36 deduction strategies, indexed.
Every strategy our scanner checks for, with the code section, who it applies to, and what gets missed. Click any card for the full breakdown.
Self-Employed & Small Business
8 strategiesIRC §280A(c)(1)LowHome Office Deduction
Deduct the business-use portion of your home — utilities, mortgage interest, insurance, depreciation — when a space is used regularly and exclusively for business.
IRC §199AHighQualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction
A 20% deduction on qualified pass-through business income, with phase-outs and SSTB rules that frequently get misapplied.
IRC §179Medium§179 Expensing Election
Immediately expense up to the §179 cap on qualifying business equipment instead of depreciating over 5–7 years.
IRC §168(k)MediumBonus Depreciation
Accelerated first-year depreciation on qualifying property, layered with §179 to maximize current-year deduction.
IRC §280A(g)LowAugusta Rule (14-Day Home Rental)
Rent your personal residence to your own business for up to 14 days per year — the rental income is tax-free to you and a deductible business expense to the company.
IRC §162(l)LowSelf-Employed Health Insurance
Deduct 100% of health, dental, and qualifying long-term-care premiums above the line for self-employed filers and 2% S-Corp shareholders.
IRC §195LowStartup & Organizational Costs
Deduct up to $5,000 each in startup and organizational costs in the first year of business; amortize the rest over 15 years.
IRC §408(k) / §401(c)MediumSEP IRA / Solo 401(k) Contributions
Self-employed retirement plans with much higher contribution limits than traditional IRAs.
Real Estate & Investment
7 strategiesIRC §168 / Rev. Proc. 87-56HighCost Segregation Study
Reclassify components of a building into shorter-life property (5, 7, 15 years) to accelerate depreciation deductions.
IRC §1031High§1031 Like-Kind Exchange
Defer capital gains tax on the exchange of investment real property for like-kind property of equal or greater value.
IRC §469(c)(7)HighReal Estate Professional Status
Qualifying as a real estate professional unlocks unlimited deduction of rental losses against active income.
Reg. §1.469-1T(e)(3)(ii)MediumShort-Term Rental Loophole
Average stay of 7 days or less + material participation = rental losses treated as non-passive without needing real estate professional status.
IRC §1211 / §1212LowCapital Loss Harvesting
Offset realized gains with realized losses, then deduct up to $3,000 of net losses against ordinary income.
IRC §1400Z-2HighQualified Opportunity Zone Investment
Defer (and potentially exclude a portion of) capital gains by reinvesting in a Qualified Opportunity Fund within 180 days.
IRC §163(h)(3)LowMortgage Interest Deduction
Deduct interest on acquisition indebtedness up to $750K (post-2017) or $1M (grandfathered) on a primary or secondary residence.
Family, Education & Health
6 strategiesIRC §223LowHSA Contributions
Above-the-line deduction for contributions to a Health Savings Account when paired with a qualifying high-deductible health plan.
IRC §129LowDependent Care FSA / Credit
Pre-tax dependent care via FSA up to $5,000, plus the Child & Dependent Care Credit on amounts above the FSA.
IRC §25A(c)LowLifetime Learning Credit
20% credit on up to $10,000 of qualified education expenses per return.
IRC §25A(b)LowAmerican Opportunity Credit
Up to $2,500 per eligible student for the first four years of post-secondary education; 40% refundable.
IRC §221LowStudent Loan Interest Deduction
Above-the-line deduction of up to $2,500 of student loan interest paid.
IRC §213LowMedical Expense Deduction
Itemized deduction for medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of AGI.
Retirement & Long-Term
5 strategiesIRC §408AMediumBackdoor Roth IRA
Non-deductible Traditional IRA contribution converted to a Roth IRA.
IRC §401(a)(31)HighMega Backdoor Roth (After-Tax 401k)
After-tax 401(k) contributions converted in-plan or rolled to a Roth IRA.
IRC §25BLowSaver's Credit
Non-refundable credit of up to 50% of the first $2,000 of retirement contributions for low- to moderate-income filers.
IRC §408(d)(8)LowQualified Charitable Distribution
Direct transfer from an IRA to a qualified charity — counts toward RMD, excluded from AGI.
IRC §401(a)(9)MediumRMD & Rollover Coordination
RMDs cannot be rolled over. Properly sequencing avoids excess-contribution penalties.
Charitable & Estate
5 strategiesIRC §170(f)(11)LowNon-Cash Charitable Contributions
Donations of property deducted at fair market value with proper documentation.
IRC §170(e)LowAppreciated Stock Donation
Donate long-term appreciated securities directly to charity — deduct fair market value, avoid capital gains entirely.
IRC §170MediumDonor-Advised Fund Bunching
Concentrate multiple years of charitable giving into one tax year via a DAF.
IRC §2503(b)LowAnnual Gift Tax Exclusion
Gift up to the annual exclusion amount per recipient with no gift tax filing or lifetime exemption use.
IRC §1014MediumStep-Up in Basis at Death
Inherited property receives a basis adjustment to fair market value at the date of death.
Credits & Adjustments
6 strategiesIRC §32MediumEarned Income Tax Credit
Refundable credit for low- to moderate-income working filers.
IRC §24LowChild Tax Credit
$2,000 per qualifying child under 17, up to $1,700 refundable.
IRC §25C / §25DLowResidential Energy Credits
Credits for solar, wind, geothermal, battery storage (§25D — 30%) and energy-efficient home improvements (§25C — up to $3,200/year).
IRC §30DMediumClean Vehicle Credit
Up to $7,500 for new qualifying clean vehicles, $4,000 for used.
IRC §901HighForeign Tax Credit
Dollar-for-dollar credit for income taxes paid to a foreign country.
IRC §62LowAbove-the-Line Adjustments Bundle
A cluster of above-the-line deductions: educator expenses, jury pay turned over to employer, performing-artist expenses, military reservist travel, Armed Forces moving.
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