Page 10 - Means Wealth 2020/2021 Perspectives

IS THAT TAX REFUND REALLY A GOOD THING?

Article Provided by BerryDunn

ou are not alone if you experience a sense of excitement when you find
Y out that you are due a tax refund at the end of the year. But is it really a
good thing for your finances? No.

Sure, it’s nice to not have to make a payment when Tax Day arrives, but in the
end, you would be better off to have had the use of that money during the
year. Think about it: you have just provided the government with an interest-
free loan!

How much money you are losing really depends on the amount of the “loan”
you have provided to Uncle Sam and what you would have done with that
money had you not paid in more tax than was necessary during the year.

What if instead of having that extra tax withholding coming out of your
paycheck, you were investing the funds in an investment with a 6% return
allowing it to reap the benefits of compound interest? Or, what about
putting those funds in a retirement account? Even better.

You could also use the excess funds to save on interest by paying down
credit card debt or making additional principal payments on your mortgage.

That refund check is not “free money,” it’s your money! So take a closer
look at your tax payments whether through withholdings or quarterly tax
estimates and make sure you don’t pay the government more than you need
to any earlier than you need to. n

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