As the end of the year approaches, there are many things to keep track of. You might be preparing for the holidays or even thinking ahead to your New Year’s resolutions. However, you should also keep track of some important financial deadlines.
401(k) Contributions
Your 401(k) plan sets you up for retirement so you can depend on some financial security. Typically, 401(k) plans are through your employer and they will deduct part of your pay to be contributed to your 401(k).
Some employers will also match these contributions and add more to your account. All contributions need to be in by the end of the calendar year. Having all of your contributions in can save you a great deal on your tax return, so you want to make sure you have everything in on time.
FSA Spending
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a plan set up by your employer to help you pay for medical expenses. Money is contributed to the account before taxes and you can choose how to spend it. This money can go toward paying deductibles or out-of-pocket medical expenses. You can use your FSA to pay for dental expenses as well.
While this is a great plan for covering your medical costs, you do need to make sure you use it well. If there is money left over at the end of the year, it’s possible you can lose it. Some employers may give you more time to spend it or you could have a limited amount rolled over to the next year. However, a lot of this money could be lost if you don’t use it.
Charitable Contributions
When you make any kind of charitable contribution, it can be written off in your taxes. However, if you want a contribution to count for the current tax year, you need to make sure they have been submitted and processed early enough. Even if you submit a donation before the end of the year, it will still take time for the charity to process this donation. Aim to have everything in by mid-December for it to count for the current tax year.
Financial deadlines can be stressful, but planning ahead for them can give you comfort. As the year reaches its end, make a plan to handle all the upcoming deadlines and take care of things early on. This can allow you to enjoy the end of the year.
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