The Democratic Sweep Didn't Happen. What Does That Mean for Your Clients' Taxes?

He suggested that advisor clients check that their state's tax laws and rules conform with those of the federal government. Some don't. California, for example, does not allow tax deferrals on contributions to health savings accounts, which the federal government and most states do allow.

This year, however, offers advisor clients some tax-saving opportunities that are not normally available, courtesy of the CARES Act, the $2 trillion-plus economic relief package designed to help individuals and business weather the pandemic-fueled slowdown.

Taxpayers who itemize can deduct 100% of their adjustable gross income for cash charitable contributions, except those going to donor-advised advised funds, this year. That's up from the usual 60% AGI allowance. Moreover, clients who don't itemize can take advantage of a one-year above-the-line deduction of $300.

The number of non-itemizers has grown since the passage of the 2017 tax cut legislation that doubled the standard deduction and limited the state and local tax deduction to $10,000. But those advisor clients may want to consider bunching their charitable contributions into one year and itemizing deductions if those contributions help lift their total deductions to a level above the standard deduction.

King cautions, however, that charitable deductions are "one of the most audited areas for the IRS," and the IRS can nullify a deduction of $250 or more if taxpayers don't have a letter documenting that they didn't receive anything in return for this contribution. "Not all charities are good about issuing that letter," King said. 

Another move that advisor clients could consider this year: tax gain harvesting. It's the opposite of tax loss harvesting and involves the sale of appreciated assets on which taxes must be paid. That could make sense for clients who want to sell those assets anyway, perhaps because they  worry about tax rates rising next year despite the lack of a Democratic sweep.

Those same concerns could also prompt them to transfer assets to children this year instead of next year or beyond. "If it's something they would do sooner than later they may want to act this year however unlikely it may be that taxes will rise," said King. Afterward they can even re-acquire those same securities because tax gain harvesting is not subject to the wash sale rules that apply to tax loss harvesting.

— Related on ThinkAdvisor:

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• 10 Tax Planning Steps to Take Before New Year's Eve
• Advisors' Advice: 10 Biggest Tax Mistakes Clients Make