Save, spend, or invest: How to handle tax refunds and other financial windfalls

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Think about tomorrow’s needs, not today’s wants.

© H. Ozmen, Pixel-Shot/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Whether it’s a refund you expected or a check out of the blue, finding money waiting in your mailbox can feel even better than finding a $20 bill in your jeans pocket. What will you do with this unexpected windfall? Before you spend it, it’s smart to take the time to think about your financial goals—and make sure you don’t have to pay taxes on any of your newfound cash.

Your windfall might take the form of a tax refund, a gift or inheritance, a bonus, or even winnings from gambling. In any case, it pays to use the money wisely.

As you earn income throughout the year, your employer takes money out of your paycheck to pay income tax and other taxes. If you’re an independent contractor or self-employed, you’ll likely make quarterly tax payments. But these tax deductions and payments are just estimates.

At the end of the year, you fill out a Form 1040 to calculate the taxes you truly owe. If you’ve paid more than that amount, you get a tax refund. So your refund is essentially money you set aside all last year that is now paid back to you in a lump sum. If your tax refund is from state taxes and you itemized, that refund is taxable the following year. Federal tax refunds, however, are always tax free.

Many employers give bonuses in conjunction with annual reviews, the holidays (or year-end), as a recruiting tool, or for plenty of other reasons. But any bonus you receive—even a gift card—is taxable. Your employer adds the bonus to your earnings, and you usually pay a 22% flat tax, rather than the rate calculated by your Form W-4.

Suppose your employer offers you a $1,000 bonus. The company might take all of the taxes owed out of that amount (leaving you with about $700 or less, depending on state taxes). Or they can “gross it up,” which means giving you a bonus higher than $1,000 in your earnings, taking taxes out, and leaving you with $1,000 in cash. Most often, employers gross up a gift card or small cash award.

In general, money you receive as a gift or as an inheritance is not taxable to you at the federal level (although a handful of states do require state taxes on inherited money). But in most instances, any taxes assessed are paid by the giver or the estate. If you’re the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, money you receive after the death of the insured person is not taxable.

If you occasionally gamble for fun—not as your main source of income (in which case you would pay income taxes as you would with any job)—there are Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules that govern gambling income and losses.

Gambling winnings, including cash as well as trips or other prizes, could come from:

Gambling winnings are fully taxable and you must report the income on your tax return, according to the IRS. Depending on the type and amount of your winnings, you may receive a Form W-2G that shows your gambling proceeds. If you won more than $5,000 (or other certain situations) you might have estimated taxes withheld from your winnings before your check is cut. If estimated taxes are not withheld, be sure to set aside a portion to cover taxes.

Consider how you want to use your tax refund, bonus, or other windfall. Depending on your financial situation and your goals, you might consider the following ideas:

A cash windfall is just that—unexpected money that comes your way. Don’t make the mistake of assuming you’ll get another one next week or next year, especially if it came from games of chance, like playing the lottery or gambling. Keep budgeting based on money you know is coming in the door.

If your windfall resulted from a tax refund, it would be wise to do some tax planning for next year. By letting the government keep your money for a year before it’s refunded, you’re essentially providing Uncle Sam with an interest-free loan. Update your Form W-4 to withhold the correct amount from your paycheck each pay period to avoid getting a large refund next year. Plus, withholding less tax from each paycheck means you’ll have more to spend on day-to-day expenses.