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Year-end tax moves for 2026 come down to a few dates and limits. Most deadlines fall on December 31, about nine weeks away.
Year-End Tax Moves: Limits and Amounts to Know
How much can you put into a 401(k) or IRA in 2026?
Workplace plans come first. The IRS caps 2026 deferrals at $24,500 for 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans. Savers 50 and older can add $8,000, and those 60 to 63 can add $11,250.
IRAs come next. The limit is $7,500, and people 50 and older get a $1,100 catch-up.
What are the 2026 standard deductions?
The IRS lists $16,100 for single filers and married people filing separately. Married couples filing jointly get $32,200, and heads of household get $24,150.
What about FSAs and gifts?
Health FSAs are capped at $3,400 for 2026. A plan that allows a carryover can let you keep up to $680. The annual gift exclusion stays at $19,000.
Year-End Tax Moves to Make Before Dec. 31
Do you owe a required minimum distribution?
Most owners of traditional IRAs and workplace plan accounts must begin withdrawals at 73. The first one can wait until April 1 of the next year. Later ones are due by December 31. For a missed withdrawal, the IRS says the excise tax is 25%, or 10% if you fix it within two years. Roth IRAs are exempt while the owner is alive.
Does giving to charity help if you don’t itemize?
The IRS says people who do not itemize can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts to qualified charities starting in tax year 2026. Joint filers can deduct $2,000. Check an organization’s status in the IRS search tool before you give.
Should you check your retirement contributions?
Workplace plan contributions come out of paychecks, so your last payroll of the year sets the cutoff. Look at your year-to-date total now, while there is still time to change it.
Editor’s Take
Not every move fits every household. Start with the two year-end tax moves that carry hard deadlines, any required withdrawal and your workplace plan contributions. A tax professional or tax software can show how the numbers apply to you.
For a look ahead, see our reports on projected 2027 brackets and the 2027 401(k) limit.
