100 Days Left of the Year - Individual Taxes

Quick Summary: With approximately 100 days remaining in 2026, real estate investors still have time to review important tax planning decisions before the year closes. A proactive review of income, withholding, retirement contributions, deductions, charitable gifts, and retirement-account requirements can help clarify your tax position and reduce avoidable filing-season stress. At REI Tax Guys in Houston, we help investors evaluate real estate tax strategies that support both current tax efficiency and long-term portfolio goals.

Tax planning is most effective before December 31, not after the calendar has turned. Waiting until filing season can limit the options available to address changing income, new investments, side businesses, retirement savings, or significant personal events. By reviewing the areas below now, you can get organized, identify potential opportunities, and approach your 2026 return with greater confidence.

Review Withholding and Estimated Tax Payments

One of the first items to revisit is whether your tax withholding and estimated payments still reflect your 2026 income. This is especially important for investors whose earnings may have shifted during the year because of a new job, investment activity, business income, or changes in their real estate holdings.

Additional income from rental properties, consulting, online sales, freelance work, or other sources can affect the tax owed for the year. If payments made throughout the year do not match your current income picture, you could be left with an unexpected amount due when you file.

A year-end review creates time to understand whether adjustments are needed before tax season arrives. For real estate investor taxes, this step can be particularly useful when income varies across multiple properties, entities, and investment activities.

Organize Side Income and 1099 Reporting

Income outside a traditional W-2 position continues to be common. Freelance work, consulting, rideshare driving, digital payment platforms, online selling, and other independent activities can all create reporting responsibilities that deserve attention before year-end.

If you earned side income in 2026, review your records for revenue, related expenses, and possible tax obligations. Staying current on this information makes it easier to understand your full income position and prepare for the forms and documentation that may be needed at filing time.

For investors who also operate a business or manage real estate-related activities, complete records may help identify eligible deductions connected to that work. Early review can also help prevent avoidable issues when it is time to prepare your return.

Consider Additional Retirement Contributions

Retirement accounts can support a long-term savings plan while also playing a role in current-year tax planning. Increasing contributions to qualifying accounts may reduce taxable income for 2026 while adding to the funds available for retirement.

Individuals age 50 and older may have access to catch-up contribution provisions, creating an opportunity for additional tax-advantaged savings before the year ends. Recent legal changes also broadened certain contribution opportunities for some people in their early 60s, making this a timely discussion for taxpayers nearing retirement.

The right approach depends on your income, existing retirement savings, and broader financial objectives. A real estate cpa can help investors consider retirement planning alongside real estate income and other tax-planning priorities.

Evaluate Whether a Roth IRA Conversion Fits

The final part of the year can also be a useful time to consider a Roth IRA conversion. Converting funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA typically results in taxable income during the year the conversion occurs, so it is important to understand the immediate tax impact.

In exchange, qualified withdrawals from a Roth IRA may be tax-free in the future. This may make a conversion worth reviewing for people who have a lower-income year or who are planning for future retirement distributions.

A Roth conversion is not automatically the best choice for every taxpayer. Reviewing the near-term tax cost and potential long-term effect before year-end can help determine whether the strategy aligns with your financial goals.

Check Education and Dependent Care Benefits

Families may have tax benefits to review before the year closes, particularly when a child or dependent is attending college. Paying qualified education costs before year-end may help maximize education-related credits, depending on your overall tax circumstances.

It is also important to gather records for qualifying dependent care expenses. Daycare, after-school care, summer day camps, and other eligible care costs paid so that you could work or look for work may be relevant when preparing your tax return.

Beginning with the 2026 tax year, recent law changes expanded the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Reviewing these expenses and maintaining complete documentation can help you prepare to evaluate the available benefit during filing season.

Make the Most of HSA and FSA Opportunities

Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts offer tax advantages, yet they are often overlooked until late in the year. Before December 31, take time to check contribution limits, current account balances, and the expenses that may qualify under your plan.

Depending on your circumstances, there may still be a way to use available HSA or FSA benefits for 2026. Reviewing the accounts early enough gives you time to make informed choices rather than making rushed decisions at the end of the year.

These accounts are only one part of a broader tax planning approach, but they can be a valuable piece of the overall picture. A simple account review may help ensure you do not overlook tax-favored opportunities that are already available to you.

Review Your Charitable Giving Plan

Charitable contributions remain a meaningful consideration in year-end planning. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, taxpayers using the standard deduction may still be able to deduct certain cash donations beginning in the 2026 tax year.

That change means charitable giving may deserve a closer look even for taxpayers who do not anticipate itemizing deductions. Keeping donation records organized is important, as proper documentation supports the tax treatment of qualifying gifts.

Taxpayers who are close to the itemizing threshold may also want to assess whether combining charitable gifts into one tax year could increase the overall value of their giving plan. The potential benefit depends on the individual taxpayer's situation and should be evaluated as part of the full tax picture.

Confirm RMDs and Beneficiary Designations

Retirement planning is not limited to making contributions. Generally, taxpayers age 73 and older must take required minimum distributions, or RMDs, from certain retirement accounts each year.

Missing an RMD or withdrawing less than required can lead to penalties. Reviewing account balances and distribution obligations before year-end helps provide time to address the requirement and avoid a preventable problem.

Year-end is also a practical time to confirm beneficiary designations for retirement accounts, life insurance, and other financial assets. Marriage, divorce, births, deaths, and other family changes may leave old designations inconsistent with your current wishes, so keeping them updated is essential.

Get Tax Documents in Order Before Filing Season

Getting organized is one of the most straightforward and useful year-end tax planning steps. Collect receipts, donation acknowledgments, bank statements, business expense records, and other tax documents while transactions and details are still easy to verify.

For real estate investors, organized real estate accounting records may include property income and expense documentation, entity records, and information related to investment activity. Clear documentation helps support a more efficient review of potential deductions and credits.

As filing season gets closer, misplaced documents can be harder to find and important details can be more difficult to confirm. Taking care of organization now can make the tax-preparation process smoother and reduce the possibility of overlooking relevant information.

Put Your 2026 Tax Plan Into Focus

The final 100 days of 2026 can pass quickly, but there is still time to review planning opportunities that may affect your overall tax outcome. A few thoughtful adjustments before year-end can improve visibility into your tax situation and help reduce pressure when it is time to file.

For investors, tax planning should account for the full picture of income, investments, and future objectives. REI Tax Guys provides specialized tax strategy support for real estate investors, syndicators, and developers, including real estate accounting, cost segregation guidance, entity structuring, and 1031 exchange advisory.

If you would like to discuss year-end tax planning and real estate tax strategies for your portfolio, contact REI Tax Guys in Houston. Our team can help you review the available options and build a plan that supports your financial goals.