Tax Planning

Tax planning can help a retiree maximize their retirement income by minimizing their tax liability. This can be achieved by utilizing tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as Traditional or Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, and other employer-sponsored retirement plans. 

Contributions to these accounts can reduce taxable income by deferring or even eliminating taxes, which can result in lower tax rates and taxes owed in retirement.

Retires can also manage their taxable income through tax-sensitive retirement income planning. One strategy is to delay taking Social Security benefits until Full Retirement Age (FRA) or later. For most retirees, that’s age 67. This can increase the benefit amount, and since not all of Social Security Income is taxable like an IRA or 401(k) withdrawal, delaying claiming Social Security can provide a higher income stream in retirement and reduce the amount of taxable income owed.

Another strategy is to manage withdrawals from retirement accounts strategically. By withdrawing from tax-advantaged accounts first, retirees can minimize their taxable income and reduce their tax liability in the early years when most retirees are most active and spending more money than in later years. This strategy can also help preserve the tax-advantaged status of their retirement accounts for as long as possible.

Retirees can also reduce their tax liability through smart tax filing. One way to do this is by taking advantage of deductions and credits that are available to them. For example, retirees can deduct medical and dental expenses that exceed 7.5% of their adjusted gross income.

Additionally, charitable donations can be deducted from taxable income, which can help reduce tax liability. Retirees can also consider donating appreciated securities instead of cash to reduce their tax liability further. If donations and credits in a given year aren’t enough to exceed the Standard Deduction, consider bunching these donations into a single tax year to make itemizing more advantageous. 

Retirees who have tax-advantaged retirement accounts like IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s are required to take RMDs starting at age 73 and continue for life. These begin at roughly 4% of the value of a person’s tax deferred accounts, which can add up to big numbers over time. These distributions are taxable and can increase tax liability if the full amount of the withdrawal wasn’t needed to meet expenses. One strategy to reduce RMDs and taxes owed is to withdraw more than the minimum amount needed from retirement accounts before turning 73, but keep these extra withdrawals in a lower tax bracket than when turning 73. This can reduce the amount of RMDs, and shave some of the edges off the total taxes owed over a lifetime.

Finally, tax planning can also help retirees with their estate planning. A well-designed estate plan can help minimize estate taxes and ensure that assets are distributed as desired. Strategies such as gifting, trusts, and charitable donations can be used to reduce the retiree’s taxable estate and minimize estate taxes.

It’s also important to work with beneficiaries of retirement accounts to educate them and plan for ways to minimize their tax burden upon receipt of these accounts. It may not be enough to simply manage the tax burden of a retiree when their loved ones can unintentionally cause a large tax bill for themselves that could have been avoided.