Strategies to lower tax burden - beyond 401k and HSA options?

12 You've covered the major retirement tax advantages, but there are definitely other options to consider for your situation: 1. Consider a partial switch to Traditional 401k contributions instead of all Roth. At your income level, pre-tax contributions could reduce your current tax burden significantly while still maintaining some Roth for tax diversity in retirement. 2. Look into I Bonds which provide tax-deferred growth and tax-free earnings if used for qualified education expenses. 3. Charitable giving can be tax-efficient even if you don't itemize - the CARES Act allows for a small above-the-line deduction. 4. Energy efficiency home improvements can provide tax credits (solar panels, energy efficient windows, etc). 5. Harvest investment losses in taxable accounts to offset gains. Without children, you're missing out on child tax credits, but you've got flexibility many don't have!

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8 Don't forget Series I Savings Bonds if you're looking for tax advantages. The interest is exempt from state and local income taxes, and federal tax is deferred until redemption. Plus they're currently paying decent rates tied to inflation. If you're interested in giving to charity but don't itemize, consider bunching multiple years of donations into a single tax year to exceed the standard deduction threshold. You could use a donor-advised fund to distribute the actual donations over time while taking the tax deduction upfront.

14 Have you considered muni bonds? The interest is generally tax-free at the federal level, and if you buy bonds issued in your state, they're often exempt from state taxes too. Nice option for taxable accounts, especially in higher tax brackets.

Great question! Since you're debt-free with a paid-off house, you have some unique opportunities. A few additional strategies to consider: 1. **Backdoor Roth IRA conversions** - If your income ever pushes you out of direct Roth IRA eligibility, this keeps that option open. 2. **Tax-loss harvesting** in taxable accounts - Systematically realize losses to offset gains and reduce your tax burden. 3. **Asset location optimization** - Keep tax-inefficient investments in tax-advantaged accounts and tax-efficient ones in taxable accounts. 4. **Consider a small business or side hustle** - Opens up business deductions and potentially a Solo 401(k) for additional retirement savings. 5. **Health Sharing Plans** - If available in your area and you're comfortable with them, these aren't insurance but can reduce healthcare costs while maintaining HSA eligibility. 6. **Energy-efficient home improvements** - Federal tax credits are available for things like heat pumps, solar panels, and energy-efficient windows. Since you don't have dependents, maximizing tax-advantaged space and being strategic about investment placement becomes even more important. You're already doing great with the debt-free lifestyle!