Prepare for Tax Season with Confidence: Key Tips and Changes for 2025

As the tax season approaches, many taxpayers find themselves sorting through their financial records in anticipation of their tax appointments. The extent of difficulty in this task often hinges on the quality of record-keeping maintained during the year. Regardless of your organizational skills, a well-prepared tax filing session ensures ample opportunity to:

  • Identify and leverage all applicable tax deductions within legal boundaries,
  • Assess optimal income reporting strategies tailored for your situation,
  • Understand the latest tax law updates impacting your obligations, and
  • Explore forward-looking tax planning strategies that might lower your future liabilities.
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Noteworthy Changes for 2025 – Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), several new tax provisions are introduced this year:

  • Tax-Free Tips: Eligible workers can now deduct up to $25,000 for cash tips, phasing out after reaching $150,000 AGI for singles, and $300,000 for joint filers. This deduction features on W-2s for the year 2025.
  • Overtime Deduction: Overtime earnings can merit deductions of up to $12,500, or $25,000 for joint filings, with a phase-out starting at the same AGI thresholds.
  • Vehicle Loan Interest: Interest on new personal vehicle loans can be deducted up to $10,000, with certain stipulations on the vehicle type and income limits.
  • Increased SALT Deduction: Raised to $40,000, this itemized deduction steadily reduces for taxpayers with MAGIs starting at $500,000.
  • Enhanced Retirement Contributions: Individuals aged 60-63 can make larger catch-up contributions to various retirement plans.
  • Child Tax Credit Boost: The credit is set at $2,200, with $1,700 being refundable, for children under 17 in the coming years.
  • Adoption Credit Update: Now partially refundable at $17,280, with provisions for carryforward of excess credits.
  • Section 179 Expensing: Businesses can write-off up to $2.5 million for qualifying assets immediately, under new spending thresholds.
  • Bonus Depreciation: Permanently increased to 100% for property purchased after January 19, 2025, providing immediate deductions for business assets.
  • Research Expenditure Deductions: Domestic research costs can be deducted wholly in the year incurred starting in 2025.

Strategic Tax Choices – Your tax filing provides multiple avenues for handling income and deductions, influencing both current and future obligations. Considerations might include:

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  • Property Sales: Evaluate your reporting options for gains from installment sales.
  • Depreciation: Decide between spreading deductions over time or taking immediate full-year write-offs, where permissible.
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Organized Start – Begin your tax preparations in January, whether meeting in person, virtually, or by mail. Early organization alleviates stress and prevents overlooked records. Develop a consistent filing routine for all documents received post-new year.

Keep your tax records separated into clear categories such as income, medical expenses, mortgage interests, and donations. If prompted to complete an organizer or questionnaire, ensure thorough completion to prevent missing vital transactions. Draw attention to any foreign financial engagements you might possess to avert severe reporting penalties. Similarly, maintain awareness of the IRS’s surveillance on cryptocurrencies and relay any necessary transactions come tax time with the new Form 1099-DA.

For health insurance acquired via a government marketplace, Form 1095-A is essential for accurately determining your premium credit and, thus, should accompany your other documents during tax prep. Additionally, securely tack down all income mentions like W-2s, 1099s, and K-1s.

Maintain Precision – Scrupulously reviewing personal information can assure utmost precision in your filing. This extends from verifying dependent details for deduction eligibility to noting marital status changes documented by relevant agreements.

Unique transactions often carry special filing requirements. When managing items like stock sales, gifted properties, and significant donations, ensure you have all necessary documents and valuation information. In cases involving substantial changes to your tax situation or unique transactions, consult our team for guidance and clarity.

If an unexpected event influenced your financial year, please consult us ahead of your appointment about document specifics. We aim to ensure your tax filing is as smooth as possible, offering support in compiling data accurately, contacting this office for any additional questions or clarifications you might need.

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