Tax Organizer

Tax Season 2023

A Letter to My Clients

January 2, 2024

Tax time is right around the corner!!  Here are some ideas to get your information ready for your 2023 tax return compilations:

Our process:

  • Drop off, email, mail, or fax your complete set of tax documents. We will let you know when your taxes are complete then you can choose to schedule a meeting/virtual appointment after reviewing the documents to ensure the tax return is not missing any information.
    • Note: Be sure that you have all of your documents together prior to dropping them off. Each time a missing document is added, you will lose your place in the queue and your “documents received” date will be updated to the last document drop off date.
  • Payment: Payment for services rendered will be due at the time of the appointment and prior to e-filing the tax returns. We accept payment in the form of check, cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Amex.
  • Missed Appointment: We will need to charge a $50 missed appointment fee during tax season due to the time constraint. 24-hour notice is needed if you cannot make an appointment. Please arrive a few minutes early to ensure that your appointment is maximized.

Important Information for Tax Year 2023

  • Review tax year 2023 documents for sources of wage/investment income.
  • Any state stimulus checks need to be noted.
  • Gather a list of accounts to see what documents you anticipate receiving by the first week of February, 2024:
    • banks,
    • financial institutions,
    • brokerages,
    • mutual funds, etc.
  • Gather receipts and documents listing your:
    • charitable contributions,
    • business expenses,
    • real estate tax payments,
    • mortgage payments,
      • If you purchased, sold, and/or refinanced in 2023, provide a copy of the settlement sheet with your tax documents.
    • student loan interest, etc. 
  • List any estimated tax payments for tax year 2023, both Federal and State.
  • Donate goods or monies to qualified charitable institutions before December 31, 2023 to increase deductions and get a receipt (see link for schedule). 
  • Gather dependent/exemption information
    • Social Security Numbers
    • Date of birth
    • Copy of birth certificate
  • Dependent Care Benefits (box 10 on W2) must be set up prior to the end of the year; this can save you money.  
  • Set up Flexible Spending Plans.
  • You may be able to contribute to your IRA up to $6,500 before April 15, 2024, to deduct it on 2023 taxes.  AGI limits apply.  
    • Education IRA/ESA contribution limits are $2,500 per child.  
    • Roth/Traditional IRA contribution limits - $6,500 for 2023, and an extra $1,000 if age 50 or over. AGI limits apply. 
    • 401K maximum contribution in 2023 is $22,500, extra $7,500 if over 50.
    • Minimum required distributions - from IRA/Retirement accounts for 2023. Age requirement is 73 as of tax year 2023.
  • Self Employed Health Insurance deductions are 100% in 2022; gather business-related expenses for 2023. 
  • Mileage deduction:
    • Business mileage: 65.5 cents
    • Medical mileage: 22 cents
    • Charitable mileage: 14 cents
  • American Opportunity (education) Credit is up to $2,500, available for the first four years of post-secondary education.  Lifetime learning Credit remains.  AGI limits apply. 

Updates

  • **Miscellaneous deductions which exceed 2% of your AGI will be eliminated for tax years 2018 through 2025. This includes deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses, tax preparation expenses, as well as the home office deduction.
  • Recent tax law updates renewed prior years extenders provisions for tax year 2019 and tax year 2018.

See above to download a Tax Organizer.

 

 

 

Call for an appointment if you need to establish an IRA, if you have a retirement plan (401K, Simple, or SEP) from a previous employer to rollover, or if you need to establish a retirement plan for yourself or for your company. 

As a registered representative for Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, I am able to create and coordinate a plan for your current and future financial needs.