Tax planning is the process of organizing your financial affairs in a manner that legally reduces your tax liability. It involves making strategic financial decisions throughout the year to minimize the amount of taxes you owe. The goal is to use available deductions, credits, exemptions, and other tax-saving strategies effectively.

Some common tax planning strategies include:

• Retirement Contributions: Contributing to retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs can reduce your taxable income, resulting in lower taxes.Tax-Loss Harvesting: Selling investments that have lost value can offset gains from other investments and reduce your overall taxable income.

• Itemizing Deductions: Depending on your situation, itemizing deductions may be more beneficial than taking the standard deduction, as it allows you to deduct specific expenses like mortgage interest, state and local taxes, and charitable contributions.

• Tax-Loss Harvesting: Selling investments that have lost value can offset gains from other investments and reduce your overall taxable income.

• Capital Gains and Losses: Timing the sale of assets like stocks and real estate can affect the amount of capital gains taxes you'll owe.

• Tax Credits: Taking advantage of tax credits, such as the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Tax Credit, can directly reduce your tax liability.

• Business Deductions: Business owners can deduct legitimate business expenses, reducing the taxable income of their businesses.

Tax preparation: is the process of organizing and filing your tax returns with the appropriate tax authorities, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States or the tax authority in your country. It involves gathering all the necessary financial documents and information, calculating your tax liability, and completing the required tax forms accurately and on time.

Including tax planning and preparation in an advisory relationship helps individuals and businesses optimize their tax situation. Effective tax planning can lead to significant savings, while proper tax preparation ensures that your tax returns are filed correctly and on time.