• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983

2

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea

3

Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?

1

Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983

2

CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea

3

Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
Personal FinanceTaxes

7 tax tips to make sure you get the biggest refund, according to financial advisors

Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 17, 2024, 7:30 AM ET
Photo of paper tax forms spread out on a table
There are plenty of ways to lower your taxable income.Paolo Cordoni—Getty Images

With less than two months to go until 2023 taxes are due, there is still plenty of time to lower your bill or maximize your refund, advisors say. It’s also the perfect time to look ahead to decreasing your burden for 2024.

Recommended Video

First, it’s important to make sure you have all of the documents you’ll need to file, advisors say: Those include your W-2s and 1099s, yes, but depending on your situation, also 1099-INTs (for interest payments), 1099-Gs (for unemployment payments), and SSA-1099s (for Social Security payments), to name just a few. It’s also important to gather all required documents as soon as possible.

“Waiting until the last minute can lead to unnecessary stress and potential errors,” says Ashton Lawrence, a South Carolina–based certified financial planner (CFP) at Mariner Wealth Advisors.

From there, review the big changes for 2023, Lawrence suggests. Pretty much all of the COVID-19-related tax changes and benefits weren’t in place last year, which means your refund could be very different from the past few years. Also, the standard deduction, tax brackets, and retirement contributions have all changed.

Then you’re ready to get started. Here are some additional tips from financial advisors on making filing simple and maximizing your refund. (And don’t miss Fortune’s other tax season coverage.)

1. Max out your 2023 retirement accounts

If you haven’t done so already, you still have time to contribute to a traditional or SEP IRA and reduce your tax. Each year, you have until the filing deadline—April 15, 2024, this year—to max out your contributions.

The max for a traditional IRA last year was $6,500 ($7,500 for those 50 and up) while the max for SEP IRAs, used by some business owners, is much higher—the lesser of 25% of compensation or $66,000.

“These accounts can offer tax-deferred growth on top of pretax contributions that can set you up well for retirement and save you a lot on taxes right now,” says Bryan Cassick, a CFP at California-based Warren Street Wealth Advisors.

Just make sure to classify your contribution as a prior-year contribution; otherwise, your IRA provider will likely classify it is as a current-year contribution. You also have until April 15 to max out a Roth IRA for 2023. That won’t lower your tax bill now, but it can help you build your savings.

All that said, you can also begin planning for 2024. Though you can’t backfill your 401(k) contributions for 2023, you can get a sense of whether it would be advantageous to contribute more this year to decrease your tax burden next year.

“Increasing 401(k) contributions can help reduce taxable income for the future year,” says Lawrence. “Having a good understanding of your situation can help determine the most advantageous way to proceed.”

For 2024, the maximum you can contribute to a 401(k) as an employee is $23,000 (between employee and employer contributions, the total is $69,000), and $30,500 for those 50 or older.

2. Contribute to a health savings account

Like an IRA, you also have until April 15, 2024, to contribute to your health savings account, or HSA, for 2023. Individuals can contribute up to $3,850, while families can sock away $7,750. (Those 55 or older can contribute an extra $1,000.)

Financial planners love HSAs because they offer amazing tax advantages. Contributions reduce your taxable income, and then you can invest the contributions, which grow tax-free. Finally, withdrawals are also tax-free, as long as they are used for qualified medical expenses. Planners refer to that as a triple tax advantage.

Unlike flexible spending accounts, you can roll over your savings in a HSA from year to year, which can be helpful as additional retirement planning.

But not everyone qualifies for a HSA: You need to be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan to have one.

3. Make sure you report all income—even savings account interest

Interest earned on your savings is classified as earned income by the IRS. That means, technically, you need to report it on your tax return, even if it’s only a few dollars.

That could trip people up who aren’t used to the reporting requirements. The bank or financial institution that holds your savings accounts—or CDs, or money-market funds—should send you a form 1099-INT detailing the interest you earned over 2023. You won’t necessarily owe tax on it, but you need to report it all the same.

“With the low rates of the last few years, the tax was minimal,” says Rob Schultz, a certified financial planner and wealth manager in California. “But with higher rates in 2023, many people might not plan on getting such a large 1099 for their interest income on savings.”

4. Consider a Roth IRA conversion

If you’re getting a raise in 2024, or your income in 2023 was otherwise lower than it will be this year, it could be smart to look into a Roth IRA conversion, says Thomas Lucas, an Orlando-based CFP at Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo.

A Roth conversion is when you convert your traditional IRA into a Roth IRA, which is mostly helpful for people who earn too much money to make contributions to a Roth outright. When you make the conversion, you’re essentially moving from a pretax vehicle to a post-tax vehicle, which means you’ll pay taxes on the money now at your current rate, and then it will grow tax-free. That’s why it’s smart to do when your income is less and you’re still in a lower tax bracket.

Once you make the conversion, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of a Roth IRA: tax-free withdrawals in retirement and no required-minimum distributions during your lifetime. As this process is irreversible, it’s smart to speak with a financial professional before making this move to learn all of the pros and cons for your individual financial situation.

“Your goal should be, over your lifetime, to pay taxes when you are in low tax brackets and defer income when you are in high tax brackets,” says Lucas.

5. File electronically

The quickest way to get any refund owed is to file electronically, using tax software or the IRS’s site, and have the refund direct deposited into your bank account. When you do this, the IRS says it typically takes around 21 days to get the refund, depending on the agency’s bandwidth and whether or not you filled everything out correctly.

Electronically filing—whether through a tax preparer like TurboTax or with a professional—does make the filing season easier. It’s easy to forget things if you’re filling out paperwork by hand, and the software is more likely to find credits or deductions you would have missed. The software should also ensure that you’ve filled out everything correctly and your return isn’t rejected by the IRS.

Finally, receiving your refund electronically is actually safer than getting mailed a paper check, which can be stolen or lost in transit. Stay up-to-date on the status of your refund using the agency’s online tracking tool.

6. Report crypto transactions accurately

Crypto is classified as property by the IRS, which means you don’t pay taxes when you buy or hold the asset, but rather when you sell it, exchange it, or use it to buy something else. Any trading activity needs to be reported on your tax return.

That can be a tedious process, depending on how active you were last year. But it’s important, because the IRS is on high alert for illegal activity.

“The IRS is closely monitoring these transactions, so it’s crucial to keep detailed records of all crypto-related activities to avoid penalties,” says Lawrence.

On your Form 1040, you’ll see a yes or no question asking: “At any time during 2023, did you: (a) receive (as a reward, award or payment for property or services); or (b) sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of a digital asset (or a financial interest in a digital asset)?”

Checking “no” means you’re done; checking “yes” requires an additional form. You’ll have to detail your sales, exchanges, etc., and then calculate your capital gain or loss, reported on Schedule D. If you only purchased crypto last year, you can check “no.”

And, of course, you need to report any crypto income if you received it in exchange for a service, for example. The IRS has a detailed FAQ page with many more details on crypto.

7. Check your withholdings

If you owe tax unexpectedly, it’s likely time to check your withholdings for future years, says Lucas. He advises using the IRS’s tax withholding estimator, which will pre-populate a W-4 you can give to your employer’s HR department.

“Have your W-4 adjusted,” says Lucas. “This will help avoid unnecessary underpayment penalties.”

This works the other way, as well: If you receive a large refund, it could also be prudent to change your withholdings. In theory, you want to owe the IRS nothing come tax time and receive nothing in return; receiving a large refund means you’re paying the IRS extra money for no reason. That could be better spent by you throughout the year, whether it’s invested, saved, or put toward other bills or goals.

That said, some people simply like being able to count on receiving a large sum of money once a year. If that’s you, then you don’t necessarily need to change anything. Just make sure you know the pros and cons of both sides.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Alicia Adamczyk
By Alicia AdamczykSenior Writer
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Alicia Adamczyk is a former New York City-based senior writer at Fortune, covering personal finance, investing, and retirement.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Personal Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Personal Finance

Social Security faces steep cuts. These senators want to bet on stocks and $27 trillion in debt to save it—but ‘the gamble does not always pay off’
InvestingSocial Security
Social Security faces steep cuts. These senators want to bet on stocks and $27 trillion in debt to save it—but ‘the gamble does not always pay off’
By Jason MaJune 14, 2026
7 hours ago
Photo of young woman with a photo of a pizza
SuccessThe Interview Playbook
Gen Z grad landed an internship by wearing her university baseball cap to her pizza joint job. Now she works at Cisco
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 14, 2026
14 hours ago
A 1% mistake costs $10 billion: Inside the impossible math of managing Elon Musk’s trillionaire SpaceX wealth
Personal FinanceElon Musk
A 1% mistake costs $10 billion: Inside the impossible math of managing Elon Musk’s trillionaire SpaceX wealth
By Sydney LakeJune 14, 2026
17 hours ago
Middle-aged adults taking GLP-1s for obesity can save over $192K on lifetime medical costs, higher if they don’t have college degrees, new study finds
HealthHealth
Middle-aged adults taking GLP-1s for obesity can save over $192K on lifetime medical costs, higher if they don’t have college degrees, new study finds
By Mia OsmonbekovJune 14, 2026
21 hours ago
Liability Car Insurance Explained: What It Covers and How Much You Need
Personal FinanceInsurance
Liability Car Insurance Explained: What It Covers and How Much You Need
By Joseph HostetlerJune 12, 2026
2 days ago
Secured debt vs. unsecured debt: What’s the difference?
Personal Financedebt relief
Secured debt vs. unsecured debt: What’s the difference?
By Joseph HostetlerJune 12, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
Personal Finance
Social Security's 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
By John W. Diamond and The ConversationJune 12, 2026
2 days ago
CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
Success
CEO of $20 billion AI firm Perplexity says the secret to success is ‘sleeping with that fear’ that your competitor will steal your idea
By Preston ForeJune 13, 2026
2 days ago
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
Economy
Boomers actually do hold most of the wealth and power. So why do they call it 'whiny' to point that out?
By Nick LichtenbergJune 14, 2026
18 hours ago
Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world's top superpower can at least punch open a hole
Energy
Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is advertising very loudly that the world's top superpower can at least punch open a hole
By Jason MaJune 14, 2026
11 hours ago
The Gen Z cofounder of $1.6 billion Whop says his platform has minted over 650 millionaires—he wants to make work fun and money worries obsolete
Success
The Gen Z cofounder of $1.6 billion Whop says his platform has minted over 650 millionaires—he wants to make work fun and money worries obsolete
By Emma BurleighJune 14, 2026
19 hours ago
Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
Real Estate
Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they’re turning ‘welcomer cities’ into the next big tech towns
By Sydney LakeJune 13, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.