Year-End Tax Planning
Your Last 92 Days Count
From October through December, you have a narrow window to legally slash your tax bill. After December 31, that window closes forever. Equipment purchases, retirement contributions, charitable giving, income timing—these moves only work if executed before year-end. We show you exactly what to do and when to do it.
📅 Last updated: April 2026 · Written by Bryan Martin, CPA
October Urgency: The 90-Day Window
Why Q4 planning is non-negotiable
October 1st is the silent alarm bell. You have 92 days until the tax year ends. After December 31 at 11:59 PM, every strategy, every deduction opportunity, every tax-saving move is locked in stone. You cannot undo, adjust, or optimize.
This is the paradox: October is the busiest time of year, but it's also when tax planning must happen. If you wait until November, your options narrow. If you wait until December, most strategies are impossible.
Income Acceleration vs. Deferral
Timing is everything; both strategies have their place
If you're in a low-income year, you might accelerate income into December (collect bonuses, send invoices, complete projects). If you're in a high-income year, you might defer income to January (delay invoicing, delay bonuses). Both are legitimate strategies if done right.
Acceleration Strategy
When to use: You're in a low-income year, or you've already taken major deductions.
Tactics:
- Invoice clients in December (cash method = income received)
- Pay year-end bonuses in December
- Complete projects before Dec 31 and bill immediately
- Take on consulting work before year-end
Deferral Strategy
When to use: You're in a high-income year; expect lower income next year.
Tactics:
- Delay invoicing until January (don't bill in Dec)
- Defer year-end bonus until January
- Complete projects in Dec, but delay billing to Jan 1
- Push project completion to Q1 next year
Last-Minute Retirement Contributions
Max out your tax-deferred savings before Dec 31
Retirement plans are the government's favorite tax loophole. Contributions reduce taxable income dollar-for-dollar. But there's a deadline: contributions for 2024 must be made (or funded) by December 31, 2024.
Retirement Plan Deadlines for 2024 Contributions
For Solo 401(k)s and SEP-IRAs, you can actually extend the deadline to your tax filing deadline (usually April 15 of next year, or October 15 with extension). But Cash Balance Plans must be established by December 31 to count for that year. So if you're considering a Cash Balance Plan, we need to set that up by mid-November at the latest.
Equipment Purchases & Depreciation
Place in service by Dec 31 for immediate deductions
Section 179 expensing and bonus depreciation are year-end tax planning superpowers. If you project $300K profit but have $200K in needed equipment, buying that equipment and deducting it immediately brings your taxable income to $100K. That's a 70% tax savings on those deductions.
The Section 179 Process (Timeline)
Charitable Giving & Bunching
Maximize deductions while supporting causes you believe in
If you're charitably inclined, year-end is the time to accelerate giving. But more importantly, "bunching" allows you to deduct multiple years of donations in a single high-income year, maximizing the tax benefit.
Charitable Giving Tactics
Donor Advised Funds (DAF)
You donate appreciated stock or cash to a DAF in Dec 2024, get the deduction immediately, then recommend grants to charities over time. Best for "bunching" multiple years of giving into one high-income year.
Appreciated Stock Donations
Donate stock that's appreciated instead of cash. You get a deduction at fair market value AND avoid capital gains tax. If you have $15K in unrealized gains, donating that stock instead of selling it saves 15-20% in taxes.
Charitable IRA Rollovers (RMD Strategy)
If you're 72+, you can distribute directly from your IRA to charity (up to $100K/year). It satisfies your required minimum distribution without increasing income. Rare, but powerful.
Roth Conversions & Recharacterizations
Convert to tax-free growth if projections allow
If you project a high-income 2024 but expect lower income in 2025, a Roth conversion could make sense. You pay tax at your 2024 (high) rate to convert traditional IRA or 401(k) funds to Roth, where they grow tax-free forever.
Month-by-Month Action Checklist
October, November, December—exactly what to do
This is your operational roadmap for Q4. Treat these as non-negotiable action items with hard deadlines.
OCTOBER93 days
NOVEMBER61 days
DECEMBER31 days (CRITICAL)
Critical Note: December actions marked with [!] cannot be deferred. After Dec 31, they are permanently lost. Do not delay.
Tax Prep & Deadline Management
From December to April 15
Once December 31 passes, your tax planning is locked in. From January through April 15, we transition to tax preparation—documenting the strategies you executed and filing the return that reflects them.
Tax Filing Timeline
January 15: Q4 estimated tax payment due (final payment of 2024)
January 30: W-2s and 1099s issued by employers/clients
February: We begin tax preparation; you provide final documentation
March: Return is drafted; we review strategy implementation
April 1–10: Final review and client sign-off
April 15: Return is filed (electronically, typically filed weeks earlier)
April 15 (alt): Extension filed if additional time needed (Oct 15 new deadline)
Our goal is to have your return filed by early April, giving you breathing room and peace of mind. Extensions exist for a reason—if we need more time to validate strategy implementation or gather documentation, we file an extension. No rush filing, no regrets.
Don't Waste Your Q4 Window
92 days left in 2024. Let's execute a concrete tax strategy that saves you real money. Book your October planning call today.
Find Out What You're Overpaying in Taxes
Book a free 30-minute call to walk through your situation. We'll tell you exactly how our CPA-led team can help — and whether we're the right fit.
What to Expect on the Call
Your Tax Deadline is Approaching
October to December is your last legal window to reduce your 2024 tax bill. Let's build a concrete action plan with specific moves and deadlines.
Find Out What You're Overpaying in Taxes
Book a free 30-minute call to walk through your situation. We'll tell you exactly how our CPA-led team can help — and whether we're the right fit.