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Time To Start Thinking About Tax Season

Happy Holidays! And, it’s only a few weeks’ time until the New Year begins, and tax season comes into full-swing. Some of you may have undergone some changes this last year, changes that will affect how you file your 2016 taxes. For instance, did you know that if you are married on or before December 31st, 2016, you will file jointly? You will file jointly regardless if you have been single for three-hundred sixty-four days of the year. How then will filing jointly affect your taxes? What if you purchased a home, or had a child? These major events will have impacts on your taxes. Here’s what to expect from these changes during this upcoming tax season.

Filing jointly may affect the tax bracket to which your taxable income is determined. Both you and your spouse may be bumped into a higher tax bracket with the combined income. While this can be seen as a negative, there are a few positives as well. Because you are now married, both of you will be able to now claim the other as an exemption. The deduction is double that of someone filing as single. Children are a major deduction on your taxes. Remember that if you are married, you should have these changes reflected on your W-4.

Also, if you have bought your first home this year that will greatly affect your taxes. Conversely, if you have sold a home in the last year, this will also affect your taxes. The interest you pay on your home can be deducted at tax time.

If you are married, it’s important to determine which deduction—standard vs. itemized—will best suit you at tax time. The standard deduction may be better for those who don’t own their own home, and have very few deductions. However, when you own your own home, deductions such as mortgage interest are valued as higher deductions than what is standard.

We hope you had an excellent 2016, and when you are preparing your 2016 taxes, Practical Taxes will be ready to help you through them.

Practical Taxes

Practical Taxes is a full service accounting firm in Billings, Montana. We can help you get the most from your taxes, and make sure that you will get the maximum refund every year. But we don’t just do taxes! We can help with your bookkeeping, payroll, bank reconciliation, budgeting, and more. Give us a call at 406-894-2090 to learn more.