10/20/2026
Most people think of their tax return as the main event. I understand why. It’s the form with the deadline, the signature, and the refund or the bill. But here’s the truth from my side of the desk. A tax return only tells you what already happened. By the time we file it, every decision for that year is locked in. There’s no going back to adjust withholding. There’s no chance to time a deduction better. It’s a history lesson, not a game plan.
A tax projection works differently. It looks forward, not backward. I take your current income, deductions, and life changes. Then I estimate what you’ll owe before the year ends. That gives us time to act. We can adjust estimated payments. We can rethink retirement contributions. We can decide whether to accelerate or delay income. In other words, a projection turns your taxes into a decision instead of a surprise.
Learn more: https://www.myrickcpa.com/tax-projection-more-valuable-than-a-tax-return
While the information on last year's tax return is a history lesson, tax projection is a road map to next year's return, which can prevent April surprises.