Retirement & Eldercare

Tax Planning Advice for Those Nearing Retirement Age: What You Need to Know

by
Lee Reams II
on
5/25/2017
Tax Planning Advice for Those Nearing Retirement Age: What You Need to Know

Retirement is the reward at the end of a long, hard journey of employment – or at least, that's what it's supposed to be. According to a recent survey conducted by GOBBankingRates.com, approximately 33% of all Americans currently have nothing saved for their retirement years. The average 50-year-old only has $50,000 saved, which is problematic for a few reasons.

For starters, a Fidelity report revealed that healthcare alone will cost the average retired couple approximately $260,000 throughout the remainder of their lives. Likewise, the average Social Security retirement benefit is just $1,315 – further proof that this is NOT designed to be a standalone retirement income stream, nor was it ever. When you also consider that the median retirement savings for the average American approaching retirement years is just $17,000, it's easy to see why most experts say we have a "retirement crisis" on our hands.

To say that retirement is something that you need to start thinking about TODAY is something of an understatement. But as you begin to consider important topics like tax planning as you get closer and closer to that magical date, there are a few key things you need to keep in mind.

Favorable Tax Benefits Abound

One of the most important things that people nearing retirement age can do is take advantage of some of the many favorable tax benefits and different types of tax savings plans that are out there. By not just putting away money today but by putting it away in the smartest way possible, you could be making an investment that will more than pay for itself over time.

Gerri Lazarre of TriMergeTax said that "this means making and taking the maximum allowed pre-tax contributions to qualified retirement plans, such as your employer's 401(k) or similar workplace retirement plan, which is excluded from your taxable income." Lazarre would go on to say that people should "consider taking your Social Security benefits at age 66 rather than 62. If you take at age 62, your retirement benefits will be reduced by 25% or more for the rest of your life."

Brian Dela Cruz of Take Flight Business Solutions, LLC had similar advice – particularly when it comes to making moves today that will save you in terms of taxes tomorrow. He said that people nearing retirement age should always "defer recognition of income to when you're retired, especially if you expect your tax bracket to drop when you're retired."

Don't Go It Alone

The most important piece of tax planning advice for those nearing retirement age, however, is to immediately consult the help of a professional who knows what they're doing. Unless you're retiring from your 40-year career as a CPA, there's a good chance that taxes are not your specialty. Finding someone who HAS studied reams of tax code over the years can help you avoid the types of costly mistakes from which you might never recover.

"There is nothing worse than finding out in February, March or April that you have a big tax bill due when you are on a fixed income," said Elizabeth P. Davies, CPA of Taxes Untangled, Inc. "If taxpayers plan ahead, they can make sure they have enough withheld or make the necessary payments so they don't find themselves owing money to IRS."

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Lee Reams II

Lee Reams II

CEO

I am a tax and business news junkie who has spent the last 20 years developing and executing "best in class" word-of-mouth marketing campaigns for tax and accounting professionals. With TaxBuzz and CountingWorks we have taken that same commitment to quality content directly to the consumer. Keeping you up-to-date with the latest tax law changes, business growth tips and planning strategies to help you reach your best financial outcome.

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