Strategic planning throughout the year results in a minimal tax balance. The objective of planning your tax payables is not to prevent paying taxes, it is to pay no more than your fair share of taxes, and keep your money where it earns you the most.

If you aren't aware of it yet, Uncle Sam pays no interest. If he deducts your tax payment monthly or quarterly, and takes more than his fair share, he doesn't give you anything back for the privilege of using your hard earned money. By the same token, if you don't pay in enough, he charges you a penalty and interest.

As a W-2 wage earner, if you are over paying your tax debt, you may be considering it a ˇ®forced savings plan', but you gain nothing, using that particular plan. By putting the same amount in savings every year, earning interest on the balance, and continuing to regularly invest in your savings fund, you may be able to utilize the retirement savings plan reducing your tax debt significantly. With the advice of a competent tax consultant, your savings can become an investment with a tax reduction at the end of the year.

As a business owner paying tax quarterly, over paying your taxes can cost you considerably more. Your tax debt may actually be borrowed money, on a line of credit from the bank where you pay interest for the use of the money. If tax planning were part of your business expenses, you get to deduct the amount paid to the tax consultant from your business, you don't have to pay interest on more than you need to pay in (if using a line of credit to pay taxes), and any saved money can be placed in a retirement fund or savings plan to draw interest for you. Once again, a tax consultant can save you money.