Three Reasons It May Look Like You Love the IRS More Than Your Family
Consider these strategies to avoid overpaying taxes on your hard-earned money. Your family will thank you for it. (And you’ll thank yourself.)


If you’re like many people getting ready to retire, you’re concerned about the prospect of running out of money before you die.
That puts you in good company, because a recent survey found that 63% of Americans are more afraid of running out of money than they are of death.
Unfortunately, this concern may be preventing you from focusing on an equally important issue, which is overpaying taxes. In my experience, many of the taxes you pay in retirement could be reduced or even avoided. Failing to take advantage of these legitimate tax reduction strategies might suggest that they love the IRS more than they love their families. I hope this isn’t you.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
OK, I’m sure you definitely love your family more — at least I hope you do. The thing is, you may not be showing that right now with how your finances are set up to provide for your family in retirement and after you pass away.
The first factor that might deplete your resources during retirement and in your legacy planning are the 2017 Trump tax cuts, also known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which will usher in higher tax rates if Congress and the president fail to take steps to extend them. Then there may be unforeseen issues that can occur for married couples when the first spouse dies. Finally, if you aren’t careful, you might “gift” your children a large tax bill when you and your spouse pass away.
Here are three reasons why it might look like you love paying taxes more than you love your family.
Reason #1: You’re ignoring that the sunset of the TCJA will increase tax rates.
If provisions in the TCJA are allowed to expire at the end of 2025, tax rates will increase. That means you may want to engage in Roth conversions, where you pay taxes now on traditional IRA balances at the current lower rates.
Strategic Roth conversions could also greatly help you in retirement. That’s because traditional IRAs are taxed at ordinary income rates — you don’t get any capital gain tax benefits when transactions are made within a traditional IRA.
Converting as much of your traditional IRA to a Roth before you retire can also help lower your overall tax bill. That’s because up to 85% of your Social Security may be taxable. Receiving too much taxable income in retirement may propel you into a higher tax bracket than you might realize. That can impact your Medicare premiums, which are income-based.
Approaches such as Roth conversions can also help with legacy planning.*
Reason #2: You’re preparing to potentially burden your spouse with less income and higher tax rates.
The tax system incentivizes marriage, and an unfortunate side effect of that for older adults is that recently widowed retirees, especially women, who both tend to live longer and earn less than their husbands, will experience the “widow’s penalty.” What this means is that they will most likely be bumped into a higher tax bracket by being squeezed out of a more advantageous one available only to married couples, despite their income declining.
This usually happens because the required minimum distributions (RMDs) on an IRA that is transferred to the surviving spouse might put them into a higher tax bracket. You may be able to avoid an unfortunate tax situation through Roth conversions, where you pay the taxes upfront.
Reason #3: You’re preparing to dump a highly taxable asset on your children.
The SECURE Act of 2019 put limits on the distribution rules for inherited IRAs to most children and non-spouse heirs that don’t, fortunately, apply to spouses. Non-spouse beneficiaries have 10 years to close out the account. More specifically, the clock starts ticking on the new year after their parent(s) die and ends 10 years from that date.
They can take it as a lump sum or in distributions over the decade, but that 10 years is the hard limit. Oh, and if the parent had already started RMDs, the child must continue on that same path — though the IRS will be generous enough to allow them to choose a different amount.
The 10-year limit does apply to Roth IRAs as well as traditional ones, but since you already paid the taxes on the Roth, your kids won’t be stuck with a large tax bill. Roth IRAs have different rules and contribution limits, of course, but conversion is generally a beneficial way to help you deal with some of the financial fallout from inheritance.
A final word
Don’t leave your retirement and legacy planning to chance. Instead, take the steps outlined above to minimize the negative impact of taxes on yourself and your loved ones.
Asset Investment Solutions, LLC is a registered investment adviser. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training.
Licensed Insurance Professional. We are an independent financial services firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of investment and insurance products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice.
Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. No Investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a period of declining values. Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity products are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
The information contained herein is based on our understanding of current tax law. The tax and legislative information may be subject to change and different interpretations. We recommend that you seek professional tax advice for applicability to your personal situation.
Related Content
- What to Know Before You Inherit an IRA
- How Regular Families Could Be Affected if Tax Cuts Expire
- Do You Have at Least $1 Million in Tax-Deferred Investments?
- Three Ways Parents Can Transfer Wealth to Help Their Kids
- How to Optimize Your RMDs in Retirement
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

With over 30 years in the financial services industry and money management experience, Scott Phillips, principal of Asset Management Consultants, brings knowledge and understanding to his practice to help individuals and small businesses achieve their financial goals through financial planning and wealth management strategies. Scott is a graduate of VCU in Richmond, Va. Scott believes that at the nucleus of a successful retirement plan must be a comprehensive, cohesive financial strategy.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Soar on China Trade Talk Hopes
Treasury Secretary Bessent said current U.S.-China trade relations are unsustainable and signaled hopes for negotiations.
By Karee Venema
-
2026 Disney Dining Plan Returns: Free Dining for Kids & Resort Benefits
Plan your 2026 Walt Disney World vacation now. Learn about the returning Disney Dining Plan, how kids aged three to nine eat free, and the exclusive benefits of staying at a Disney Resort hotel.
By Carla Ayers
-
SRI Redefined: Going Beyond Socially Responsible Investing
Now that climate change has progressed to a changed climate, sustainable investing needs to evolve to address new demands of resilience and innovation.
By Peter Krull, CSRIC®
-
Here's When a Lack of Credit Card Debt Can Cause You Problems
Usually, getting a new credit card can be difficult if you have too much card debt, but this bank customer ran into an issue because he had no debt at all.
By H. Dennis Beaver, Esq.
-
Going to College? How to Navigate the Financial Planning
College decisions this year seem even more complex than usual, including determining whether a school is a 'financial fit.' Here's how to find your way.
By Chris Ebeling
-
Financial Steps After a Loved One's Alzheimer's Diagnosis
It's important to move fast on legal safeguards, estate planning and more while your loved one still has the capacity to make decisions.
By Thomas C. West, CLU®, ChFC®, AIF®
-
How Soon Can You Walk Away After Selling Your Business?
You may earn more money from the sale of your business if you stay to help with the transition to new management. The question is, do you need to?
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA®
-
Two Don'ts and Four Dos During Trump's Trade War
The financial rules have changed now that tariffs have disrupted the markets and created economic uncertainty. What can you do? (And what shouldn't you do?)
By Maggie Kulyk, CRPC®, CSRIC™
-
I'm Single, With No Kids: Why Do I Need an Estate Plan?
Unless you have a plan in place, guess who might be making all the decisions about your prized possessions, or even your health care: a court.
By Cynthia Pruemm, Investment Adviser Representative
-
Most Investors Aren't as Diversified as They Think: Are You?
You could be facing a surprisingly dangerous amount of concentration risk without realizing it. Fixing that problem starts with knowing exactly what you own.
By Scott Noble, CPA/PFS