Top 5 Tax Mistakes Investors Make

| ARIE J. KORVING, CFP®

The tax laws are fairly complex and people make mistakes, but there are some mistakes that investors should not make.

  1. Taking short-term gains when waiting will turn the gain into a long-term gain.  Appreciated gains on assets held one year or longer are taxed at a lower rate than those held for less than a year.
  2.  Foreign stock investments held in a tax-qualified account.  Many foreign companies are required to withhold foreign taxes on dividends paid. U.S. investors can claim a tax credit on their tax returns, effectively recouping this lost dividend, but only if the foreign stocks are held in a taxable account.
  3. Failing to realize capital gains.  If you have a gain in a stock and believe that stock is now overvalued, do not allow fear of taxes to sell and lock in a gain.  That is the trap that many tech stock owners fell into in 1999, just before the tech bubble burst in 2000.
  4. Failing to take capital losses.  If you have a loss in a stock, the loss can be used to offset a realized gain in another stock, thus reducing your tax liability.  If you still like the stock you have a loss in, you can buy it back later as long as you observe the “wash sale rule.”
  5. Taking a direct distribution from a 401(k) or similar retirement plan.   Distributions from retirement plans should be done via a custodian-to-custodian transfer or you can be subject to taxes as well as potential penalties if you are under 59 1/2.
Arie J. Korving, CFP Co-founder, Korving & Company 3

Written By ARIE J. KORVING, CFP®

Arie J. Korving, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, has been delivering customized wealth management solutions to his clients for more than three decades. Prior to co-founding Korving & Company, he was First Vice President with UBS Wealth Management and held management positions with General Electric.

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