Essential Year-End Tax Strategies for 2025

As the year draws to a close, the familiar hustle and bustle of the holiday season approaches. Before you immerse yourself in celebrations, it’s crucial to explore tax strategies that could significantly optimize your 2025 tax filing. Here are some key year-end tax planning considerations:

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Exploring Non-Filing Opportunities for 2025 - If your income and tax situation exempt you from filing for 2025, you may have room to earn additional tax-free income. For example, consider selling appreciated stocks or taking a penalty-free IRA distribution, if eligible.

Don’t overlook the value of filing a return. You might qualify for substantial refundable tax credits.

Maximize Low Income Years with Roth Conversions - An unusually low-income year presents the perfect chance to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA at a reduced tax cost. If you've encountered stock losses in your retirement account, now may be an optimal time for conversion.

Education Expenses and Tax Credits - If you’re eligible for education credits like the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credit, evaluate your tuition payments for 2025. Consider prepaying 2026 tuition within the first quarter to maximize your 2025 credit.

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Home Sale Gain Exclusion - Sold your primary home? With fulfilled ownership and occupancy criteria, you could exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for joint filers) from taxable gain. Partial exclusions are possible for sales due to employment changes or health issues, even if the criteria are partially unmet.

Leverage Health Savings Accounts - If you’ve recently qualified for HSA contributions, you can make an entire year’s deductible contribution, even if eligibility came late in the year. Remember, HSA funds are deductible, grow tax-deferred, and are tax-free when used for qualified medical expenses.

Optimize Retirement Contributions - Ensure maximization of your retirement contributions by year-end to maintain tax-advantaged growth. If your employer offers a match, make contributions to leverage this benefit. Remember, contributions can be pre-tax, further reducing your taxable income.

Opportunities for Married Non-Working Spouses - Take advantage of IRA contributions based on the working spouse’s income. This often-overlooked benefit can maximize your contributions if one spouse retires and the other continues working.

Catching Up on Retirement Savings at 60+ - Starting in 2025, enhanced catch-up contributions allow those aged 60 to 64 to make larger contributions, boosting your retirement savings significantly. Remember, these enhancements do not extend to IRAs.

Tactics for Stock Portfolios - Review your investments for potential tax benefits. Selling depreciating stocks can offset capital gains, reducing overall tax liability. Be mindful of "wash sale" rules that could disqualify loss deductions if repurchased too soon.

Prepaying State and Property Taxes - With the increased state and local tax (SALT) deduction limit starting in 2025, prepaying these could enhance your deductions. This is beneficial if you aren’t subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT).

Optimizing Charitable Contributions - Consider accelerating planned donations into the current year to take advantage before the 0.5% deduction floor applies in 2026. Charitable donations are deductible when made, including those charged to credit cards within the year.

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Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs - For individuals aged 70½ and older, making direct IRA to charity transfers up to $108,000 in 2025 provides a non-taxable distribution. This benefits your RMD requirements and can lower taxable Social Security benefits.

Addressing Medical and Dental Expenses - Deductible medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of your AGI should be paid by year-end for tax efficiency. Consider advancing 2026 expenses into 2025 if near the deduction threshold.

Gift Tax Exclusion - Annually gift up to $19,000 per individual without incurring a gift tax. This provision allows substantial tax-free wealth transfer possibilities when used strategically.

Mitigate Under-Withholding Penalties - Assess your tax liabilities to ensure adequate payments. Boost your year-end withholding or pay estimated taxes to avoid penalties if under-withheld throughout the year.

Navigate your year-end tax planning with expert guidance from MJ Ahmed CPA PLLC to ensure tax optimization and compliance. Our dedicated team across the Dallas-Fort Worth area is ready to assist you with tailored strategies.

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