April is here—and while most people hear “tax season” and think stress, deadlines, and paperwork… I’ll admit something:
I love it.
Truly. This is my version of “the most wonderful time of the year.”
Why? Because this is when everything comes together. It’s when we get to review what happened, uncover opportunities, and—most importantly—start planning ahead to help you keep more of what you’ve earned.
Call me a tax nerd (I’ll take it), but there’s nothing better than digging into a return and finding ways to optimize your situation for the future.
Why This Time of Year Matters More Than You Think
While filing your taxes is important, what really excites us is what comes next.
Reviewing your tax return—either just before or shortly after the filing deadline—gives us a clear snapshot of your financial life. From there, we can identify:
· Missed opportunities from the prior year
· Strategies to reduce future tax liability
· Adjustments to retirement, income, and investment planning
· Ways to align your tax strategy with your long-term goals
In other words: your tax return is not the finish line—it’s the starting point.
What’s New for 2026: Key Updates to Know
Recent legislation continues to shape planning opportunities, and 2026 brings some important considerations from both SECURE Act 2.0 and ongoing tax policy changes.
From SECURE Act 2.0
A few highlights that may impact you:
· Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) age remains at 73 If you’re approaching retirement, timing withdrawals strategically is more important than ever.
· Enhanced catch-up contributions for employer sponsored plans (401(k)s, 403(b)s, & 457(b)s) Higher-income earners (especially those ages 60–63) may have new opportunities—but also new rules requiring Roth treatment in some cases.
· 529-to-Roth IRA transfers A powerful planning tool for families—unused education funds may now be repositioned for retirement (subject to limits and rules).
Other Planning Considerations (OBBBA / Tax Landscape)
Recent updates under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduce several provisions that could directly impact individual taxpayers and planning strategies in 2026:
SALT Cap
- The state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap increases to $40,400 for 2026, with an income phase-out.
Charitable Contributions
- A new floor of 0.5% of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is introduced for charitable deductions. However, non-itemizers may claim a charitable deduction for cash contributions ($1,000 single, $2,000 married).
Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction updates
- For business owners, potential extensions or revisions to the Section 199A deduction could significantly impact taxable income and entity planning decisions.
This is exactly why reviewing your return now—not next year—can make a meaningful difference.
Let’s Take a Look at Your Return Together
To our values clients: if you haven’t already, we’d love to review your 2025 tax return with you. You can:
- Upload your return securely using our secure link. Please email our office and we would be happy to provide you or your tax preparer with the link.
- Stop by the office and we’ll scan a hard copy for you into our system.
For readers who are not currently clients but would benefit from identifying tax planning opportunities, we invite you to explore our one-time tax planning and review service, available through our website.
This review is where we often uncover the biggest opportunities and we look forward to helping you!
Let’s Turn Tax Season Into an Opportunity
Tax season doesn’t have to be something you “get through.” With the right strategy, it becomes something you benefit from.
If you’re ready to take a more proactive approach this year, we’re here to help.
Schedule a tax review with our team today Upload your return or contact us to get started
Let’s make this “most wonderful time of the year” work in your favor.
Disclosures: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal.
