New Deductions: Car Interest & Senior Deduction

#257: We break down essential tax and financial decisions to make before year-end. Learn how to maximize deductions, optimize charitable giving, manage investment gains and losses, and take advantage of retirement and home-improvement credits. We also run through all the credit card, points and miles deadlines to hit before 12/31.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/end-of-year-financial-checklist-2025

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Resources Mentioned

Chris' End of Year Checklist for Taxes, Points & Miles

Carry Solo 401k

Kick (20% off your first year of bookkeeping with code CHRIS20)

Invest America Kids Savings & Investment Accounts

Hotel Mattress Run

CardPointers Pro (50% off here)

Use Your Credits

ATH Podcast

• Chris’ Best Cards Page
• Ep 144: Leveraging Tax-Advantaged Accounts to Maximize Your Wealth with Katie Gatti Tassin
• Ep 243: Smarter Strategies for Retirement, Wealth Building, and Taxes with Michael Kitces
• Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
• Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:03) Standard Deduction vs. Itemizing

(03:02) The New SALT Cap & Property Tax Strategy

(05:02) Pass-Through Entity Taxes for Business Owners

(06:07) Smart Charitable Giving Strategies

(07:07) Donating Appreciated Assets

(09:18) Using Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

(14:16) Why 25-26 Changes Matter for Charitable Giving

(16:14) New Car Loan Interest Deduction

(18:19) Deduction for Qualified Tips & Overtime

(18:34) New Senior Deduction

(19:12) Shifting Income to Optimize Your Tax Bracket

(20:48) Capital Gains: Loss & Gain Harvesting

(22:02) Understanding the Wash Sale Rule

(25:11) Advanced Tax Moves to Ask Your CPA

(25:42) Key Retirement Deadlines & Contribution Limits

(31:01) Roth IRA & Traditional IRA Rules

(34:18) Backdoor & Mega Backdoor Roth Contributions

(35:18) ISOs & Alternative Minimum Tax

(36:16) FSA Essentials: Use It or Lose It

(38:57) HSA Strategy & Triple-Tax Advantage

(42:13) Home Efficiency & Solar Credits for 2025

(43:14) 529 Plans, Gifting Rules & Education Savings

(47:37) The New “Trump Account” for Kids

(48:14) Funding a Child’s Roth IRA Through Earned Income

(50:29) EOY Tax Moves for Business Owners

(55:51) EOY Checklist for Points & Miles

(01:00:32) Credit Card Annual Credits & Benefit Resets

(01:03:57) Calendar-Year Credits to Use Before January

(01:14:55) Final EOY Checks for Airlines, Hotels & Credit Cards

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