Your One-Page Tax Strategy Finder

Can't remember which tax strategy applies to your situation? This is your cheat sheet.

All 74+ strategies organized by:

  • Savings potential (high to low)
  • Category (individual, business, real estate)
  • Who it's for
  • Links to detailed guides

Use this guide to:

  • Quickly find strategies that apply to you
  • Compare savings potential
  • Get links to full implementation guides

Editor’s note (Sam Young, EA): This table is distilled from my implementation notes—the links jump to the exact guides and forms we hand to clients when we scope work.

Individual & Family Strategies (1-33)

Retirement & Wealth Accumulation

1. Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k)/IRA | Savings: $5K-$50K+

  • Exploit overall 401(k) limits for massive Roth contributions
  • High-income executives with 401(k) after-tax contribution option
  • Convert up to $39,500 annually to tax-free Roth growth

2. Backdoor Roth IRA | Savings: $50K-$150K+

  • Bypass Roth IRA income limitations
  • High-income earners above Roth IRA limits
  • $7,000 annual tax-free contribution capability

3. Roth Conversion Ladder | Savings: $10K-$250K+

  • Strategic multi-year conversions during low-income periods
  • Pre-retirees with traditional retirement accounts
  • Fill lower tax brackets, reduce future RMDs

4. Strategic Retirement Withdrawal Sequencing | Savings: $5K-$100K+

  • Optimize order of retirement account withdrawals
  • Retirees with taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts

5. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) | Savings: $5K-$40K+

  • Optimize distributions and state tax planning
  • Executives with NQDC plans

6. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) | Savings: $1K-$12K+

  • Direct IRA-to-charity transfers for those 70½+
  • Up to $108,000 excluded from AGI, satisfies RMDs

7. Maximizing "Catch-Up" Contributions | Savings: $1K-$5K+

  • Additional contributions for 50+ and special 60-63 limits
  • Extra $7,500 to 401k, $11,250 for ages 60-63

8. HSA as "Stealth IRA" | Savings: $500-$2K+

  • Triple tax advantage health savings account optimization
  • Pay medical out-of-pocket, invest HSA for retirement

Estate Planning & Wealth Transfer

9. Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) | Savings: $30K-$100K+

  • Transfer future appreciation of assets tax-efficiently
  • Zeroed-out GRATs pass appreciation gift-tax-free

10. Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust (IDGT) | Savings: $50K-$250K+

  • "Freeze" asset value for estate tax purposes
  • Sell appreciating assets to trust, grantor pays income tax

11. Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT) | Savings: $100K-$500K+

  • Use lifetime gift exemption while maintaining indirect access
  • One spouse gifts to irrevocable trust for other spouse

12. 529 to Roth IRA Conversions | Savings: $2K-$7K/year

  • NEW in 2024: Unused 529 funds roll to Roth IRA
  • Lifetime limit $35,000 for 15+ year old plans

13. Annual Exclusion Gifting | Savings: $7K-$15K+

  • $19,000/year per person ($38,000 married) gift tax-free
  • Unlimited recipients, no impact on lifetime exemption

14. Family Limited Partnership (FLP) | Savings: $50K-$200K+

  • Gift limited partnership interests at 25-40% valuation discounts
  • Lack of control and marketability reductions

15. Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) | Savings: $50K-$300K+

  • Transfer home while living in it rent-free
  • Reduces gift tax value by 40-60%

16. Direct Payment of Tuition/Medical | Savings: $5K-$100K+

  • Unlimited tax-free payments directly to institutions
  • No gift tax limits on direct payments

17-24. Additional Estate Strategies:

  • Generation-Skipping Transfer Trust: $1M-$20M+ per generation
  • Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT): $100K-$5M+
  • Dynasty Trust: Multi-generational wealth preservation
  • Intra-Family Loans: $1K-$50K+ annually
  • Charitable Remainder Trust: $60K-$130K lifetime
  • Charitable Lead Trust: $50K-$120K lifetime
  • Donor-Advised Funds: $20K-$70K annually
  • Conservation Easements: $50K-$2M+

Family & Homeowner Strategies

25. Child Tax Credit | Savings: $500-$5K+

  • $2,200 per qualifying child under 17
  • Dollar-for-dollar tax liability reduction

26. Child Roth & Traditional IRAs | Savings: $2.1K-$7K

  • Minor with earned income can fund IRA
  • 50+ years of tax-advantaged growth

27. Residential Clean Energy Credit | Savings: $2K-$20K+

  • 30% credit for solar, battery, clean energy
  • Direct credit on installation costs

28. Home Sale Exclusion | Savings: $15K-$75K+

  • $250K/$500K exclusion on primary residence
  • Live in home 2 of last 5 years

29. Short-Term Rental (STR) Loophole | Savings: $10K-$100K+

  • Material participation allows losses to offset W-2 income
  • 7-day average stays + 100+ hours management

30-33. Additional Family Strategies:

  • 1031 Exchange: $25K-$150K per exchange
  • Real Estate Professional Status: $10K-$100K+
  • Tax Loss Harvesting: $2K-$20K annually
  • Opportunity Zone Investments: $20K-$200K+

Business Tax Strategies (34-68)

Entity Optimization & Structure

34. Late S Corp Election | Savings: $5K-$20K+

  • IRS relief for missed S-Corp election deadlines
  • Self-employment tax savings on distributions

35. Accountable Plan | Savings: $1K-$35K+

  • Tax-free employee reimbursements for business expenses
  • Deduction to business, tax-free to employee

36. Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) | Savings: $2K-$7.5K+

  • Employer-funded medical reimbursements
  • Family medical expenses become business deductions

37. Qualified Educational Assistance | Savings: $2K-$10K+

  • $5,250 per employee tax-free for education/student loans
  • Includes tuition and qualified student loan payments

38. Augusta Rule (Section 280A) | Savings: $1K-$10K+

  • Rent home to business up to 14 days tax-free
  • Business deducts rent, homeowner excludes income

39. Section 199A QBI Deduction | Savings: $5K-$250K+

  • 20% deduction on qualified business income
  • Effectively reduces top rate from 37% to 29.6%

Depreciation & Cost Recovery

40. 100% Bonus Depreciation (Permanent) | Savings: $10K-$500K+

  • Full immediate write-off after January 19, 2025
  • New and used equipment, 20-year recovery or less

41. Section 179 Expensing ($2.5M Limit) | Savings: $5K-$250K+

  • Immediate deduction up to $2.5M in 2025
  • Equipment, vehicles, qualified improvement property

42. Cost Segregation Studies | Savings: $20K-$400K+

  • Reclassify building components to 5-, 7-, 15-year
  • Professional study required for properties $500K+

43. Partial Asset Dispositions | Savings: $10K-$50K+

  • Write off remaining basis of replaced components
  • Form 3115 election for first-time use

44-48. Additional Depreciation Strategies:

  • Vehicle Heavy SUV Expensing: $10K-$30K
  • Qualified Improvement Property: 15-year + bonus
  • Repair vs. Capitalization: Strategic classifications
  • Safe Harbor Elections: Routine maintenance deductions
  • Like-Kind Exchanges (1031): $25K-$150K

Business Tax Credits

49. R&D Tax Credit | Savings: $5K-$250K+

  • 11-14% credit on qualified research expenses
  • Software development, engineering, manufacturing

50. Employee Retention Credit (ERC) | Savings: Up to $26K/employee

  • Retroactive to 2020-2021, still claimable
  • Refundable credit for retaining employees

51. Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) | Savings: $1K-$20K/year

  • Hire from targeted groups facing employment barriers
  • $2,400-$9,600 per qualified employee

52. Energy Efficient Commercial Building (179D) | Savings: $1.50-$5/sq ft

  • Deduction for energy-efficient improvements
  • HVAC, lighting, building envelope

53. Disabled Access Credit | Savings: Up to $5K

  • 50% of costs between $250-$10,250
  • Small business access improvements

54. Small Employer Health Credit | Savings: $1K-$25K+

  • Up to 50% of premiums for qualifying employers
  • Under 25 FTE employees

55. Small Employer Pension Startup Credit | Savings: $1.5K-$15K+

  • Up to $5,000/year for 3 years
  • 50% of startup costs + auto-enrollment bonus

Advanced Business Strategies

56. Captive Insurance (831(b)) | Savings: $50K-$1M+

  • Form own insurance company for business risks
  • Premiums deductible, income excluded up to $2.65M

57. Cash Balance Pension Plans | Savings: $50K-$500K+

  • Dramatically higher contribution limits than 401(k)
  • Ideal for owners 45+ with consistent profits

58-68. Additional Advanced Strategies:

  • Defined Benefit Plans: $50K-$300K annually
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP): $100K-$500K+
  • IP Holding Companies: $10K-$50K annually
  • Management Company Structures: $20K-$100K+
  • Cost-Sharing Arrangements: $10K-$40K+
  • Partnership Tax Elections (754): $10K-$40K+
  • Change of Accounting Methods: $20K-$70K+
  • PTE/PTET Election: $20K-$80K+
  • Reasonable Compensation Optimization: $5K-$50K+
  • State Tax Apportionment: $15K-$60K+
  • Multi-State Entity Planning: Varies by structure

California State-Specific Strategies (69-74)

69. California Competes Tax Credit | Savings: $20K-$10M+

  • Negotiated discretionary credit for job creation
  • Businesses expanding/relocating to CA

70. New Employment Credit (NEC) | Savings: $2K-$100K+

  • 35% credit on qualified wages for DGA businesses
  • 35% of wages between 150%-350% of minimum wage

71. Homeless Hiring Tax Credit | Savings: $2.5K-$30K

  • $2,500-$10,000 credit per certified homeless individual
  • Maximum $30K/year per taxpayer

72. California Research Credit | Savings: $5K-$250K+

  • 15% credit on state research expenses above base
  • Stacks with federal R&D credit

73. Motion Picture & TV Production Credit | Savings: $50K-$10M+

  • 20-25% of qualified California production costs
  • Transferable/sellable credits

74. Pass-Through Entity (PTE) Elective Tax | Savings: $5K-$100K+

  • Entity-level tax bypasses $10K SALT cap
  • 9.3% entity tax federally deductible

How to Use This Reference

By Savings Potential

High Savings ($50K+):

  • Captive Insurance, Bonus Depreciation, Cash Balance Plans, Cost Segregation, ESOP, GRAT, SLAT, CRT, California Competes Credit

Medium Savings ($10K-$50K):

  • Section 179, R&D Credit, 199A Optimization, Accountable Plans, STR Loophole, Real Estate Professional, Various Credits

Standard Savings (Under $10K):

  • Child Tax Credit, HSA, Educational Assistance, Clean Energy Credits, Annual Gifting

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I determine which strategies apply to my situation?

A: Start by identifying your category (individual, business owner, industry). Review strategies in your category sorted by savings potential. Consult with qualified tax professionals for implementation.

Q: Can multiple strategies be combined?

A: Yes! The most sophisticated tax planning combines multiple strategies. Example: S-Corp + 199A + Cost Segregation + Cash Balance Plan = $100K+ annual savings.

Q: Which strategies provide the best ROI?

A: Cost segregation (10-50x ROI), R&D credits (ongoing benefits), and entity optimization typically provide excellent returns relative to implementation costs.

Q: Are all these strategies legal and audit-defensible?

A: Yes, all strategies are based on established IRS rules and tax law. Audit defensibility depends on proper implementation, documentation, and professional guidance.

Browse strategies by category:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Individual & Family Strategies →

Personal tax planning strategies for individuals, families, and high earners (Strategies 1-33)

🏢 Business Tax Strategies →

Comprehensive business tax planning for entities, partnerships, and corporations (Strategies 34-68)

🐻 California State Strategies →

State-specific credits and strategies for California businesses (Strategies 69-74)

🏭 Industry Playbooks →

Tailored strategies for 8+ specific industries

Get the complete Excel database with detailed implementation guides, eligibility criteria, and tax form references for all 74+ strategies. Potential savings up to $10,000,000+.

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