The end of the year always seems to sneak up faster than expected. Between holiday plans, work deadlines, and family time, tax planning rarely makes the top of the list. But for high-income earners, the final months of the year offer a powerful opportunity to save money and strengthen financial stability. The right tax moves made before December 31 can make a real difference when filing season arrives.
If you earn a high income, chances are your financial situation includes multiple income sources, investment accounts, and maybe even a business. Managing all of this takes more than just filing on time. It requires a thoughtful strategy that reduces your tax bill and aligns with your long-term goals. Let’s walk through some practical, easy-to-understand steps you can take now to make sure you close the year with confidence.
1. Align Your Tax and Estate Planning Before Year-End
Your taxes and estate plan work best when they support each other. As the year wraps up, it’s smart to look at both together. Reviewing them side by side can help you spot small issues now instead of dealing with big ones later.
Start by checking that your estate documents match your current life. If you’ve recently married, divorced, welcomed a child, or had a major financial change, make sure everything reflects your new circumstances.Â
This review is also a good time to make sure your financial and legal plans are consistent. Many people focus on taxes but overlook simple estate updates that could save time, money, and stress later. Avoiding common estate planning mistakes, like outdated beneficiary forms or missing powers of attorney, can make a big difference in how smoothly everything works together. When your tax strategy and estate plan align, you protect your wealth today and set up a clearer path for your family’s future.
2. Maximize Retirement Contributions
Contributing to retirement accounts remains one of the most effective ways to lower taxable income. If you have access to a 401(k), make sure you’re contributing the maximum allowed. For 2025, the contribution limit is $23,000, with an additional $7,500 catch-up option if you’re 50 or older.
If you’ve already maxed out your employer plan, consider adding to a traditional or Roth IRA. For high earners, a backdoor Roth IRA can also be a smart move if you qualify. The benefit here is twofold. You not only reduce your taxable income for this year but also grow your retirement savings in a tax-advantaged way for the future.
Make sure to review your employer match as well. Leaving matching contributions on the table means you’re missing out on free money.
3. Harvest Tax Losses Strategically
Even seasoned investors experience losses at some point. The good news is that these can work to your advantage. Tax-loss harvesting lets you offset capital gains with investment losses, reducing the amount you owe.
For example, if you sold stocks at a profit earlier in the year, you might consider selling underperforming investments to balance things out. But make sure you avoid the wash-sale rule, which prevents you from claiming a loss if you repurchase the same or a similar investment within 30 days.
If your portfolio is large or complex, talk to a financial advisor before making major moves.Â
4. Evaluate Charitable Giving Opportunities
Charitable giving is both a generous act and a strategic tax tool. Donating before December 31 allows you to claim deductions for the current year. If you have appreciated assets like stocks or mutual funds, donating them directly can help you avoid capital gains taxes while still receiving a deduction for their full market value.
Donor-advised funds are another strong option for high-income earners. You can make a large contribution now, receive an immediate tax deduction, and decide later how the funds are distributed to charities. This approach gives you flexibility while locking in tax benefits right away.
5. Plan Ahead for Bonuses and Deferred Income
Year-end bonuses can create unexpected tax headaches. They often push high earners into higher tax brackets if not planned properly. If your employer offers flexibility, you might ask to defer part of your bonus into the next tax year.
You can also use bonuses to fund your retirement accounts, make charitable gifts, or pay down high-interest debt. Thinking ahead about how you’ll use that extra income can prevent waste and improve your overall financial position.
If deferring income isn’t possible, you can still reduce the impact by increasing tax-deductible contributions or bunching itemized deductions into the current year.Â
6. Review Investment Portfolios for Tax Efficiency
High earners often hold a mix of investments that generate taxable income in different ways. Reviewing your portfolio before year-end helps you avoid unnecessary taxes.
Look at your asset allocation. Are your high-yield bonds or actively managed funds sitting in taxable accounts? If so, consider moving them to tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s. Meanwhile, tax-efficient investments such as municipal bonds or index funds are better suited for taxable accounts.
Also, check for mutual fund capital gains distributions, which typically occur in November or December. Selling before a large distribution can sometimes reduce your tax bill.
7. Address Upcoming Tax Law Changes
Tax laws change often, and high earners feel the effects first. Review any new rules or upcoming adjustments that could affect your deductions, credits, or capital gains taxes.
For example, estate and gift tax exemptions are scheduled to change after 2025 unless new legislation is passed. Understanding how those shifts might impact your wealth can help you act early and avoid surprises.
Consult with your tax advisor to see if any actions—such as gifting assets or setting up trusts—make sense before the current tax year ends. Timing can be the difference between saving thousands and losing them to taxes.
High earners have more financial complexity, but that also means more opportunities to save. Smart planning in the final weeks of the year can set you up for lower taxes, stronger investments, and smoother wealth management in the future.
Start by reviewing your financial picture, coordinating with trusted professionals, and taking advantage of every deduction you can. Small, informed moves today can make next April a lot less stressful—and help you keep more of what you’ve earned.
