Most people have no idea what they actually paid in taxes last year. Not the refund. Not the amount due on filing day. The real, full number for the entire year.
That number matters more than you think. And if it makes you uncomfortable, there is still time to do something about it.
Between paycheck withholding and quarterly estimated payments, taxes get chipped away gradually. That makes them easier to manage day to day, but also very easy to lose track of completely.
Your 2026 Midyear Tax Planning Starts Here
Pull out your 2025 tax return and find Line 24 on your Form 1040. That is your total federal tax liability for the year. If your state has income tax, a helpful starting point is that state liability often runs around 30% of your federal number, though this varies significantly by state and income level.
You may have covered most of it through withholding without even noticing. You may have made estimated payments along the way. Credits may have brought the number down. But once you see the full total, how does it sit with you?
Is it what you expected? Does the number feel right for what you sent in?
Now ask yourself this: how would it feel if that number were cut in half? What if it disappeared almost entirely?
Half the year is still ahead. There is real room to make meaningful changes before 2026 closes. That number does not have to stay where it is.
Written by Weldon Hathaway,
Accountant & Tax Specialist at Rise CPA & Accountants
You Saw the Number.
Now Let Us Help You Change It.
Midyear is the right time to act.
There is still time to make real moves before 2026 closes. Book a free consultation and let us look at your numbers together.
