction amount.
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 can be a win-win situation. If you are charitably inclined and need some guidance, please call us and we can assist you.
Review your home equity debt interest.
For mortgages taken out after October 13, 1987, and before December 16, 2017 (i.e. enters into a binding contract by that date), mortgage interest is fully deductible up to the first $1,000,000 of mortgage debt. The threshold has been lowered to the first $750,000 or $375,000 (married filing separately) on homes purchased after December 15, 2017. All interest paid on any mortgage taken out before October 13, 1987 is fully deductible regardless of your mortgage amount (called “grandfathered debt”). This change under the TCJA law applies to all tax years between 2018 and 2025. Many mortgage holders refinanced for lower rates in the last few years so remember for larger mortgages, that could change your situation.
Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) are deductible as well, but only if the funds were used to buy or substantially improve the home that secures the loan. 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.
Revisit 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 tuition for children or grandchildren to attend elementary or secondary schools. Earnings in a 529 plan originally 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. Instead, 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 $529,000. Some states even offer a state tax credit or deduction up to a certain amount.
Contributions to a 529 plan are considered completed gifts for federal tax purposes, and in 2021 up to $15,000 per donor, per beneficiary, qualifies for the annual gift tax exclusion. Excess contributions above $15,000 must be reported on IRS Form 709 and will count against the taxpayer’s lifetime estate and gift tax exemption amount ($11.7 million in 2021).
There is also an option to make a larger tax-free 529 plan contribution, if the contribution is treated as if it were spread evenly over a 5-year period. For example, a $75,000 lump sum contribution to a 529 plan can be applied as though it were $15,000 per year, as long as no other gifts are made to the same beneficiary over the next 5 years. Grandparents sometimes use this 5-year gift-tax averaging as an estate planning strategy. If you want to explore setting up a 529 plan, call us and we would be happy to assist you.
Maximize your qualified business income deduction (if applicable).
One of the most talked about changes from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in 2017 is the qualified business income deduction under Section 199A. Current proposals want to change this deduction, but for 2021, taxpayers who own interests in a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or S corporation may be able to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business income. Please be careful because this deduction is subject to various rules and limitations.
There are planning strategies to consider 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 piece of tax legislation is complicated and 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 2021
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 2021 and start thinking about your strategy for 2022. 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 unchanged. 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 $19,500. 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 increases also to an additional $6,500 ($26,000 total). As a reminder, these contributions must be made in 2021.
IRA contribution limits unchanged. The limit on annual contributions to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) which was increased in 2019, remains at $6,000 for 2021. 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 $7,000). IRA contributions for 2021 can be made all the way up to the April 15, 2022, 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 $66,000 and $76,000 for 2021. 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 $105,000 to $125,000. 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 2021 as the couple’s income reaches $198,000 and completely at $208,000. For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range remains at $0 to $10,000 for 2021. 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 $198,000 – $208,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2021. For singles and heads of household, the income phase-out range is $125,000 – $140,000. For a married individual filing a separate return, the phase-out range remains at $0 to $10,000. 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 $66,000 for married couples filing jointly in 2021, $49,500 for heads of household and $33,000 for all other filers.
Be careful of the IRA one rollover rule. Investors are limited to 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 1-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 IRAs, please call us.
Roth IRA Conversions
There are some rule change proposals that are discussed later in this report for Roth IRA conversions, but in 2021, 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 current 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 ($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.
Always double-check brokerage firm reports. If you sold a security in 2021, the brokerage firm reports the basis on an IRS Form 1099-B in early 2022. 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.
Long-term Capital Gains Tax Rates
Tax rates on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends did not change for 2021. You may qualify for a 0% capital gains tax rate for some or all of your long-term capital gains realized in 2021. In 2021, the 0% rate applies for individual taxpayers with taxable income up to $40,400 on single returns, $54,100 for head-of-household filers and $80,800 for joint returns. If this is the case, then the strategy is to figure out how much long-term capital gains you might be able to recognize to take advantage of this tax break.
| 2021 Long-term Capital Gains Rate |
Single Taxpayers | Married Filing Jointly | Head of Household |
| 0% | Up to $40,400 | Up to $80,800 | Up to $54,100 |
| 15% | $40,401-$445,850 | $80,801-$501,600 | $54,101-$473,750 |
| 20% | Over $445,851 | Over $501,601 | Over $473,750 |
| Source: irs.gov | |||
The 3.8% surtax on net investment income stays the same for 2021. It starts for single people with modified AGI over $200,000 and for joint filers with modified AGI over $250,000.
NOTE: The 0%, 15% and 20% long-term capital gains tax rates only apply to “capital assets” (such as marketable securities) held longer than one year. Anything held one year or less is considered a “short-term capital gain” and those are taxed at ordinary income tax rates.
Some Notable and Continuing Tax Changes for 2021
Some previous itemized deductions are still affected in 2021 under the tax laws. They include:
The floor for deductible medical expenses is still at 7.5%. The 2021 threshold for deducting medical expenses on Schedule A is 7.5% of your 2021 adjusted gross income (AGI). The IRS on IRS.gov provides a long list of expenses that qualify as “medical expenses,” so it can be a good idea to keep keeping track of yours if you think you may qualify.
State and local income, sales, and real and personal property taxes (SALT) are still limited to $10,000.
The deduction for casualty and theft losses is currently allowed only for presidentially declared disaster areas.
Alimony deductions. 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.
Education Planning
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 are all still available in 2021. 529 plan funds can be used to pay for fees, books, supplies and equipment for certain apprenticeship programs. In addition, up to $10,000 in total (not annually) can now be withdrawn from 529 plans to pay off student loans.
The 2020 lifetime learning credit, which allows you to claim 20% of your out-of-pocket costs for tuition, fees and books, for a total of $2,500, phases out for couples at $160,001 and $180,000. The AGI range for singles is $80,001 and $90,000.
Charitable Giving
This is a great time of year to clean your garage or house and give your items to charity. Please remember that you can only write off donations to a charitable organization if you itemize your deductions. Sometimes your donations can be difficult to value. You can find estimated values for your donated items through a value guide offered by Goodwill at https://goodwillnne.org/donate/donation-value-guide/
Send cash donations to your favorite charity by December 31, 2021 and be sure to hold on to your cancelled check or credit card receipt as proof of your donation. If you contribute $250 or more, you also need a written acknowledgement from the charity. If you plan to make a significant gift to charity this year, consider gifting appreciated stocks or other investments that you have owned for more than one year. Doing so boosts the savings on your tax returns. Your charitable contribution deduction is the fair market value of the securities on the date of the gift, not the amount you paid for the asset and therefore you avoid having to pay taxes on the profit.
Do not donate investments that have lost value. It is best to sell the asset with the loss first and then donate the proceeds, allowing you to take both the charitable contribution deduction and the capital loss. Also remember, if you give appreciated property to charity, the unrealized gain must be long-term capital gains in order for the entire fair market value to be deductible. (The amount of the charitable deduction must be reduced by any unrealized ordinary income, depreciation recapture and/or short-term gain.)
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, including 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 December 31, 2021. Please call us if this is a strategy you are interested in considering.
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 2021. These “annual exclusion gifts” do not reduce your $11,700,000 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.
Make gifts to trusts. These gifts often qualify as annual exclusion gifts ($15,000 in 2021) if the gift is direct and immediate. A gift that meets all the requirements removes the property from your estate. The annual exclusion gift can be contributed for each beneficiary of a trust. We are happy to review the details with your estate planning attorney.
Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Tax Changes
Exemption amounts for gift, estate, and generation-skipping taxes are another issue that proposals are trying to change. For 2021 the limits are at $11.7 million ($23.4 million for married couples), up from $11.58 million in 2020 and the income tax basis step up/down to fair market value at death is in place. Any amount over that is subject to 40% Federal taxes. This high amount provides high net worth individuals a significant planning window to make gifts and set up irrevocable trusts.
As a reminder, as of now, in 2026, the estate tax exclusion is due to revert to pre- 2018 levels of $5 million (adjusted for inflation).
On November 26, 2019, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations under IR-2019-189 confirming that individuals who take advantage of the increased gift tax exclusion or portability amounts in effect from 2018 to 2025 will not be adversely impacted when TCJA sunsets on January 1, 2026. Claiming the portable exemption will remain an important discussion topic for decedents with large estates. For those who have large estates, please call us to discuss your situation.
Tax Law Proposals
As of the late-October writing of this report, tax law changes were still not finalized. Some of the noteworthy proposals as they were proposed by either President Biden or the House Ways and Means Committee in September are currently no longer being discussed. These include the restoration of the 39.6% top tax bracket and a retroactive increase of 20% capital gains rate to 25% for individuals earning over $400,000 and married filing jointly taxpayers earning more than $450,000.
Other proposals that are currently not being pursued include changes to Roth IRA conversion rules and the termination of the temporary increase in the Unified Credit (replacing the current $11.7 million estate and gift tax exemption with an exemption of approximately $6 million per person starting in 2022).
As of October 28, several proposals were still being considered starting in 2022. They include:
- Expansion of 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT): The proposal calls for the expansion of the 3.8% tax to apply to net income derived in the ordinary course of trade or business for taxpayers with a taxable income of more than $500,000 for joint filers and $400,000 for single filers.
- A new surtax on high income earners: The current proposal calls for a new additional tax on individuals with a modified adjusted gross income of over $5,000,000 that increase for those with AGI’s over $25,000,000. Please note this does not include state taxes.
Another noteworthy item being discussed is the possible changing of SALT tax limitations starting in 2022. Please remember it is uncertain as of our late-October writing of which tax changes, if any, will be passed into law. We only include this section in an attempt make clients aware of any potential key proposals for tax planning purposes.
Our goal is to keep clients updated when tax laws change so that they can proactively plan. If you would like to discuss any of these potential tax law changes with us, please feel free to contact us and we’d be happy to assess your unique financial situation.
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. We will try to monitor impactful changes and as always, we appreciate the opportunity to assist you in addressing your financial matters and look forward to seeing you soon!