q3-tax-projection-before-q4-2026

Before Q4 Starts, Project the Year You’re Actually Having

September 07, 202620 min read

Financial Horizons: Insights for Building Wealth and Securing Your Legacy

Before Q4 Starts, Project the Year You’re Actually Having

By Dr. Jose G. Cardenas | Chief Tax Strategist, The C & R Group, LLC

Today is Labor Day.

For generations, Labor Day has recognized the contributions American workers make to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

It is a day to appreciate:

  • Employees;

  • Entrepreneurs;

  • Business owners;

  • Tradespeople;

  • Professionals;

  • Military families entering civilian careers;

  • Everyone whose work helps move the economy forward.

So first:

Happy Labor Day to America's workforce, business owners, and families building their futures one paycheck, one contract, and one opportunity at a time.

But Labor Day also arrives at an important point on the financial calendar.

September.

Eight months of the year are largely behind us.

Q4 is approaching.

And by now, the year you thought you were going to have in January may look very different from the year you are actually having.

Maybe:

  • Your income increased;

  • Your bonus was larger than expected;

  • Your business had a strong year;

  • Your spouse changed jobs;

  • You sold investments;

  • You purchased equipment;

  • You started a side business;

  • You retired;

  • You received a raise;

  • Your deductions changed;

  • Your withholding stayed exactly the same.

That last one is where trouble often begins.

Because tax planning commonly starts with assumptions.

But good tax planning does not stay married to them.

It adjusts when reality changes.

The federal income-tax system operates on a pay-as-you-go basis. Tax is generally paid during the year through withholding and estimated payments rather than waiting until the return is filed. That makes September an important checkpoint for determining whether the payments made so far still fit the income actually being earned.

The central principle for today's article is:

Do not enter Q4 using a January tax plan built around income, deductions, and assumptions that no longer exist.


Labor Day Is a Good Time to Measure the Work Already Done

Labor Day celebrates work.

September tax planning should measure what that work has actually produced.

Ask:

Income earned year to date

$________

Business profit year to date

$________

Federal withholding

$________

Estimated taxes paid

$________

Major deductions expected

$________

Investment gains realized

$________

Those numbers tell you far more about the year than:

“I think we're doing about the same as last year.”

September is where assumptions should give way to actual numbers.


1. Stop Using Last Year's Tax Return as This Year's Tax Projection

Your prior tax return is useful.

But it is history.

Suppose your 2025 return showed:

Household income

$180,000

So in January 2026, you assumed:

approximately $185,000

for the new year.

Now September arrives.

Actual projected 2026 income:

$235,000

Your original tax assumptions are obsolete.

Yet many taxpayers are still using:

  • The same W-4;

  • The same estimated payments;

  • The same tax reserve.

That is how tax surprises are manufactured.


2. Build the Projection From Year-to-Date Numbers

A tax projection should begin with:

What has actually happened?

Suppose through August:

Wages earned

$120,000

Business profit

$40,000

Interest and dividends

$6,000

Capital gains

$18,000

Year-to-date income:

Approximately:

$184,000

Now estimate September through December.

That is much stronger than:

“We'll probably make about $200,000 this year.”

Projection should come from evidence.


3. Annualize Recurring Income Carefully

Some income is predictable.

Suppose salary through August is:

$96,000

Eight months.

Average monthly salary:

$12,000

If that continues for four more months:

Projected annual salary:

$144,000

Simple.

But not everything should be annualized automatically.

A March bonus may not repeat.

A one-time consulting contract may not repeat.

A capital gain may not repeat.

Separate:

Recurring income

from

One-time income.

That improves the forecast.


4. Review the Remaining Paychecks

Employees still have several payroll cycles remaining.

That creates time to act.

Suppose projected federal tax is:

$35,000

Expected total withholding at current pace:

$28,000

Projected shortfall:

$7,000

Now you may have options.

For example:

Increase withholding over remaining payroll periods.

If there are eight paychecks left:

Approximate additional withholding needed:

$875 per paycheck

before considering estimated payments and other factors.

The point is not the specific solution.

The point is:

September still gives you time.


5. Review Form W-4 Before Q4

Employees frequently complete Form W-4 when:

  • Starting a job;

  • Getting married;

  • Changing employers.

Then forget it exists.

But circumstances change.

Review W-4 when:

  • Household income increases;

  • Spouse begins working;

  • Second job starts;

  • Side business becomes profitable;

  • Investment income rises;

  • Deductions decrease.

If the original withholding assumptions are no longer valid:

Update them.


6. Married Couples Should Project Both Incomes Together

This is a classic source of surprises.

Spouse A earns:

$110,000

Spouse B earns:

$95,000

Each employer withholds as though that job exists in isolation.

But the tax return combines:

$205,000

before other household income.

Add:

  • Interest;

  • Dividends;

  • Business profit;

  • Capital gains.

Now the household may have a significantly different tax profile.

Do not project each spouse separately.

Project the return.


7. Business Owners Need a Profit Projection, Not a Revenue Guess

Suppose the business has:

Revenue through August

$480,000

Owner says:

“We're going to make about $700,000 this year.”

That may describe revenue.

But tax planning needs:

profit.

If year-to-date expenses are:

$330,000

then year-to-date profit:

$150,000

Now project:

  • Remaining revenue;

  • Remaining payroll;

  • Equipment;

  • rent;

  • professional fees;

  • insurance;

  • other expenses.

The tax projection should use expected taxable business income.

Not gross sales.


8. Compare YTD Business Profit With Last Year's Full-Year Profit

This gives useful perspective.

Suppose:

2025 full-year profit

$140,000

2026 profit through August

$155,000

That should trigger attention.

The business has already exceeded last year's annual profit with four months remaining.

If estimated taxes are still based on 2025:

The plan may be badly behind.

That is exactly what September should uncover.


9. Review Owner Compensation

S corporation owners should review:

  • W-2 compensation;

  • distributions;

  • year-to-date profit;

  • reasonable compensation.

Suppose:

YTD S corporation profit

$180,000

Owner wages

$40,000

Distributions

$100,000

That deserves review.

Do not wait until January payroll reporting deadlines approach.

September gives time to correct compensation strategy where appropriate.


10. Review Estimated Taxes Paid So Far

List:

Q1 payment

$________

Q2 payment

$________

Q3 payment

$________

Federal withholding

$________

State payments

$________

Then compare:

Taxes already paid

with

Projected tax for the year.

Do not assume that making quarterly payments means:

the amount is correct.

The amount must reflect the income actually being produced.


11. A Quarterly Estimate Is Not Sacred

Business profit may have changed.

Investment gains may have changed.

Household wages may have changed.

Therefore:

The estimated payment may need to change.

Suppose January projection:

$80,000 business profit

September projection:

$160,000

Continuing to make payments based on $80,000 is not discipline.

It is outdated information.

Update the projection.


12. Review Investment Gains

Week 20 focused heavily on investment taxes.

Now bring those numbers into the Q3 projection.

List:

Short-term gains

$________

Long-term gains

$________

Dividends

$________

Interest

$________

Investment activity can change:

  • Taxable income;

  • Capital-gain rates;

  • NIIT exposure;

  • Estimated-payment needs.

These numbers belong in the household tax forecast.


13. Include Capital Losses Too

Do not include gains without including losses.

Suppose:

Realized gains

$40,000

Realized losses

($15,000)

Net capital position is not:

$40,000.

It must be reviewed under the capital gain/loss netting rules.

Also identify:

Capital-loss carryforward

$________

from prior years.

That can materially affect the projection.


14. Review Bonus Income Before It Arrives

Many employees receive:

  • Q4 bonus;

  • commissions;

  • year-end incentive compensation.

Do not wait until December.

Ask today:

Expected bonus

$________

Expected withholding

$________

Then add it to the projection.

A $50,000 bonus can materially change:

  • Taxable income;

  • Investment-tax exposure;

  • Estimated payments.

The sooner you include it, the better.


15. Review RSUs and Stock Compensation

Employees in technology and corporate environments may receive:

  • RSUs;

  • Stock options;

  • Equity compensation.

These can create:

  • Ordinary wage income;

  • Capital gains later;

  • Concentrated stock positions.

Include expected vesting in the year-end projection.

Do not let equity compensation surprise the tax plan.


16. Review Retirement Contributions

September is also a good time to ask:

401(k) contributions YTD

$________

Employer match

$________

IRA strategy

Review

Business retirement plan

Review

If you intended to maximize contributions:

Are you on pace?

Do not discover in the final December paycheck that the payroll settings never matched the goal.


17. Traditional vs. Roth Contributions Can Affect the Projection Differently

Traditional contributions may reduce current taxable income when applicable.

Roth contributions generally do not provide the same current federal income-tax deduction.

So:

“I contributed $20,000 to retirement”

is not enough information.

Which bucket?

That matters.

The contribution strategy should align with the household tax plan.


18. Business Owners Should Review Retirement-Plan Opportunities Now

A profitable business may create opportunities involving:

  • SEP IRA;

  • SIMPLE IRA;

  • Solo 401(k);

  • Other employer retirement plans.

But different plans have:

  • Different deadlines;

  • Different contribution mechanics;

  • Different employee requirements.

Do not begin the discussion in December if setup needs to happen sooner.

Q3 is planning time.


19. Review Major Equipment Purchases

Business owner considering:

$75,000 equipment purchase

before year-end?

Do not buy it simply because:

“I need a deduction.”

First ask:

  • Does the business need it?

  • When will it be placed in service?

  • Is financing appropriate?

  • What depreciation treatment may apply?

  • What happens to cash flow?

A tax deduction does not turn a bad purchase into a good purchase.

But necessary equipment deserves tax review before acquisition.


20. Review Depreciation Before Year-End

Businesses with:

  • Vehicles;

  • machinery;

  • furniture;

  • technology;

  • real estate improvements

may have depreciation decisions that affect year-end tax projections.

Update the fixed-asset list.

Include assets already placed in service.

Then project depreciation before assuming taxable profit.


21. Review Business Expenses That Are Still Coming

Suppose Q4 normally includes:

  • Insurance renewals;

  • annual software;

  • professional fees;

  • holiday payroll;

  • marketing.

Those future costs may reduce year-end profit.

Include known legitimate expenses.

A good projection should not simply annualize Q3 profit without considering Q4 seasonality.


22. Do Not Manufacture Expenses to Lower Taxes

This deserves emphasis.

Suppose projected tax is high.

Business owner says:

“Let's spend $50,000 so we can deduct it.”

Maybe that makes sense if the business needs the purchase.

But spending:

$50,000

to save a fraction of that amount in tax still means:

$50,000 left the business.

Taxes are not the enemy of profitability.

Unnecessary spending is.


23. Review Charitable Giving

If the household intends to make significant charitable contributions:

Add them to the projection.

Then review:

  • Cash giving;

  • Appreciated securities;

  • Donor-advised funds where appropriate;

  • Deduction limitations.

Do not automatically sell appreciated investments before reviewing the charitable strategy.

Coordination matters.


24. Review Itemized Deductions

Potential itemized deductions may include:

  • Mortgage interest;

  • State and local taxes subject to applicable limits;

  • Charitable contributions;

  • Certain medical expenses subject to applicable rules.

Compare projected itemized deductions with the applicable standard deduction.

Do not plan around deductions that will not materially change the return.


25. Review Education and Dependent Changes

Earlier in August we discussed family tax planning.

Bring those facts into the projection.

Ask:

  • Did a child graduate?

  • Did dependency change?

  • Did childcare expenses change?

  • Did college enrollment begin?

  • Was a 529 distribution made?

  • Did household support change?

Family changes can alter:

  • Credits;

  • dependency;

  • education tax benefits.

The September projection should reflect the household as it exists now.


26. Review Health Savings Account Contributions

If eligible:

Review HSA contributions.

Ask:

Contributions YTD

$________

Employer contributions

$________

Remaining planned contribution

$________

HSA planning can affect:

  • Current tax;

  • Healthcare savings;

  • Long-term wealth.

Make sure eligibility and contribution limits are understood.


27. Review Side-Hustle Income

A side business may have looked trivial in January.

By September:

Revenue

$35,000

Profit

$22,000

That income now belongs in the projection.

Do not say:

“We'll see what the 1099 says.”

Track the actual business.

No 1099 does not automatically mean no reportable income.


28. Review Rental Activity

Landlords should include:

  • Rent collected;

  • Repairs;

  • mortgage interest;

  • property taxes;

  • depreciation;

  • management fees;

  • other expenses.

Rental income can affect:

  • AGI;

  • NIIT;

  • passive activity calculations.

Do not project household tax while leaving real estate outside the model.


29. Review State Taxes

Federal projection alone is not enough.

Ask:

  • What state do we live in?

  • Did residency change?

  • Did we work in another state?

  • Are state estimated payments current?

  • Did business operations expand into another jurisdiction?

State taxes can create a second April surprise.

Run both projections.


30. Military Families Should Review Residency Changes

For military and transitioning households, September may bring:

  • PCS move;

  • retirement move;

  • civilian employment in another state.

State residency can become important.

Distinguish:

  • Military legal residence;

  • duty location;

  • spouse income rules;

  • post-service residence.

Do not automatically assume the old military-state treatment continues after separation.

This will be a major part of this week's military companion.


31. Review Life Events

Did any of these happen?

  • Marriage;

  • Divorce;

  • Birth;

  • Adoption;

  • Death;

  • Retirement;

  • Job change;

  • Move;

  • Business formation.

Each can affect the tax picture.

Your tax projection should reflect the life you're living now.

Not the life you were living on January 1.


32. Review Tax Credits

Potential credits may change because of:

  • Income;

  • Dependents;

  • Education;

  • Energy improvements;

  • Business activity.

Do not automatically copy:

last year's credits

into:

this year's projection.

Eligibility can change.


33. Review Energy Improvements

If the household completed qualifying:

  • Energy-efficiency improvements;

  • Solar installation;

  • Other eligible property upgrades,

tax credits may deserve review under current law.

Document:

  • Invoices;

  • dates;

  • qualifying equipment.

Do not wait until tax preparation to locate the paperwork.


34. Review Large Medical Expenses

If the household experienced unusually high medical costs:

Collect the records.

Deductibility depends on:

  • Itemization;

  • AGI thresholds;

  • Qualifying expenses.

But the projection should at least identify whether medical deductions may become relevant.


35. Review Business Entity Changes

Did the business:

  • Form an LLC?

  • Elect S corporation taxation?

  • Add a partner?

  • Start payroll?

  • Acquire another business?

Those changes may alter:

  • Filing requirements;

  • payroll;

  • estimated taxes;

  • bookkeeping;

  • owner compensation.

The Q3 review is the time to make sure operations match the paperwork.


36. Review Payroll Tax Compliance

Business owners with employees should confirm:

  • Payroll deposits current;

  • Payroll filings current;

  • employee classification reviewed;

  • owner payroll appropriate.

Income-tax planning does not replace payroll-tax compliance.

Both need attention.


37. Review Contractor Payments

Year-to-date contractor payments:

$________

Now ask:

  • Are W-9s collected?

  • Are payments recorded?

  • Is classification appropriate?

  • Will information returns be required?

Do not wait until January to chase missing contractor information.


38. Review QBI

Business owners may qualify for the Qualified Business Income deduction under applicable rules.

But the calculation can be affected by:

  • Taxable income;

  • Business type;

  • Wages;

  • qualified property;

  • Capital gains;

  • other limitations.

QBI should be projected with the complete household return.

Not estimated in isolation.


39. Review NIIT

High-income households should review the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax.

NIIT may apply when the household has:

  • Net investment income;

  • MAGI above the applicable statutory threshold.

That can include:

  • Interest;

  • Dividends;

  • Capital gains;

  • Rental income;

  • Other investment income.

Do not wait until April to discover it.


40. Review Medicare Implications for Older Taxpayers

For Medicare beneficiaries, higher MAGI can potentially affect future income-related Medicare premium adjustments.

Large:

  • Capital gains;

  • Roth conversions;

  • retirement distributions

can therefore have effects beyond income tax.

September projection should identify large income events early enough to coordinate them.


Labor Day Case Study: The Household That Outgrew Its January Projection

Consider James and Lisa.

Both work.

James owns a consulting business.

Lisa receives W-2 wages.

In January they expected:

Lisa wages

$90,000

James business profit

$100,000

Investment income

$10,000

Projected household income:

Approximately:

$200,000

Their tax plan was built around those numbers.


What Actually Happened

By Labor Day:

Lisa received a promotion

Projected wages:

$115,000

James's business grew faster than expected

Projected profit:

$165,000

Investments produced gains

$35,000

Projected major income:

Approximately:

$315,000

before other tax adjustments.

That is not the same year.

Not remotely.

Yet:

  • Withholding unchanged;

  • Estimated taxes unchanged.

This household does not have a tax-return problem yet.

It has a projection problem.


Step 1: Update the Income

Original:

$200,000

Updated:

$315,000

Difference:

$115,000

That is the starting point.


Step 2: Update Business Expenses

James expects legitimate Q4 business expenses:

$25,000

Projected business profit is updated accordingly.

Now the calculation reflects reality.


Step 3: Review Retirement Contributions

Lisa has remaining 401(k) contribution capacity.

James's business retirement plan deserves review.

They evaluate:

  • Contribution strategy;

  • Cash flow;

  • current tax impact.

Not merely:

“How do we create a deduction?”

But:

“Does retirement funding already fit our financial plan?”


Step 4: Review Investment Gains

The household has:

$35,000 realized gains.

They review:

  • Holding periods;

  • capital losses;

  • NIIT;

  • estimated taxes.

Now investments become part of the projection.


Step 5: Review Taxes Already Paid

Federal withholding:

$24,000

Estimated payments:

$18,000

Total paid:

$42,000

Projected tax:

$________

Now the gap becomes visible.

That gives them time to address it.


Step 6: Adjust Before Q4

Possible actions include, where appropriate:

  • Increase withholding;

  • Adjust estimated payments;

  • Fund additional tax reserve;

  • Coordinate retirement contributions;

  • Review Q4 business expenses;

  • Review gains and losses.

None of this requires panic.

Because it is September.

There is still time.


The Difference September Makes

If James and Lisa wait until:

March 2027

the year is over.

They can still:

  • Prepare the return;

  • Claim available deductions;

  • Report the gains.

But they cannot go back and:

  • Change 2026 withholding;

  • Make every year-end decision retroactively;

  • Restructure transactions that already happened.

September gives them options.

That is why Q3 projections matter.


The Before-Q4 Projection Framework

STEP 1 — ACTUAL YTD INCOME

Wages:

$________

Business profit:

$________

Investment income:

$________

Rental income:

$________

Other:

$________


STEP 2 — PROJECT Q4

Remaining wages:

$________

Expected bonus:

$________

Business profit:

$________

Expected gains:

$________

Other:

$________


STEP 3 — PROJECT DEDUCTIONS

Retirement contributions:

$________

Business deductions:

$________

Charity:

$________

Other:

$________


STEP 4 — PROJECT TAX

Federal:

$________

State:

$________

NIIT:

$________

Other:

$________


STEP 5 — COMPARE PAYMENTS

Federal withholding:

$________

Estimated payments:

$________

State withholding/payments:

$________


STEP 6 — IDENTIFY THE GAP

Projected additional tax:

$________

or

Projected overpayment:

$________

Now you have a decision.

Not a surprise.


Labor Day Q3 Tax Readiness Checklist

In honor of the work already performed this year, make sure the tax plan reflects what that work produced.

INCOME

  • Wages updated.

  • Bonuses included.

  • Business profit projected.

  • Side-hustle income included.

  • Investment income included.

  • Rental income included.

PAYMENTS

  • Federal withholding reviewed.

  • Estimated taxes reviewed.

  • State payments reviewed.

  • Tax reserve reviewed.

BUSINESS

  • YTD P&L current.

  • Q4 expenses projected.

  • Owner payroll reviewed.

  • Retirement plan reviewed.

  • Equipment purchases reviewed.

HOUSEHOLD

  • Dependents updated.

  • Education changes updated.

  • Charitable giving updated.

  • Itemized deductions reviewed.

  • Life events included.

INVESTMENTS

  • Gains tracked.

  • Losses tracked.

  • Dividends included.

  • NIIT reviewed.

  • Estimated-tax impact reviewed.


Q3 Projection Scorecard

Give yourself one point for every YES.

  • YTD income known.

  • Projected full-year income known.

  • YTD withholding known.

  • Estimated payments known.

  • Business profit known.

  • Investment gains known.

  • Expected bonus included.

  • Retirement contributions reviewed.

  • Major deductions reviewed.

  • State taxes projected.

  • NIIT reviewed.

  • QBI reviewed where applicable.

  • Q4 business expenses projected.

  • Tax reserve funded.

  • Year-end tax gap known.

13–15 YES

GREEN — Q4 Ready

8–12 YES

YELLOW — Projection Needs Work

0–7 YES

RED — Entering Q4 Blind

If you are in red:

September is not too late.

But waiting is becoming expensive.


AI-Search Quick Answers

What is a tax projection?

A tax projection estimates the expected full-year tax result using year-to-date income, projected remaining income, deductions, credits, withholding, estimated payments, and other relevant tax items.

Why run a tax projection in September?

September provides eight months of actual financial data while still leaving time before year-end to adjust withholding, estimated payments, retirement contributions, business decisions, and other planning where appropriate.

Should I use last year's tax return as this year's projection?

It can provide a baseline, but current-year income, deductions, family circumstances, investments, and business activity should be updated using actual current-year information.

What numbers should a business owner use?

A business owner should generally project taxable profit rather than simply gross revenue. Current bookkeeping and a year-to-date profit-and-loss statement are critical.

Can investment gains affect the projection?

Yes. Capital gains, dividends, interest, and other investment income can affect taxable income, capital-gain rates, NIIT exposure, and estimated-tax requirements.

Should withholding be reviewed before Q4?

Yes. Employees still have remaining payroll periods in which withholding may potentially be adjusted based on an updated full-year projection.

Should estimated taxes be recalculated?

Yes when expected income materially changes. Estimated payments based on an outdated profit or income assumption may no longer fit the current-year tax liability.

Why is Labor Day a useful tax-planning checkpoint?

Labor Day arrives near the end of Q3, when taxpayers have substantial year-to-date data but still have time to make many year-end financial and tax decisions.


30 Questions to Ask Before Q4

  1. What have I earned year to date?

  2. What will I earn through December?

  3. Has salary changed?

  4. Is a bonus coming?

  5. Did my spouse's income change?

  6. What is business revenue YTD?

  7. What is business profit YTD?

  8. What is projected business profit?

  9. Are books reconciled?

  10. What capital gains were realized?

  11. What capital losses exist?

  12. How much dividend income?

  13. How much interest income?

  14. Could NIIT apply?

  15. What retirement contributions have been made?

  16. Am I on pace for my retirement goal?

  17. What major business expenses remain?

  18. Are equipment purchases planned?

  19. What charitable gifts are planned?

  20. Have dependent circumstances changed?

  21. Have education costs changed?

  22. Have I moved states?

  23. What federal tax has been withheld?

  24. What estimated payments have been made?

  25. What state tax has been paid?

  26. What tax reserve is available?

  27. Is QBI relevant?

  28. Are any large transactions still planned?

  29. What is the projected tax balance?

  30. Am I planning for the year I expected—or the year I am actually having?

That final question is the entire point.


What to Do Next

This Labor Day week, build a Q3 Tax Projection Dashboard.

ACTUAL THROUGH AUGUST

Income:

$________

Business profit:

$________

Investment income:

$________

Taxes paid:

$________


PROJECTED SEPTEMBER–DECEMBER

Income:

$________

Business profit:

$________

Bonus:

$________

Investment gains:

$________


FULL-YEAR PROJECTION

Gross income:

$________

Taxable income:

$________

Projected federal tax:

$________

Projected state tax:

$________


TAX ALREADY PAID

Withholding:

$________

Estimated payments:

$________


PROJECTED GAP

Additional amount expected:

$________

Then decide:

  • Withholding adjustment;

  • Estimated-payment adjustment;

  • Tax-reserve funding;

  • Retirement strategy;

  • Business planning.

Do this before Q4 starts.


Final Thought

Labor Day is a celebration of work.

The work you have performed.

The businesses you have built.

The careers you have advanced.

The families you have supported.

And the wealth you are trying to create.

That work deserves more than a tax plan built on stale assumptions.

By September, you should know whether:

The promotion happened.

The bonus happened.

The business grew.

The investments gained.

The side hustle became real.

The retirement contribution fell behind.

The withholding missed the target.

The estimated payment no longer fits.

Those are not failures.

They are new facts.

And good planning adjusts to facts.

So enjoy Labor Day.

Celebrate the work.

Spend time with your family.

Recognize the progress you have made.

Then before Q4 begins:

Run the numbers.

Update the projection.

Review the withholding.

Review the business.

Review the investments.

Fund the taxes.

Because the goal is not to perfectly predict the year on January 1.

The goal is to recognize the year that actually showed up—and make better decisions while there is still time to influence how it ends.

Honor the work.

Know the numbers.

Finish the year with a plan.

That is how Q4 should begin.


Book Your Q3 Tax Strategy Consultation

If your income, business, investments, family circumstances, or tax payments have changed since January, now is the time to update the projection before Q4 begins.

We can review:

  • Year-to-date income;

  • Business profit;

  • Withholding;

  • Estimated taxes;

  • Capital gains;

  • NIIT;

  • Retirement contributions;

  • QBI;

  • Business deductions;

  • Year-end opportunities;

  • Federal and state tax exposure.

Booking link:
https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/T4UHUjCijCtIB3rwoTDI

Phone: 580-699-1591

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jose G. Cardenas is a retired U.S. Army Finance Officer and the Chief Tax Strategist at The C & R Group, LLC. With a Doctorate in Business Administration and over 20 years of experience in tax planning and financial strategy, Dr. Cardenas helps individuals and business owners legally reduce taxes, strengthen cash flow, and build lasting wealth and legacy. Learn more at www.thecrgroupllc.com

DISCLOSURE

This article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as personalized legal, tax, or investment advice. Tax laws and regulations change over time and may vary by jurisdiction. You should consult with a qualified tax professional regarding your specific circumstances before implementing any strategy discussed here. Dr. Jose G. Cardenas, DBA, provides tax advisory services through The C & R Group, LLC. Insurance and investment strategies may be offered through his role as a licensed financial professional affiliated with Experior Financial Group.

Dr. Jose G. Cardenas

Dr. Jose G. Cardenas

Dr. Jose G. Cardenas is a retired U.S. Army Finance Officer and Chief Tax Strategist at The C & R Group, LLC. With a doctorate in business administration and decades of experience in financial strategy, tax planning, and wealth protection, he helps individuals and business owners legally reduce taxes, grow wealth, and secure their legacy.

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