It is that time of year when we start thinking about the holiday season. Many of us look forward to the preparation, anticipation, and all the sights, sounds, and tastes of the season. But, if you are a woman, working or not, this time of year also comes with a lot of extra things to do, adding to an already busy life. More often than not it also brings financial stress. It seems we either have the time or the money but never both. So what’s a woman to do? We look for extra jobs; we cut back on the unnecessary things; and we worry, worry, worry.
There is a little known strategy that could possibly free up some money without taking a second job or tightening your belt. It has to do with your taxes. If you usually get a refund when you do your taxes at the beginning of the year you can adjust how much you are paying and put that money in your pocket. Let me give you a few different ways where you can adjust your taxes and get a little extra holiday cash.
1. If you and/or your husband have a job working for someone else and receive a W-2 form at the end of the year, you can change your exemptions so that no federal or state tax is being withheld and that money will be added to your pay check. So, let’s say you ordinarily claim married with 2 exemptions and they take out $600 per month in federal and state withholding combined. You anticipate receiving a refund when you file your taxes next April. By going in to the payroll office at your work and raising your exemptions or claiming exempt until the end of the year you could raise your take home pay by $600. Of course everyone’s situation is different, but it is definitely worth looking into. Also it is important to note that at the beginning of the year you need to change the exemptions back.
2. If you are self-employed and pay quarterly estimated tax payments, this is a good time to evaluate what your tax liability will be when you file your taxes next year. If you and your accountant determine you will receive a refund, you could lower what you need to save to pay in next quarter. As long as you owe less than $1000 when you file your return, there will be no penalty.
3. If you receive earned income credit when you file your tax return each year, you can ask your employer to give you an advance on some of it. Earned income credit is a credit for people who earn under $40,000 per year and have children. Some people receive over $5000 per year in earned income credit. If you receive a large refund each year, talk to your payroll department and ask them about how much of an advance you qualify for.
These strategies are helpful, legal and can get you some extra Christmas money. However, before you make the changes you should check with your tax advisor so he or she can determine approximately what your tax liability will be. Remember, if you owe over $1000 when you file your tax return, you can receive a penalty. For more helpful hints about your taxes, check out www.avoidbeingaudited.com. This is a website I helped create, and it’s a great resource for learning about how to save on your taxes.
