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Turning Next Year’s Tax Refund into Cash in Your Pocket Now

Each year, millions of taxpayers claim an income tax refund. To be sure, receiving a payment from the IRS for a few thousand dollars can be a pleasant influx of cash. However, it means you were essentially giving the government an interest-free loan for close to a year, which is not the best use of your money.

Fortunately, there is a way to begin collecting your 2017 refund now: You can review the amounts you are having withheld and/or what estimated tax payments you are making, and adjust them to keep more money in your pocket during the year.

Reasons to Modify Amounts

It is particularly important to check your withholding and/or estimated tax payments if:

  • You received an especially large 2016 refund
  • You have gotten married or divorced or added a dependent
  • You have purchased a home
  • You have started or lost a job
  • Your investment income has changed significantly

Even if you have not encountered any major life changes during the past year, changes in the tax law may affect withholding levels, making it worthwhile to double-check your withholding or estimated tax payments.

Making a Change

You can modify your withholding at any time during the year, or even several times within a year. To do so, you simply submit a new Form W-4 to your employer. Changes typically will go into effect several weeks after the new Form W-4 is submitted. For estimated tax payments, you can make adjustments each time quarterly payments are due.

While reducing withholdings or estimated tax payments will, indeed, put more money in your pocket now, you also need to be careful that you do not reduce them too much. If you do not pay enough tax during the year, you could end up owing interest and penalties when you file your return, even if you pay your outstanding tax liability by the April 2018 deadline.

If you would like help determining what your withholding or estimated tax payments should be for the rest of the year, please contact us.

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