Year-End Tax Planning Tips for the Last 100 Days

As the final stretch of the year approaches, taxpayers still have time to make meaningful adjustments that may influence their 2026 tax outcomes. The last 100 days often provide opportunities to improve your tax position, strengthen cash flow, and reduce the chance of unexpected surprises during filing season.

Proactive planning before December 31 lets you address changes in income, life events, side earnings, and financial goals while there is still time to act. A thoughtful year-end review can make tax season smoother and provide added clarity around your overall financial picture.

Below is a detailed look at key areas to evaluate as you wrap up 2026, along with practical tax considerations to keep in mind.

Review Tax Withholding and Estimated Payments

As the year comes to a close, one of the most impactful steps you can take is reviewing your tax withholding and estimated tax payments. Income changes, investment activity, part-time work, or personal transitions throughout 2026 may have affected how much tax you owe.

If your withholding is not in line with your current circumstances, you may face an unexpected balance due at filing. Reviewing your payroll forms, estimated payments, and income sources now gives you time to adjust before December 31.

A quick review can help you stay ahead of potential issues and avoid surprises when tax season begins.

Evaluate Side Income and 1099 Reporting

The rise of freelance work, digital sales, rideshare driving, consulting, and platform-based payments has led many individuals to earn income outside of traditional employment. If you took on additional work in 2026, this is a good time to review related records.

Evaluating your earnings and associated expenses before year-end can help you stay organized and prepare for required 1099 reporting. This review may also highlight business deductions you may qualify for.

Taking stock of your side income now can make tax filing easier and help reduce the risk of overlooked obligations.

Increase Retirement Contributions Before Year-End

Retirement planning plays a pivotal role in managing your financial future as well as your current-year tax liability. Contributions to eligible retirement accounts may lower taxable income and help strengthen long-term savings.

If you are age 50 or older, you may have access to catch-up contribution options that allow you to save more before the year ends. These additional opportunities can provide meaningful tax advantages.

Recent legislative updates have expanded certain contribution options for individuals in their early 60s, making it important to review available retirement strategies before December 31.

Consider a Roth IRA Conversion

As you assess your financial situation, year-end is often a sensible time to evaluate whether a Roth IRA conversion fits into your long-term plans. Converting funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth typically results in taxable income for the year of conversion.

However, once in the Roth account, future qualified withdrawals may be tax-free. This makes a conversion potentially beneficial for individuals experiencing a lower-income year or those planning ahead for retirement distributions.

Taking time to analyze the long-term benefits and near-term tax impact can help you decide whether a Roth conversion is a practical strategy for 2026.

Review Education and Dependent Care Tax Benefits

Families with childcare expenses or education-related costs should review available credits before the year ends. If you or your dependent is attending college, paying certain qualifying expenses before December 31 may help you maximize education-related tax benefits.

Parents who paid for childcare, after-school programs, day camps, or similar care in order to work or look for work may benefit from reviewing receipts and documentation. Recent tax law updates beginning in 2026 expanded the Child and Dependent Care Credit, making this an especially important area to revisit.

A year-end review of these expenses may help you take full advantage of available benefits during filing season.

Maximize HSA and FSA Tax Benefits

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) offer valuable tax advantages, yet many taxpayers overlook them until the end of the year. Reviewing your contribution levels, remaining balances, and eligible expenses now can help ensure you are making the most of these accounts.

Depending on your health plan and financial goals, there may still be time to increase contributions or use remaining FSA funds before they expire.

This quick check can help you avoid unused benefits and better position you for the upcoming year.

Explore Charitable Giving Strategies

Charitable donations are a key consideration for many taxpayers as the year winds down. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, individuals who take the standard deduction may still be able to deduct certain cash charitable gifts beginning in the 2026 tax year.

Because of this change, charitable contributions may offer value even if you are not itemizing deductions. Those close to the itemizing threshold may also benefit from grouping or timing donations to increase their tax benefit.

Reviewing charitable giving strategies now can help you support causes you care about while optimizing potential tax advantages.

Review Required Minimum Distributions and Beneficiary Information

Retirement obligations extend beyond saving—individuals age 73 or older are typically required to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from certain accounts each year.

Missing an RMD can lead to penalties, so verifying your required withdrawal amounts before year-end is an essential part of planning.

This is also a useful time to update beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, insurance policies, and financial accounts. Life changes such as marriage, divorce, births, or family transitions can make prior choices outdated, and ensuring beneficiary information is updated helps align asset distribution with your intentions.

Get Organized Before Tax Season

One of the most effective tax preparation steps is simply getting organized. Gathering receipts, donation records, bank statements, business expense documentation, and other paperwork now will make tax preparation easier later.

Early organization can also help uncover deductions or credits you may otherwise overlook. As tax season draws closer, locating missing documents becomes more difficult, which is why gathering them now can save time and reduce stress.

With several weeks still left in the year, there is ample opportunity to take meaningful steps toward improving your tax position for 2026. Even small proactive adjustments can help reduce filing complications and provide greater clarity heading into the new year.

If you would like support evaluating these year-end tax planning opportunities or preparing for the filing season ahead, our team is ready to assist you. We can help you review your options and develop a strategy aligned with your financial goals.