Start Trimming Your 2019 Tax Tab Now

Adjust for Inflation

The IRS now uses the chained consumer price index, rather than the traditional consumer price index, to calculate inflation adjustments for various income thresholds and limits. Chained CPI accounts for the fact that consumers change their spending patterns as prices rise, making inflation appear lower. Although inflation adjustments will be smaller, you’ll still find increases across the board. (See the 2019 tax brackets.)

Note that the standard deduction rises to $12,200 for single filers and $24,400 for married couples filing jointly. The extra standard deduction for those age 65 and older is $1,300 per person for joint filers and $1,650 for single filers. If you were on the edge of taking the standard deduction for 2018, consider whether those higher amounts might close the door on itemizing in 2019.

The income threshold for the 0% capital-gains rate also rises, to $39,375 of taxable income for single filers and $78,750 for joint filers.

Plan Charitable Giving

Determining whether you might itemize or not could help you decide on other tax moves, particularly charitable giving. Itemizers can deduct charitable contributions. But nonitemizers—and even some itemizers—may want to consider a different approach: an IRA qualified charitable distribution. Traditional IRA owners age 70½ or older can directly transfer up to $100,000 a year from their IRA to charity. You don’t get a charitable deduction, but the money is excluded from your adjusted gross income and can count toward your IRA required minimum distribution. For those who are charitably inclined, says Stuckey, “by and large from a tax-efficiency point, it’s the best place to start.”

To have a QCD do double duty as your RMD, make sure to do the QCD before taking out the full RMD amount. Let’s say your total RMD is $15,000. You can transfer $5,000 directly to charity and take $10,000 out of the IRA by year-end. That satisfies your RMD, but only $10,000 will be taxable and included in your AGI. Of course, you can do QCDs (up to the $100,000 annual limit) in excess of your RMD amount, too.

Review Health Care Expenses

New for 2019: The penalty for not having health insurance is zeroed out. If you go without coverage, there will no longer be a cost at tax time.

Be aware that the threshold for deducting medical expenses has climbed for 2019. Taxpayers can now only deduct medical expenses that exceed 10% of AGI.

Adjust Withholding

Look at how your 2018 withholding stacked up against your actual 2018 tax tab. If you got a big refund and expect your tax situation to be similar in 2019, adjust withholding to hold onto more of your money throughout the year. If you didn’t withhold enough, increase withholding in 2019. You can have money withheld from various retirement income sources, such as IRA distributions, annuity payments and Social Security benefits.

Pay Estimated Tax

You can also make quarterly estimated payments to cover your 2019 tab. Paying estimated taxes can be a pain, but “not paying estimated taxes is even worse” because you may face tax penalties, says Annamaria Vitelli, director of wealth strategy at PNC Wealth Management. One way to avoid underpayment penalties is to pay at least 100% of last year’s tax bill (or 110% for higher-income taxpayers), either through withholding, estimated tax payments or both. The first estimated tax payment for 2019 is due April 15.