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Clarify limit of mortgage deduction
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Daniel
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Assuming the bulk of your income comes from "earned income," your best bets are moves that lower your taxable income.

You say that some of your salary goes into a 401(k). The more you contribute to your 401(k), the less taxable income you have. In 2019 the maximum amount you can contribute is $19,000. In 2020 that number will go up to $19,500.

Other tax-advantaged investment opportunities are available as well. Your income is probably too high to deduct Traditional IRA contributions, but if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan you can contribute up to $3,500 ($3,550 in 2020) to a health savings account. This money is saved pre-tax, grows tax-defered, and withdrawn tax-free if used for medical expenses. Otherwise, it can be withdrawn after retirement age just like a traditional retirement plan withdrawal. If you don't have a high-deductible plan or decide against an HSA for some other reason, an FSA could be another option to cover some healthcare expenses tax-free, but beware the "use-it-or-lose-it" rules.

Contributing to a 529 college savings plan doesn't provide any immediate lowering of federal income taxes, but it can reduce your state income taxes, depending on your state. This is a good idea if you think you might have children (or nieces/nephews or friends or yourself or whatever) someday whose college education you'd like to support. You must set a beneficiary for a 529 plan, but that beneficiary can be changed at a later date.

If you are willing to itemize your deductions, there are other things you can do. Charitable donations are fully tax-deductible. As is any interest you pay on (up to the first $750,000 of) a mortgage if you purchase a home. These will reduce your tax burden as long as they (in total) exceed the standard deduction of $12,200 ($12,400 in 2020).

If you do have some realized capital gains this year, you can offset some of those by realizing corresponding capital losses. Losses can also be used to offset a small amount of regular income.

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can reduce your tax burden is by marrying someone who makes less money than you. You can then file a joint tax return and also some of the income limits and contribution limits for things mentioned above increase. Having children could also entitle you to some tax credits or deductions.

Assuming the bulk of your income comes from "earned income," your best bets are moves that lower your taxable income.

You say that some of your salary goes into a 401(k). The more you contribute to your 401(k), the less taxable income you have. In 2019 the maximum amount you can contribute is $19,000. In 2020 that number will go up to $19,500.

Other tax-advantaged investment opportunities are available as well. Your income is probably too high to deduct Traditional IRA contributions, but if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan you can contribute up to $3,500 ($3,550 in 2020) to a health savings account. This money is saved pre-tax, grows tax-defered, and withdrawn tax-free if used for medical expenses. Otherwise, it can be withdrawn after retirement age just like a traditional retirement plan withdrawal. If you don't have a high-deductible plan or decide against an HSA for some other reason, an FSA could be another option to cover some healthcare expenses tax-free, but beware the "use-it-or-lose-it" rules.

Contributing to a 529 college savings plan doesn't provide any immediate lowering of federal income taxes, but it can reduce your state income taxes, depending on your state. This is a good idea if you think you might have children (or nieces/nephews or friends or yourself or whatever) someday whose college education you'd like to support. You must set a beneficiary for a 529 plan, but that beneficiary can be changed at a later date.

If you are willing to itemize your deductions, there are other things you can do. Charitable donations are fully tax-deductible. As is any interest you pay on a mortgage if you purchase a home. These will reduce your tax burden as long as they (in total) exceed the standard deduction of $12,200 ($12,400 in 2020).

If you do have some realized capital gains this year, you can offset some of those by realizing corresponding capital losses. Losses can also be used to offset a small amount of regular income.

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can reduce your tax burden is by marrying someone who makes less money than you. You can then file a joint tax return and also some of the income limits and contribution limits for things mentioned above increase. Having children could also entitle you to some tax credits or deductions.

Assuming the bulk of your income comes from "earned income," your best bets are moves that lower your taxable income.

You say that some of your salary goes into a 401(k). The more you contribute to your 401(k), the less taxable income you have. In 2019 the maximum amount you can contribute is $19,000. In 2020 that number will go up to $19,500.

Other tax-advantaged investment opportunities are available as well. Your income is probably too high to deduct Traditional IRA contributions, but if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan you can contribute up to $3,500 ($3,550 in 2020) to a health savings account. This money is saved pre-tax, grows tax-defered, and withdrawn tax-free if used for medical expenses. Otherwise, it can be withdrawn after retirement age just like a traditional retirement plan withdrawal. If you don't have a high-deductible plan or decide against an HSA for some other reason, an FSA could be another option to cover some healthcare expenses tax-free, but beware the "use-it-or-lose-it" rules.

Contributing to a 529 college savings plan doesn't provide any immediate lowering of federal income taxes, but it can reduce your state income taxes, depending on your state. This is a good idea if you think you might have children (or nieces/nephews or friends or yourself or whatever) someday whose college education you'd like to support. You must set a beneficiary for a 529 plan, but that beneficiary can be changed at a later date.

If you are willing to itemize your deductions, there are other things you can do. Charitable donations are fully tax-deductible. As is any interest you pay on (up to the first $750,000 of) a mortgage if you purchase a home. These will reduce your tax burden as long as they (in total) exceed the standard deduction of $12,200 ($12,400 in 2020).

If you do have some realized capital gains this year, you can offset some of those by realizing corresponding capital losses. Losses can also be used to offset a small amount of regular income.

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can reduce your tax burden is by marrying someone who makes less money than you. You can then file a joint tax return and also some of the income limits and contribution limits for things mentioned above increase. Having children could also entitle you to some tax credits or deductions.

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Daniel
  • 5.4k
  • 2
  • 31
  • 32

Assuming the bulk of your income comes from "earned income," your best bets are moves that lower your taxable income.

You say that some of your salary goes into a 401(k). The more you contribute to your 401(k), the less taxable income you have. In 2019 the maximum amount you can contribute is $19,000. In 2020 that number will go up to $19,500.

Other tax-advantaged investment opportunities are available as well. Your income is probably too high to deduct Traditional IRA contributions, but if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan you can contribute up to $3,500 ($3,550 in 2020) to a health savings account. This money is saved pre-tax, grows tax-defered, and withdrawn tax-free if used for medical expenses. Otherwise, it can be withdrawn after retirement age just like a traditional retirement plan withdrawal. If you don't have a high-deductible plan or decide against an HSA for some other reason, an FSA could be another option to cover some healthcare expenses tax-free, but beware the "use-it-or-lose-it" rules.

Contributing to a 529 college savings plan doesn't provide any immediate lowering of federal income taxes, but it can reduce your state income taxes, depending on your state. This is a good idea if you think you might have children (or nieces/nephews or friends or yourself or whatever) someday whose college education you'd like to support. You must set a beneficiary for a 529 plan, but that beneficiary can be changed at a later date.

If you are willing to itemize your deductions, there are other things you can do. Charitable donations are fully tax-deductible. As is any interest you pay on a mortgage if you purchase a home. These will reduce your tax burden as long as they (in total) exceed the standard deduction of $12,200 ($12,400 in 2020).

If you do have some realized capital gains this year, you can offset some of those by realizing corresponding capital losses. Losses can also be used to offset a small amount of regular income.

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can reduce your tax burden is by marrying someone who makes less money than you. You can thanthen file a joint tax return and also some of the income limits and contribution limits for things mentioned above increase. Having children could also entitle you to some tax credits or deductions.

Assuming the bulk of your income comes from "earned income," your best bets are moves that lower your taxable income.

You say that some of your salary goes into a 401(k). The more you contribute to your 401(k), the less taxable income you have. In 2019 the maximum amount you can contribute is $19,000. In 2020 that number will go up to $19,500.

Other tax-advantaged investment opportunities are available as well. Your income is probably too high to deduct Traditional IRA contributions, but if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan you can contribute up to $3,500 ($3,550 in 2020) to a health savings account. This money is saved pre-tax, grows tax-defered, and withdrawn tax-free if used for medical expenses. Otherwise, it can be withdrawn after retirement age just like a traditional retirement plan withdrawal. If you don't have a high-deductible plan or decide against an HSA for some other reason, an FSA could be another option to cover some healthcare expenses tax-free, but beware the "use-it-or-lose-it" rules.

Contributing to a 529 college savings plan doesn't provide any immediate lowering of federal income taxes, but it can reduce your state income taxes, depending on your state. This is a good idea if you think you might have children (or nieces/nephews or friends or yourself or whatever) someday whose college education you'd like to support. You must set a beneficiary for a 529 plan, but that beneficiary can be changed at a later date.

If you are willing to itemize your deductions, there are other things you can do. Charitable donations are fully tax-deductible. As is any interest you pay on a mortgage if you purchase a home. These will reduce your tax burden as long as they (in total) exceed the standard deduction of $12,200 ($12,400 in 2020).

If you do have some realized capital gains this year, you can offset some of those by realizing corresponding capital losses. Losses can also be used to offset a small amount of regular income.

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can reduce your tax burden is by marrying someone who makes less money than you. You can than file a joint tax return and also some of the income limits and contribution limits for things mentioned above increase. Having children could also entitle you to some tax credits or deductions.

Assuming the bulk of your income comes from "earned income," your best bets are moves that lower your taxable income.

You say that some of your salary goes into a 401(k). The more you contribute to your 401(k), the less taxable income you have. In 2019 the maximum amount you can contribute is $19,000. In 2020 that number will go up to $19,500.

Other tax-advantaged investment opportunities are available as well. Your income is probably too high to deduct Traditional IRA contributions, but if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan you can contribute up to $3,500 ($3,550 in 2020) to a health savings account. This money is saved pre-tax, grows tax-defered, and withdrawn tax-free if used for medical expenses. Otherwise, it can be withdrawn after retirement age just like a traditional retirement plan withdrawal. If you don't have a high-deductible plan or decide against an HSA for some other reason, an FSA could be another option to cover some healthcare expenses tax-free, but beware the "use-it-or-lose-it" rules.

Contributing to a 529 college savings plan doesn't provide any immediate lowering of federal income taxes, but it can reduce your state income taxes, depending on your state. This is a good idea if you think you might have children (or nieces/nephews or friends or yourself or whatever) someday whose college education you'd like to support. You must set a beneficiary for a 529 plan, but that beneficiary can be changed at a later date.

If you are willing to itemize your deductions, there are other things you can do. Charitable donations are fully tax-deductible. As is any interest you pay on a mortgage if you purchase a home. These will reduce your tax burden as long as they (in total) exceed the standard deduction of $12,200 ($12,400 in 2020).

If you do have some realized capital gains this year, you can offset some of those by realizing corresponding capital losses. Losses can also be used to offset a small amount of regular income.

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can reduce your tax burden is by marrying someone who makes less money than you. You can then file a joint tax return and also some of the income limits and contribution limits for things mentioned above increase. Having children could also entitle you to some tax credits or deductions.

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Daniel
  • 5.4k
  • 2
  • 31
  • 32

Assuming the bulk of your income comes from "earned income," your best bets are moves that lower your taxable income.

You say that some of your salary goes into a 401(k). The more you contribute to your 401(k), the less taxable income you have. In 2019 the maximum amount you can contribute is $19,000. In 2020 that number will go up to $19,500.

Other tax-advantaged investment opportunities are available as well. Your income is probably too high to deduct Traditional IRA contributions, but if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan you can contribute up to $3,500 ($3,550 in 2020) to a health savings account. This money is saved pre-tax, grows tax-defered, and withdrawn tax-free if used for medical expenses. Otherwise, it can be withdrawn after retirement age just like a traditional retirement plan withdrawal. If you don't have a high-deductible plan or decide against an HSA for some other reason, an FSA could be another option to cover some healthcare expenses tax-free, but beware the "use-it-or-lose-it" rules.

Contributing to a 529 college savings plan doesn't provide any immediate lowering of federal income taxes, but it can reduce your state income taxes, depending on your state. This is a good idea if you think you might have children (or nieces/nephews or friends or yourself or whatever) someday whose college education you'd like to support. You must set a beneficiary for a 529 plan, but that beneficiary can be changed at a later date.

If you are willing to itemize your deductions, there are other things you can do. Charitable donations are fully tax-deductible. As is any interest you pay on a mortgage if you purchase a home. These will reduce your tax burden as long as they (in total) exceed the standard deduction of $12,200 ($12,400 in 2020).

If you do have some realized capital gains this year, you can offset some of those by realizing corresponding capital losses. Losses can also be used to offset a small amount of regular income.

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can reduce your tax burden is by marrying someone who makes less money than you. You can than file a joint tax return and also some of the income limits and contribution limits for things mentioned above increase. Having children could also entitle you to some tax credits or deductions.

Assuming the bulk of your income comes from "earned income," your best bets are moves that lower your taxable income.

You say that some of your salary goes into a 401(k). The more you contribute to your 401(k), the less taxable income you have. In 2019 the maximum amount you can contribute is $19,000. In 2020 that number will go up to $19,500.

Other tax-advantaged investment opportunities are available as well. Your income is probably too high to deduct Traditional IRA contributions, but if you have a high-deductible insurance plan you can contribute up to $3,500 ($3,550 in 2020) to a health savings account. This money is saved pre-tax, grows tax-defered, and withdrawn tax-free if used for medical expenses. Otherwise, it can be withdrawn after retirement age just like a traditional retirement plan withdrawal. If you don't have a high-deductible plan or decide against an HSA for some other reason, an FSA could be another option to cover some healthcare expenses tax-free, but beware the "use-it-or-lose-it" rules.

Contributing to a 529 college savings plan doesn't provide any immediate lowering of federal income taxes, but it can reduce your state income taxes, depending on your state. This is a good idea if you think you might have children (or nieces/nephews or friends or yourself or whatever) someday whose college education you'd like to support. You must set a beneficiary for a 529 plan, but that beneficiary can be changed at a later date.

If you are willing to itemize your deductions, there are other things you can do. Charitable donations are fully tax-deductible. As is any interest you pay on a mortgage if you purchase a home. These will reduce your tax burden as long as they (in total) exceed the standard deduction of $12,200 ($12,400 in 2020).

If you do have some realized capital gains this year, you can offset some of those by realizing corresponding capital losses. Losses can also be used to offset a small amount of regular income.

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can reduce your tax burden is by marrying someone who makes less money than you. You can than file a joint tax return and also some of the income limits and contribution limits for things mentioned above increase. Having children could also entitle you to some tax credits or deductions.

Assuming the bulk of your income comes from "earned income," your best bets are moves that lower your taxable income.

You say that some of your salary goes into a 401(k). The more you contribute to your 401(k), the less taxable income you have. In 2019 the maximum amount you can contribute is $19,000. In 2020 that number will go up to $19,500.

Other tax-advantaged investment opportunities are available as well. Your income is probably too high to deduct Traditional IRA contributions, but if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan you can contribute up to $3,500 ($3,550 in 2020) to a health savings account. This money is saved pre-tax, grows tax-defered, and withdrawn tax-free if used for medical expenses. Otherwise, it can be withdrawn after retirement age just like a traditional retirement plan withdrawal. If you don't have a high-deductible plan or decide against an HSA for some other reason, an FSA could be another option to cover some healthcare expenses tax-free, but beware the "use-it-or-lose-it" rules.

Contributing to a 529 college savings plan doesn't provide any immediate lowering of federal income taxes, but it can reduce your state income taxes, depending on your state. This is a good idea if you think you might have children (or nieces/nephews or friends or yourself or whatever) someday whose college education you'd like to support. You must set a beneficiary for a 529 plan, but that beneficiary can be changed at a later date.

If you are willing to itemize your deductions, there are other things you can do. Charitable donations are fully tax-deductible. As is any interest you pay on a mortgage if you purchase a home. These will reduce your tax burden as long as they (in total) exceed the standard deduction of $12,200 ($12,400 in 2020).

If you do have some realized capital gains this year, you can offset some of those by realizing corresponding capital losses. Losses can also be used to offset a small amount of regular income.

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can reduce your tax burden is by marrying someone who makes less money than you. You can than file a joint tax return and also some of the income limits and contribution limits for things mentioned above increase. Having children could also entitle you to some tax credits or deductions.

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Daniel
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