Identify All Income Sources

If you work for an employer, you will need to report the wages noted on your Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement). To avoid penalties, your employer is required to provide you with this form by the last day of January, but you can estimate the numbers by viewing your last paystub of the year. Since January 31^st will fall on a Sunday in 2021, employers will have until February 1^st to provide your Form W-2.¹

 As a small business owner, self-employed person, or freelancer, your income is your revenue (or 1099 income) minus your business expenses.² However, instead of noting the final number on your return, you will need to fill out a schedule that displays both your revenue and expenses. It is important that you comb your records carefully to ensure all expenses are accounted for.

Decide if You Can Itemize

Instead of paying income tax on all of your income, you’re able to deduct a certain amount of income and only pay tax on the remaining amount. All taxpayers are given the choice of claiming the standard deduction or itemizing.

For the 2021 tax year, the standard deduction is $12,550 for a single taxpayer and $25,100 for a married couple filing jointly.³ Most people take the standard deduction, but if your qualifying deductions exceed this threshold, you should itemize. Similar to previous years, there is no limitation on itemized deductions.⁴

 Here are the deductions you may claim:

• Unreimbursed medical and dental expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI)⁵
• Interest paid on up to $750,000 of your home loan⁶
• Interest on home-equity loans that were used to substantially improve your home⁷
• State and local taxes such as property and sales tax paid the previous year, up to $10,000⁸
• Charitable contributions up to 100% of your AGI⁹
• Casualty and theft losses worth over 10% of your AGI¹⁰

Assess your deductions and determine if they exceed the standard. If so, you may benefit from itemizing.

Gather Info for Above-the-Line Deductions

Above-the-line deductions can include interest paid on student loans, contributions to a savings account, and alimony payments. If you’re self-employed, you can also claim above-the-line deductions on health insurance premiums. Regardless if you decide to itemize or claim the standard deduction, you are also able to claim above-the-line deductions. Take some time to gather proof of these deductions, as they can help reduce your tax bill.

These tips cover the basics, but there are a lot of unique tax situations. To help ensure you minimize your tax liability, you may want to consult with a tax professional.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/am-i-required-to-file-a-form-1099-or-other-information-return

https://www.irs.gov/faqs/interest-dividends-other-types-of-income/1099-misc-independent-contractors-and-self-employed/1099-misc-independent-contractors-and-self-employed-3#:~:text=Independent%20contractors%20report%20their%20income,employment%20are%20%24400%20or%20more.

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