Some CPAs and Tax Preparers may be too busy to do comprehensive tax projections as part of the tax-preparation appointment or provide you a list ofwhat documents you need to collect for your 2025 filing.However, that should not preclude you from asking the following questions:
1. Will a life event or major purchase affect my taxes?
Please remind them about any births, adoptions, marriages, separations, divorces, or deaths. Have your children reached a milestone age like 18 or 21? Have they left school and started jobs, possibly changing their deductibility status?
Death in the family is especially important: Does an inheritance trigger a federal or state estate tax? If an inheritance includes an IRA or 401(k), the tax rules are strict, and failure to properly manage the inheritance could have major tax consequences.
Major purchases can also have a big effect. A second house may mean another set of home-related deductions. But probably not a third house, as homeowners can typically get deductions from only two residences.
2. What will my tax bracket be in2026?
A tax bracket is the rate at which the last dollar of income will be taxed. Knowing your tax bracket helps you calculate the tax efficiency of various investment or financial planning proposals.
A paycheck change is only one factor, so don't make immediate assumptions: Tax Brackets can change for many reasons, including changes in tax law as well as changes in tax filing status. Tax filing status depends on whether you are married or single and whether there are dependents to claim on the tax return or not. A change in income or an increase in interest and dividends or even gambling or lottery winnings could also change a tax bracket.
3. Am I eligible for a Roth conversion? Is it recommended?
A Roth IRA conversion allows workers to convert traditional IRA assets to a Rothto avoid taking required minimum distributionsin retirement and avoid paying tax on any distributions taken. A Roth conversion also involves paying taxes on the assets converted, since contributions to traditional IRAs are made on a tax-deferred basis. A CPA can estimate the tax that would be due on a Roth IRA conversion.
You as a client should also ask for an estimate as to what the tax liability would be on a partial Roth conversion — such as one that might bring them up to the top of their current tax bracket. The CPAs estimate of the "bracket-completion" amount is likely to be the most accurate estimate of the tax you might pay in the event of this type of partial conversion.
The CPA is likely to have an opinion on whether a Roth conversion is a good idea or not. Discuss the option with your CPA and discuss it with our office before making a decision, as any conversion will have investment and retirement as well as tax consequences.
4. Should I increase my retirement plan contributions?
The IRS has increased the contribution amounts for some types of retirement plans in 2026, so there is an incentive for making contribution increases. This change presents an opportunity to reassess and enhance your retirement savings strategy. Maximizing contributions can also provide significant tax savings and improve long-term financial security. Remember that you have until 4/15/2026 to complete your 2025 IRA contributions.
5. Do you have any recommendations for reducing my 2025 taxes?What about 2026 and beyond?
CPAs can recommend several strategies that might help reduce tax liability for 2025, 2026, and in the future.
6. Is there anything my financial advisor can do to help my tax situation?
There's a close relationship between financial planning and taxes. That's why it's good for our clients to ask this question of their CPAs and then pass the CPA's answer back to us. The better informed the CPA or tax preparer is about your situation, the more effective we can be in planning and managing your investment and financial affairs. This is the perfect opportunity for conversations between you, our office, and your CPA or tax preparer.
Of course, as always Pine Harbor Advisors advises clients to seek professional tax assistance in making important tax decisions.
Use Our 2026 Tax Guide to Prepare for the 2025 Tax Year!
Cetera Advisors LLC exclusively provides investment products and services through its representatives. Although Cetera does not provide tax or legal advice, or supervise tax, accounting or legal services, Cetera representatives may offer these services through their independent outside business. This information is not intended as tax or legal advice.