50+ STRATEGIES COVERED
Every strategy in your report.
Each strategy linked to the IRS tax code it is based on. Updated for 2026 including all OBBBA changes.
Tax law verified: March 24, 2026
RETIREMENT10 strategies
401(k) Contribution Gap
Max out your 401(k) to shelter up to $24,500 from income taxes.
Up to $9,065IRC §401(k) →
Backdoor Roth IRA
Contribute to a Roth IRA regardless of income using the conversion workaround.
$7,000 – $14,000 shieldedIRC §408A →
HSA Contribution Gap
Triple tax advantage — deductible going in, tax-free growth, tax-free for medical.
Up to $2,993IRC §223 →
Mega Backdoor Roth
Use after-tax 401(k) contributions to get up to $46,000 more into a Roth annually.
Up to $17,020IRC §402(c) →
Roth Conversion Bracket Fill
Convert pre-tax retirement funds to Roth to fill remaining space in your current bracket.
Varies by bracket roomIRC §408A(d)(3) →
Spousal IRA
Your non-working or low-earning spouse can contribute up to $7,000 to an IRA using your income.
Up to $2,590IRC §219(c) →
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Defer a portion of salary or bonus to a future year when your tax rate may be lower.
Varies by deferral amountIRC §409A →
Cash Balance / Defined Benefit Plan
Shelter $100K–$300K+ annually in a tax-deferred retirement plan for business owners.
$37,000 – $148,000IRC §401(a) →
HSA Investment Strategy
Invest your HSA balance for long-term tax-free growth instead of spending on current expenses.
$5,000 – $20,000+ over 10 yearsIRC §223 →
Solo 401(k) for Side Income
Open a solo 401(k) for self-employment or freelance income to shelter additional earnings.
Up to $25,900IRC §401(k) →
EQUITY & INVESTMENT8 strategies
RSU Withholding Gap
RSU vesting often under-withholds, creating an estimated tax penalty at filing.
Avoid $5,000 – $23,000 penaltyIRC §3402(g) →
ISO Exercise Timing
Time your incentive stock option exercises to minimize AMT exposure and maximize LTCG treatment.
$10,000 – $50,000+IRC §422 →
ESPP Optimization
Maximize your ESPP discount and hold for favorable long-term capital gains treatment.
$3,000 – $12,000IRC §423 →
Long-Term Capital Gains Optimization
Hold investments 12+ months to pay 15–20% instead of up to 37% on gains.
Varies by gains realizedIRC §1(h) →
Tax-Loss Harvesting
Sell losing investments to offset gains and reduce taxable income by up to $3,000 annually.
$1,000 – $10,000+IRC §1211 →
QSBS Exclusion (Section 1202)
Exclude up to 100% of capital gains on qualifying small business stock held 5+ years.
Up to $15M exclusionIRC §1202 →
Net Investment Income Tax Reduction
Strategies to reduce the 3.8% surtax on investment income above $250K MFJ.
$2,000 – $15,000+IRC §1411 →
AMT Credit Carryforward
Recover AMT paid in prior years on ISO exercises as a credit against regular tax.
Varies by prior AMT paidIRC §53 →
REAL ESTATE12 strategies
Cost Segregation
Accelerate depreciation on your rental property to claim $50K–$80K in deductions year one.
$50,000 – $80,000 year oneIRC §168(e) →
STR Material Participation
Log 500+ hours in your short-term rental to deduct losses against ordinary W-2 income.
$15,000 – $60,000+IRC §469 →
STR Renovation Deduction
Deduct renovation costs on your rental property using Section 179 and bonus depreciation.
35% back on every dollar spentIRC §179 →
STR Vehicle Mileage
Deduct business miles driven for your short-term rental at $0.70/mile for 2026.
$2,000 – $8,000IRC §162 →
Augusta Rule
Rent your home to your own business for up to 14 days tax-free.
$5,000 – $15,000IRC §280A(g) →
Passive Activity Loss Rules
Deduct up to $25,000 in rental losses if your AGI is under $150K.
Up to $9,250IRC §469 →
Real Estate Professional Status
Qualify as a RE professional to deduct unlimited rental losses against all income.
$20,000 – $100,000+IRC §469(c)(7) →
Home Office Deduction
Deduct a home office used to manage your STR business — up to $1,500 simplified method.
Up to $1,500IRC §280A →
Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction
Deduct health insurance premiums above the line if you materially participate in your STR.
$5,000 – $25,000IRC §162(l) →
1031 Like-Kind Exchange
Defer all capital gains on the sale of rental property by reinvesting in a replacement property.
$30,000 – $200,000+ deferredIRC §1031 →
Section 121 Home Sale Exclusion
Exclude up to $500K MFJ in capital gains when selling your primary residence.
Up to $120,000 in avoided taxesIRC §121 →
Installment Sale
Spread the gain from a property sale over multiple years to stay in a lower tax bracket.
$5,000 – $30,000 in bracket savingsIRC §453 →
BUSINESS & ENTITY2 strategies
Entity Optimization (S-Corp Election)
Structure self-employment income through an S-corp to reduce self-employment and Medicare taxes.
$5,000 – $20,000IRC §1361 →
SALT Deduction Optimization
Deduct up to $40,000 in state and local taxes under the updated OBBBA cap.
Up to $14,800IRC §164 →
CREDITS6 strategies
Child Tax Credit
Claim $2,200 per qualifying child under 17 — increased under OBBBA.
$2,200 – $8,800IRC §24 →
Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit
Claim up to $3,200 in credits for heat pumps, insulation, windows, and energy upgrades.
Up to $3,200IRC §25C →
STR Clean Energy Investment Credit
Claim a 30% credit on solar, battery storage, or other clean energy installed on rental property.
30% of expenditureIRC §48E →
Car Loan Interest Deduction (OBBBA)
Deduct up to $10,000 in loan interest on a new American-made vehicle. Above-the-line deduction.
Up to $3,700OBBBA New Provision →
EV Credit — Terminated
The clean vehicle credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025.
$0 (awareness)IRC §30D (terminated) →
Foreign Tax Credit
Claim a dollar-for-dollar credit for income taxes paid to foreign governments.
Varies by foreign taxes paidIRC §901 →
CHARITABLE & WEALTH4 strategies
Donor-Advised Fund
Bunch charitable giving into a single year for a larger deduction. OBBBA adds a 0.5% AGI floor.
$3,000 – $20,000+IRC §170 →
Opportunity Zone Investment
Defer capital gains by investing in a qualified opportunity fund. Hold 10+ years for tax-free growth.
Varies by gains investedIRC §1400Z-2 →
529 Education Savings Plan
Tax-free growth for education expenses. OBBBA doubled K-12 tuition limit to $20,000.
State deduction + tax-free growthIRC §529 →
Dependent Care FSA
Set aside up to $7,500 pre-tax for child or dependent care. OBBBA raised from $5,000.
Up to $2,775IRC §129 →
INCOME TAX OPTIMIZATION3 strategies
Additional Medicare Tax Awareness
0.9% surtax on earned income over $200K single / $250K MFJ. S-corp structure can reduce exposure.
$1,800 – $5,400 awarenessIRC §3101(b)(2) →
Estimated Tax Safe Harbor
Underpaying estimated taxes triggers penalties. Pay 110% of prior year tax to stay safe.
Avoid $1,000 – $5,000 penaltyIRC §6654 →
Qualified Business Income Deduction
Deduct 20% of pass-through business income. Made permanent under OBBBA.
$5,000 – $40,000+IRC §199A →
STATE-SPECIFIC3 strategies
State 529 Tax Deduction
Many states offer tax deductions for 529 contributions — up to unlimited in Colorado.
$500 – $2,000+ depending on stateState-specific →
PTE SALT Workaround
Use a pass-through entity election to bypass the federal SALT cap and recover deductions.
$5,000 – $30,000IRS Notice 2020-75 →
Deduction Bunching Strategy
Alternate between itemizing and standard deduction by bunching charitable gifts into one year.
$2,000 – $8,000 over 2 yearsIRC §63 →