It might not seem like it, what with all the sunshine and hot summer temps, but 4th quarter is nearly upon us. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about…your taxes. There, I said it. I know no one likes to think about taxes, and while it may seem a bit early to worry about taxes, the end of the year will be here before you know it, and it’s never really too early to review, organize, and plan for filing your taxes.

End-of-year tax planning is a practice that involves making financial decisions aimed at optimizing tax efficiency, reducing liabilities, and taking advantage of available deductions and credits. Effective tax planning not only ensures compliance with tax laws but also allows individuals and businesses to retain more of their hard-earned income, reinvest in growth, or save for future endeavors.

While preparing for the current tax year, it is a good idea to review your previous year’s tax return and make note of any changes that have occurred since the last time that you filed. i.e. did you move, retire, change jobs, get married/divorced, or did your tax bracket change? Highlight any of those changes and find any paperwork associated with them.

Each time you file you are eligible for standard deductions and certain tax credits. If your tax bracket has changed, so may have some of your credits and deductions.

Remember that tax deductions help to reduce your taxable income, which means you will have a lower tax bill. You do not want to miss out on any that are available to you. Check your for eligibility for retirement contributions, educational expenses, medical bills, property taxes, mortgage interest, charitable donations, etc. Make sure you have the needed paperwork to prove you qualify for each one; this will protect you in the event of getting audited.

You might need to consider maximizing contributions to retirement accounts such as IRAs or 401(k)s, which can lower taxable income and provide long-term savings benefits. Similarly, businesses may accelerate deductible expenses or defer income to reduce taxable income for the current year.

Timing is also crucial in end-of-year tax planning. By strategically timing income and expenses, you or your business can smooth out their tax liabilities over multiple years, thereby optimizing their overall tax burden. This may involve deferring income into the following year or accelerating deductible expenses into the current year to maximize tax savings.

Don’t wait until the end of the year, or worse April 15th, to figure out what you can or could have qualified for. It’s like the old saying, “if you snooze, you lose.” Once we cross December 31, there’s no going back to claim things you might have been able to claim. When you plan ahead and keep your paperwork organized throughout the year, it will help you better manage your tax burden. If you stay on top of it, you will be able and ready to take advantage of all the available tax credits and deductions.