If you’ve ever contributed to a traditional IRA without taking a tax deduction, used the backdoor Roth IRA strategy, or withdrawn money from a Roth IRA, Form 8606 is the unsung hero that keeps you from paying taxes twice on the same dollars. The problem? Most people don’t even know it exists. Here’s why this form matters and how it can protect you from costly tax mistakes.

Got a tax bill that made you wince? Or a refund that made you wonder why so much of your money was sitting with the IRS all year? The IRS Withholding Estimator can help you tweak your paycheck withholding or set up estimated tax payments so you’re not caught off guard next tax season. Here’s how to use it to get ahead and avoid penalties.

Roth IRAs can be great—until you realize you weren’t actually allowed to contribute. If your income was too high last year and you accidentally put money into a Roth IRA, you’ll need to fix it fast to avoid a recurring 6% penalty. Here’s what to do, whether you want to recharacterize the contribution, withdraw the excess, or make sure you’re not paying more taxes than necessary.

Your inbox is probably overflowing with emails saying, “Your tax documents are ready!”—but are you sure you have everything you need? Every year, people rush to file, only to realize they’re missing a key tax form that could lead to IRS headaches down the road. Before you hit submit, double-check your situation against this list to make sure no form got lost in the shuffle.

An unusually high income year can bring tax challenges, but it also offers opportunities to save and plan for the future. Explore strategies like maximizing 401(k) contributions, charitable giving, and tax-loss harvesting to make the most of your financial gains.

If your income is unusually low this year, you may have a unique opportunity to save on taxes and boost your financial future. From Roth IRA contributions to tax-gain harvesting, here’s how to make the most of a challenging year.