Tax help top companies in Houston, Texas? In particular, look for receipts for medical costs not covered by insurance or reimbursed by any other health plan (like a flexible spending account or health savings account), property taxes, and investment-related expenses). These are all subject to limits, but if they’re substantial enough, it may be worth your while to itemize. If you do itemize your deductions, you’ll also need to collect any back-up you have for charitable contributions. For example, contributions of $250 or more require a written acknowledgment from the charity stating the amount of your gift and that you did not receive anything (other than perhaps a token item) in return.15? If you don’t have such an acknowledgment, contact the charity and request it. You can find more details on charitable deductions in IRS Publication 1771.

Let’s start with retirement accounts. Employer-based accounts such as 401(k) and 403(b) accounts allow you to lower your taxable income easily. That’s because every dollar you put into these accounts is not taxed until you withdraw the money from your account — and that reduces your tax burden each year you make a contribution. The benefit here is that if you wait until you have retired to withdraw money from your 401(k), your income will be lower because you’ll no longer be drawing a salary. The result? You’ll be in a lower tax bracket, which means that the money you withdraw will be taxed at a much lower rate than it would’ve been if you’d had to pay taxes when you earned it.

Consult a tax professional before making any decisions that can affect your business tax return or spending money for the sole purpose of saving on taxes. Make sure you select someone who can help you all year, not just at tax time. Consider hiring an expert who can represent you before the IRS in case you’re ever audited. An enrolled agent might be your best bet. These professionals are designated by the IRS because they’ve passed a strenuous, three-part test, or because they actually worked for the IRS at some point. Note: These tips are not intended to be tax advice, but only to give you some tax-saving ideas to discuss with your tax professional. Every business is unique, and tax laws change frequently. Read even more information on https://greentree.tax/best-tax-preparation-services-in-houston/.

When you offer a 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan, employer contributions and some administrative fees are tax-deductible if they meet certain criteria. And qualified employers can receive a $500 per year tax credit for the first three years of the plan. Plus, as an employee of your practice, you will be able to take advantage of tax-deferred savings with your company 401(k) as well. To make sure the plan seamlessly integrates with your current back-office systems and payroll deductions, contact your payroll services provider to see what retirement savings plans they offer.