Tag: taxes
-
Filing separately is smarter than couples think
Married filing jointly is the default, but in several real scenarios, filing separately produces a lower combined tax bill. Most couples never run the numbers.
-
S-corp election is the most underused middle-class tax move
S-corp election can save self-employed earners thousands in self-employment tax, yet most eligible filers never make it. Here’s how the math works.
-
Withholding is a behavioral trick the government uses to keep you docile
Tax withholding feels normal, but it was designed to make taxes painless and politically invisible. The behavioral economics behind it are worth understanding.
-
Tax-loss harvesting is a wash sale waiting to happen
Tax-loss harvesting promises free alpha, but the wash sale rule, behavioral traps, and modest real benefit make it less compelling than fintech ads suggest.
-
TurboTax built a business on keeping filing complicated
TurboTax has spent decades lobbying to keep US tax filing complex. Here’s how Intuit profits from confusion and why most countries already do it better.
-
Most CPAs aren’t worth what they charge
A good CPA earns their fee many times over. A mediocre one charges premium rates for work software handles. Knowing the difference saves real money.
-
Free File is sabotaged on purpose and nobody goes to jail
The IRS Free File program exists. Most eligible taxpayers never see it because the major tax prep companies have spent two decades hiding it on purpose.
-
Tax refunds are a sign you’re doing it wrong
A big tax refund feels like a win, but it’s actually an interest-free loan you gave the government. Here’s why over-withholding is a costly habit.