Tax brackets and exemption limits often change from year to year. Check these eight planning to-dos when you file your taxes.
It’s never too early for a head start on prep for filing your 2024 taxes. Use these eight tips to get the most out of your earnings with insights about what’s new, what’s changed, and what you may still be able to do to save on your taxes.
1. Review the 2024 federal tax brackets.
Changes in your salary may affect the overall federal tax rate you pay.
| Income tax rates | Single | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $0 to $11,600 | $0 to $23,200 |
| 12% | $11,601 to $47,149 | $23,201 to $94,299 |
| 22% | $47,150 to $100,524 | $94,300 to $201,049 |
| 24% | $100,525 to $191,949 | $201,050 to $383,899 |
| 32% | $191,950 to $243,724 | $383,900 to $487,449 |
| 35% | $243,725 to $609,349 | $487,450 to $731,199 |
| 37% | $609,350+ | $731,200+ |
2. Check your 2024 standard tax deductions.
Standard deductions replaced personal exemptions, and the amounts have increased from 2023.
- Single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately: $14,600
- Married, filing jointly: $29,200
- Heads of households: $21,900
3. Claim child tax credits if you can.
This is applicable for dependents under the age of 17 who meet eligibility requirements. Learn more about child tax credits.
4. Understand your state and local tax deduction limitations.
If you itemize deductions, you can take a $10,000 maximum deduction—$5,000 if married filing separately—on any combination of state and local income, real estate, and personal property taxes.
Do you need to change your withholdings?
If you’ve had a big life event such as a new job, marriage, or baby, or face a big tax bill every April, you may want to reevaluate your withholdings, which can impact your tax refund or taxes due. You can do this at any time; contact your human resources department for details.
5. Review the mortgage interest deduction limit.
You may deduct up to $750,000 ($375,000 if married filing separately) if you take out a new loan for a first or second home between December 15, 2017, and December 31, 2025. Interest from home equity loans is no longer deductible, regardless of when you took out the loan.
6. Evaluate the tax exclusion for the sale of a primary home.
If you decide to sell your primary residence, and you’ve lived there for two of the last five years, single filers can still exclude up to $250,000 (married couples up to $500,000) from capital gains taxes. (This is a tax levied on profits you make when you sell for a price higher than what you originally paid, plus the cost of upgrades other than simple maintenance and repairs.
7. Adjust based on your alternative minimum tax (AMT).
The AMT basically sets a bottom percentage that very high income earners must pay. (Your tax professional can offer more insight.) It only starts after taxpayers reach certain income levels; those are $81,300 for single or head of household filers and $126,500 for married filing jointly or widow(er)s.
8. Include any estate tax exemptions.
In 2024, the amount of money exempt from the estate tax increased to just over $13.61 million.
What’s next?
Increasing your retirement contributions helps to lower your taxable income. Ready to get started? Log in to your account and adjust your contributions.
