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Are You Overpaying Taxes in Retirement? Strategies to Save

Once, retirement was a time when interactions with the IRS waned. However, today's retirement involves navigating withdrawal strategies, timing your income wisely, and sidestepping costly tax errors.

Each June, our accounting firm meets retirees who unintentionally commit these tax blunders.

If you've recently retired or are planning to do so, here's the reality: Tax planning during retirement is equally important as it was during your working years. Perhaps even more crucial.

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Mid-Year: The Ideal Time for Retirees to Reassess Their Taxes

While summer doesn't seem like tax season, it's actually the optimal time to:

  • Modify your withdrawals before Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) affect you year-end

  • Rebalance income sources to minimize taxes

  • Dodge increased Medicare premiums due to hidden income

By December, correcting these issues can be too late.

Top 3 Tax Oversights in Retirement (and Solutions You Can Implement Now)

1. Delaying or Neglecting RMDs

If you're age 73 or older, you must withdraw RMDs from your IRAs and specific retirement plans. Miss this, and you could incur a 25% penalty on the amount that should have been withdrawn.

Even without an immediate need for funds, a prudent strategy is necessary for compliance and mitigating impact.

2. Prioritizing Withdrawals from Incorrect Accounts

Many retirees focus on IRAs or 401(k)s while neglecting Roth IRAs. This may lead to:

  • Pushing into higher tax brackets

  • Elevating Medicare premiums due to IRMAA charges

  • Losing chances for tax-exempt growth

A well-planned withdrawal strategy can extend your retirement savings.

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3. Ignoring Side Income-Related Capital Gains

Selling a property, rearranging investments, or side consulting counts as income and can tip you over critical thresholds, especially alongside Social Security income.

Proactive mid-year planning can aid in harvesting gains or losses intelligently, preventing income overload in a single year.

Bonus: Efficient Gifting, Legacy, and Philanthropy Without Tax Impact

  • Want to support your descendants?

  • Interested in donating to a cherished cause?

  • Need to handle estate taxes before 2026 adjustments?

All of these can be managed without increasing your tax obligations.

Ensure Your Retirement Matches Your Peaceful Aspirations

After years of building your wealth, don't let preventable tax issues erode your efforts.

For those wanting to prudently structure their retirement income, our office can assist. We'll evaluate your current plan, uncover areas for improvement, and help you strategize for longevity, ensuring less stress—and more secure finances.

Contact us whether you're newly retired, approaching retirement, or seeking a second opinion on your tax approach.

Maximize what you’ve earned to benefit you, not just the IRS.

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