Not all tax strategies need to be executed by December 31. The window between January 1 and April 15 is still a great time to take advantage of some of opportunities in the tax code. There are several deductions and credits you can still create after the year ends that directly reduce your tax bill!
Here are six of my favorites:
1. Traditional IRA Contribution
You can contribute up to $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+) by 4/15/26 and deduct it on your 2025 return.
Example: A taxpayer in the 24% bracket who makes a full contribution would save $1,680 in taxes.
2. Fund a Roth IRA (For You or Your Kids)
Even though Roth contributions don’t reduce taxes today, this can still be a huge retroactive move. If you—or your child—had earned income in 2025, you can fund up to $7K in a Roth by 4/15/26. For kids especially, this is incredibly powerful. They may pay 0% federal tax on the earnings that go into the Roth, and the money grows tax-free for life.
3. Solo 401(k) or SEP-IRA Contribution
If you’re self-employed and had a plan in place by 12/31/25 (Solo 401k), or even if you didn’t (SEP-IRA), you can still create a large 2025 deduction by funding the employer portion before 4/15/26. For 2025 tax year, the max Solo 401(k) contribution is $70,000, and the max SEP IRA contribution is the lesser of $70,000 or 25% of eligible compensation.
4. 529 Plan Contribution (If Your State Allows It)
While there’s no federal deduction, many states give you a state tax deduction or credit for contributions made up until the filing deadline. This is an easy way to reduce your state tax bill for 2025 while funding future education.
5. Home Office Deduction and Mileage (Schedule C Filers)
If you’re self-employed and filing on a Schedule C, you still can take advantage of the home office deduction as well as getting a deduction for business miles driven.
6. HSA Contribution
If you had an high deductible health plan in 2025, you can still fully fund your HSA by 4/15/26. This means a max of $4,300 for self-only coverage, or $8,550 for family coverage.
The Bottom Line:
Just because the year ended doesn’t mean tax planning did. You still have time before April 15 to make some tax-moves to help you save money!
