Guides
Figures are for the 2026 tax year.
Retirement accounts
- Traditional IRA
Deduct up to $7,500 ($8,600 at 50 and over). Income limits apply if you have a workplace plan.
- Roth conversions
Move pre-tax money to Roth in low-income years and pay tax at a lower rate.
- Mega backdoor Roth
After-tax 401(k) contributions up to the $72,000 total limit, then rolled to Roth.
- HSA
Deductible going in, tax-free growth, tax-free out for medical costs. $4,400 self, $8,750 family.
Deductions
- Mortgage interest
Interest on up to $750,000 of home debt, if you itemize.
- Student loan interest
Up to $2,500 with no itemizing. Phases out from $85,000 ($175,000 joint).
- Medical expenses
Costs above 7.5% of AGI, if you itemize.
- Charitable contributions
New for 2026: up to $1,000 ($2,000 joint) in cash gifts without itemizing.
- Rental property
Depreciation, expenses, and the $25,000 passive loss allowance.
- Pass-through business (QBI)
The 20% qualified business income deduction and S corp payroll savings.
Crypto
- Crypto taxes overview
How the IRS taxes crypto, Form 1099-DA, and wallet-by-wallet cost basis.
- Bitcoin
Mining, forks, and long-term holding.
- Ethereum
Staking rewards, gas fees, DeFi, and NFTs.