If you’re hoping for a bigger tax refund this year, the window to make a difference is closing fast. While most tax-saving strategies need to happen before Dec. 31, there are still a handful of smart money moves you can make before the April 15 filing deadline that could boost your refund — or, at least, shrink what you owe.
2025 may be over, but it’s not too late to increase your refund (or lower your tax bill) before the April 15 tax filing deadline. Here are a few strategies to try now.
Did you know you can still make prior-year contributions to a traditional IRA up until the 2026 tax filing deadline?
Contributing to a retirement account reduces your taxable income and, in turn, can help increase your tax refund. So, if you didn’t max out contributions to your IRA last year, now may be the time to do so.
For the 2025 tax year, the maximum you can contribute to an IRA depends on your age:
Under age 50: Up to $7,000
Age 50 or older: Up to $8,000 (including a $1,000 catch-up contribution)
Keep in mind that these limits apply to the combined total across all your IRAs (including traditional and Roth IRAs). Additionally, if your taxable wages are lower than these limits, you can only contribute the amount you earned.
If you have a high-deductible health plan, contributing to a health savings account (HSA) can lower your taxable income as well. And like with an IRA, you can make 2025 contributions to an HSA until April 15, 2026, further reducing your tax liability.
For tax year 2025, the HSA contribution limit is $4,300 for individuals under age 55 and $5,300 for those age 55 and older (including a $1,000 catch-up contribution). The maximum for families is $8,550, or $9,550 if you’re age 55 or older.
The biggest benefit of using an HSA is that it allows you to pay for qualified medical expenses using pre-tax dollars. However, even if you don’t think you’ll need the extra money in your account, it can still be worth bumping up your contributions. After age 65, withdrawals for non-medical expenses are allowed without penalty (you’d just pay ordinary income tax, similar to a Traditional IRA), essentially doubling as a long-term retirement savings tool.
Your tax return could look a lot different this year, depending on your financial situation. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a number of new tax deductions starting in 2025, including deductions for tips and overtime, an increase to the maximum child tax credit, a higher cap for state and local tax deductions, and a bigger deduction for qualifying seniors.
A quick refresher: Tax deductions reduce your taxable income and may increase your refund by lowering your overall tax liability, while a tax credit provides a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your total tax bill.
If you want to increase your refund, it’s important to take full advantage of all the tax deductions and credits you qualify for. So, don’t assume your tax situation for 2025 will be the same as in past years.
Consult your tax preparer or tax preparation software to determine which credits and deductions you may qualify for this year.
Your tax filing status determines your tax brackets, standard deduction, and eligibility for key credits. So, choosing the right status is key to maximizing your refund.
If you experienced a major life change in 2025 — such as getting married or divorced, or having a child — you may need to update your filing status. Again, if you aren’t sure which status fits your current situation, it’s a good idea to reach out to a tax professional for guidance.
Read more: 5 smart ways to put your tax refund to use
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