Stephen Merritt, CPA, PC  |  Certified Public Accountants  |  (757) 420-5778
233 Business Park Drive, Suite 104, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

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September 2026:

• Lifetime Learning Credit & The American Opportunity Tax Credit
• Small Tax Planning Moves Can Add Up Big
• Make Banks Compete for Your Business
• Avoid Paying the Technology Upgrade Tax

Lifetime Learning Credit & The American Opportunity Tax Credit

With the number of tax breaks available to help manage the cost of education, it can quickly become a bit of a maze. Here are some of the more common with information to help make some sense out of which to use.

Understand the differences

Two of the most popular tax breaks to help pay for college and other post-secondary education programs are the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) and the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). Here’s what you need to know about each tax credit:

Both of these credits are available to you, your spouse, and a student you claim as a dependent on your tax return. Here are a couple of other tips to consider:

You may only cover a qualified expense in one program. So if you have a scholarship, you must apply this first and may not use the same expenses to qualify for either an LLC or AOTC.

So which is best for you?

• Per family vs per student. If you have multiple uses for the credit each year pay attention to the per family (LLC) versus the AOTC. Then maximize each’s value for you.
• One burns out. Note the AOTC is available for a limited time while use of the LLC is unlimited.
• There are other options. If you have scholarships, 529 plans or grants, you will want to coordinate all of these options along with the LLC and AOTC.
• Coordinate. You can use both programs for different students, but not for the same student in a single year.

Please call if you’d like assistance in determining which educational tax benefits make the most sense for your situation as it can change from year to year.

Small Tax Planning Moves Can Add Up Big

Some of the most effective tax moves are small and can be made year after year, adding up to saving significant money over time. Here are a few tax planning ideas for you to consider:

• Adjust your tax withholding. A big refund isn’t a bonus. It means too much tax came out of your paychecks all year. Adjust your withholding to match what you owe. This puts cash back in your pocket all year instead of waiting until spring.
• Result: Increasing your take-home pay by just $50 per month means an additional $3,000 stays in your pocket over five years.
• Increase retirement contributions. Traditional retirement contributions may reduce your current taxable income, so you’re building long-term retirement savings while potentially lowering today’s tax bill.
• Result: Contributing an extra $100 per month means you’ve added $6,000 to your retirement savings after five years, before any investment growth.
• Take advantage of HSAs or FSAs. If your health plan qualifies, an HSA lets you set aside money before taxes for medical costs. Whatever you don’t use this year stays in your HSA to use in the future. An FSA works similarly, but generally must be used within the year.
• Result: Setting aside $150 per month pretax in an HSA or FSA puts $9,000 towards medical costs over five years. You will pay medical expenses with money the IRS never taxed.
• Open or fund a 529 college savings plan. A 529 plan lets your education savings grow tax-free and qualifying withdrawals come out tax-free too. And many states offer a tax deduction for contributions. If your child doesn’t need all of it, unused funds can be rolled over into their own Roth IRA.
• Result: Contributing $100 per month adds $6,000 over five years before any investment growth.
• Give to your favorite charity. Beginning in 2026, you can deduct up to $1,000 in cash donations ($2,000 if married filing jointly) even when you take the standard deduction. So everyday giving can lower your taxes.
• Result: Donating $40 per month comes to $2,400 over five years of tax deductions that are now deductible even if you take the standard deduction. That’s a tax break on giving you may already be doing.
• Maximize available tax credits. Credits reduce your tax bill dollar for dollar so you don’t want to overlook them. Child and dependent care tax credits may be available if you have children or care for an aging parent. And if you have a child in college, education tax credits may offset some costs you already have.
• Result: A childcare credit worth $600 a year while your kids are young adds up to $3,000 over five years and gives you money back for expenses you were paying anyway.
• Review life changes annually. Marriage, a new baby, or a child heading to college can shift what you owe or what you qualify for. The tax implications of these can be easy to miss in a busy year. A quick annual review catches new credits or a needed withholding change while there’s still time to act.
• Result: Catching one missed credit can be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars over the years.

Small moves like these don’t require a complicated strategy. A little attention each year can help ensure valuable tax opportunities don’t slip through the cracks.

Make Banks Compete for Your Business

Banks regularly compete for new customers by offering cash bonuses, higher interest rates, and other perks. By periodically reviewing your options, you may be able to earn extra money while gaining access to better products and services. Here are some ideas to make banks compete for your business.

Your paycheck is worth something to a bank

Banks want customers who deposit money regularly, which is why many offer sizable cash bonuses for opening a new account and will often provide higher savings rates for direct depositors. To qualify, you may need to set up direct deposit or keep the account open for a specified period. If your paycheck is already being deposited somewhere every two weeks, redirecting it temporarily can sometimes turn an ordinary banking activity into a few hundred dollars in extra income.

Don’t let your savings work for free

A savings account that pays next to nothing has a hidden cost: the interest you could be earning elsewhere. Move some or all of your savings to a bank willing to pay more for it. Your bank benefits from holding your money. Make sure you benefit, too.

One bank doesn’t have to do everything

There is no rule saying all of your financial life has to live under one roof. One bank might have convenient branches and ATMs, another might offer an attractive checking bonus, and a third might have an excellent high-yield savings account. Maintaining more than one banking relationship lets you pick the best features from each institution rather than accepting one bank’s entire package. A second account can also provide a useful backup if your primary account is temporarily inaccessible because of fraud concerns, technical problems, or a lost debit card.

A $300 bonus can come with homework

An eye-catching bonus for opening a new checking or savings account is only worthwhile if you actually qualify for it and avoid unnecessary fees. Before opening an account, check the monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, direct-deposit rules, deadlines, and how long you must keep the account open. Closing an account too quickly could mean forfeiting the bonus or paying an early-closure fee. And remember that bank bonuses may be taxable income, so keep any tax documents the bank sends you.

When banks have to compete for your money, you’re in a much better position to make your money work for you.

Avoid Paying the Technology Upgrade Tax

It sometimes feels like technology companies expect us to replace our devices every couple of years while adding another monthly subscription along the way. Fortunately, this isn’t the only path. A few thoughtful habits can help you stay secure, get more life out of the technology you already own, and avoid paying the technology upgrade tax.

Know which tech upgrades are actually worth it

Technology companies are very good at turning new into necessary.

If your phone battery dies by lunch or your device no longer supports software you need, upgrading may be money well spent. But paying $1,000 for a slightly better camera may not be.

Don’t overlook the middle ground between keeping and replacing. A new battery, more storage, added memory, or a good cleanup can sometimes make an aging device feel surprisingly young again.

Take control of your digital subscriptions

The subscription economy knows that $9.99 doesn’t feel like much money. The trouble starts when ten companies have the same idea.

Look at annual costs instead. A forgotten $14.99 subscription is really a $180-a-year expense. Once or twice a year, review your statements and ask: When did I last use this? Would I subscribe today? Am I paying for something I already get elsewhere?

Canceling is low risk. If you actually miss a service, restarting it usually takes minutes.

Replace electronics on your schedule, not the manufacturer’s

A new product announcement is a marketing event, not an expiration notice for the device you own.

Create your own replacement test: Does it still do what you need? Is it reliable and reasonably fast? Does it still receive security updates? If so, there may be little reason to replace it.

When replacement is necessary, consider last year’s model or manufacturer-certified refurbished equipment. Technology’s sweet spot is often the slightly older product whose price has fallen much faster than its usefulness.

Don’t ignore software updates

People sometimes spend hundreds replacing old technology while postponing the free updates designed to keep it working.

Software updates do more than add new features. They fix security weaknesses, correct problems, and help your device run reliably. The bigger concern is when a manufacturer stops providing security updates altogether.

Age alone shouldn’t determine when technology gets replaced. A five-year-old device that works well and remains supported may have years left. Let usefulness, reliability, security, and cost – not the calendar – decide when it’s time to move on.

Technology will always give us new ways to spend money. The good news is that we get to decide which ones are worth it.

As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your tax situation please feel free to call.

Office Hours

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Monday – Thursday

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As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your tax situation please feel free to call.