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How to Maximize Tax Deductions to Get The Best Refund

How to Maximize Tax Deductions to Get The Best Refund

Money Management
SouthEast Bank| April 15, 2022
How to Maximize Tax Deductions to Get The Best Refund

How to Maximize Tax Deductions to Get The Best Refund

Do you want to get the biggest tax refund possible? If so, then you need to maximize your tax deductions. Many people don’t realize that they can claim a wide variety of deductions on their taxes. This can result in a bigger refund check at the end of the year. In this article, we will discuss what tax deductions are and how they impact your refund. We will also provide a list of tax deductions that you may be able to claim on your tax return. 


What Are Tax Deductions and How Do They Work? 


As of March 25, 2022 — the last reported data — the average tax refund for the 2022 filing season was $3,263, a 12% increase from last year. Why is it so much higher? A combination of tax credits and tax deductions. 

While tax credits reduce the amount of taxes you owe, tax deductions lower your taxable income. There are two ways to claim tax deductions: 

A List of Tax Deductions: 5 Common and Valuable Deductions to Claim in 2022


It pays to know about tax deductions, even if you claim the standard deduction. There are some tax deductions that are “above the line,” meaning you can claim them even if you don’t itemize your deductions. The above-the-line deductions can be used along with the standard deduction to lower your taxable income. 

Here is a list of the most common and valuable above-the-line tax deductions: 

1. Student Loan Interest Tax Deduction


If you made payments toward your student loans in 2021, you might be wondering, “Are student loan payments tax deductible?” The answer is yes; you can deduct up to $2,500 or the amount of actual interest paid, whichever is less. Payments made to either private or federal student loans qualify for the deduction. 

2. Charitable Donations Deduction


Is charity tax deductible? Under normal circumstances, individuals who claim the standard deduction cannot deduct charitable donations. However, the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 made provisions that made some contributions tax deductible. 

For the 2021 tax year, you can deduct up to $300 for monetary contributions made to qualifying charities in 2021 (up to $600 for couples that are married filing jointly). 

3. Retirement Savings Contribution Credit


If you made contributions to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you might be able to deduct some or all of your contributions with the IRA reduction. 

To qualify, you must contribute to a Traditional IRA; Roth IRAs don’t qualify. How much you can deduct —and if you can deduct contributions at all — is dependent on your income and whether you’re covered by an employer-sponsored plan.

If you’re not covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k), you can deduct up to the full contribution amount to an IRA, regardless of your income. 


4. Health Savings Account Deduction


If you have an individual Health Savings Account (HSA), you may be able to claim a tax deduction for the amount of HSA contributions during the year.

Are contributions to an HSA tax deductible if they come from an employer? Unfortunately, you cannot deduct the amount of contributions your employer made to your HSA. You can only deduct the amount of your own contributions. 


5. Educator Expenses Deduction


If you’re a teacher working in kindergarten through grades 12, a principal, counselor, or aide in a school that provides elementary or secondary education, you may be eligible for the educator expenses deduction

Educators can deduct up to $250 ($500 if married filing jointly and both persons are eligible educators) of unreimbursed expenses, such as art supplies, books, computer software, or personal protective equipment, that you purchased for the classroom. 

Filing Your Tax Return


When you are preparing your tax return, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with all of the deductions that may be available to you. This will help you to make sure that you are taking advantage of every deduction possible. There are many above-the-line deductions you can claim even if you don’t itemize your deductions. 

You can use a tax preparation software program or a tax professional to ensure you get the maximum refund you deserve. The IRS site has information on finding tax preparers, and it has a directory of federal tax return preparers with credentials and select qualifications. 

When you’re ready to file your tax return, think about how to access your tax refund. The IRS will distribute refunds via direct deposit; if you need a checking account, Southeast Bank has a wide variety of options. And its  Rewards2, and Thrive3 accounts offer Accelerate4, giving you early access to direct deposits. 



Note: Links to other websites or references to services or applications are provided as a convenience only. A link does not imply SouthEast Bank’s sponsorship or approval of any other site, service or application. SouthEast Bank does not control the content of these sites, services or applications.

Information contained in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing contained in this blog should be construed as legal or tax advice. An attorney or tax advisor should be consulted for advice on specific issues. 

2Enrollment in monthly eStatements is required to earn the $.10 cashback rewards. Qualifying transactions include point of sale or online purchases of $1 or more using the SouthEast Bank debit card. ATM and cash-only transactions do not qualify for cashback rewards. The Rewards Period begins on the first calendar day after the last business day of the prior month and ends on the last business day of the current calendar month. Regardless of the Statement Cycle, cashback rewards will be paid (credited to the account) on the 1st business day of each month. Unlimited check writing is subject to available funds. $3 paper statement fee is waived with a daily average account balance of $1200 or a daily average relationship balance of $10,000. Fees may reduce earnings. Some fees and restrictions apply. A $2.95 non-activity fee will apply to accounts with balances less than $300 each month in which no credit or debit transactions occur.

3The Thrive checking account is available to customers who are 60 years old and older. There is no monthly service charge with this account. The free checks are safety paper checks. The free certified checks are limited to 9 per month. Thrive checking account holder can receive 10 basis point increase on newly opened CD Special rates (see associate for CD Special offers) if the Thrive checking account receives a monthly direct deposit as well as one monthly debit (check or debit card) from the account.


4Customers have until the posting date to retract the payment. If the payment is retracted, SouthEast Bank will debit the account.