A calculating look at future tax refunds
Put your withholding to work to save money
How to make the most of your money if you adjust your withholdings
Maybe this year your tax refund was smaller than normal. Or you started hearing it’s best – moneywise – to not get a refund at all. Or perhaps you’re sick of giving the government an interest-free loan.
No matter your reason, you’ve decided to minimize the amount you get back during future filing seasons and instead take your tax savings during the year by adjusting your paycheck withholdings.
Your next big decision is this: how to put that money to the best possible use, especially since each withholding is worth roughly $35 to $125 a month, says Carol Fabbri, executive director of Fair Advisors Institute in Colorado.
While those amounts look like Starbucks money, over time, they add can up, she says, “whether you’re paying down debt, buffering yourself against surprises, saving for college or retirement.”
Where to begin? Here are five ideas:
Pay off high-interest debt
Start with paying down or eliminating high-interest debt, usually credit card balances. Maintaining this type of debt – with interest rates in the teens or even low 20s – costs you big time. It also takes years longer to pay off if you’re just paying the minimum reach month. Instead, use that extra money from your tax savings to whittle down that balance, starting with the debt that comes with the highest rate.
Pad your emergency savings
“It is an often repeated assertion that the average American would be hard-pressed to pay for a $400 emergency,” says Kevin Gahagan, principal of Private Ocean, a financial planning firm in San Rafael, California.
So, put that extra money each month toward a rainy day fund. Aim to save at least six months’ worth of your basic expenses – rent/mortgage, car payments, debt obligations, gas and groceries. Stick the money in a low-
risk, liquid account such as a savings account.
Grow your nest egg
If you’re set on debt and emergency savings, it’s time to think about the future. Dump any extra money from your withholding adjustments right into your 401(k), says Eric Roberge, a certified financial planner in Boston.
“Contributing to your 401(k) will also help keep your taxable income a little bit lower, which could help you avoid having to owe come April,” he says.
Don’t have access to a 401(k)? Redirect that money to a Roth IRA or Health Savings Account (HSA) for future medical expenses in retirement.
Invest in your children
You also could consider your children’s future by increasing contributions to a 529 education savings plan. An extra $125 a month could be worth over $20,000 over 10 years, Fabbri says. Many states also match contributions for lower-income individuals, so a $35-a-month contribution could be more than $12,000 over the same period, she says.
Save for a big purchase
Sure, you could use your tax refund to pay for that vacation, new TV or home remodel. But just the act of saving throughout the year for a specific goal will help you build financial discipline and give you greater control of your money, says Sean Williams, a certified financial planner in Timonium, Maryland.
“It’s a lot more fun planning a vacation when you’ve been building the fund for it,” he says, “rather than knowing you’re having to rely on a credit card or facing the uncertainty of a tax refund.”
How to adjust withholdings
The rule of thumb, from financial planners, is to be within $500 of tax liability. Here’s a step-by-step guide from Linda Rogers, a certified financial planner in Memphis.
1. Obtain your last pay stub.
2. Enter your information into the IRS withholding calculator.
3. Use the calculator’s recommendations to fill out a new W-4 from your payroll department.
4. Don’t forget state withholdings. Make adjustments on the state form.
“Seek professional help if your situation is complex,” says Rogers, “such as if you are self-employed or have rental properties.”