What are the best Tax books that explain IRS Tax Code in plain English for personal and real estate investing?

Have you actually read the J.K. Lasser book? I got one a few years ago and still found it pretty dense. Does the newest version have good examples? I learn better when I can see how the concepts apply to real situations.

Yes, I've read several editions of the J.K. Lasser guide. The newer versions have definitely improved with more examples and clearer explanations. They include sample scenarios for different filing statuses and income levels, which makes it easier to see how the rules apply to specific situations. The "Tax Made Simple" book by Mike Piper is even better for examples - he breaks down concepts with straightforward scenarios that really clarify the applications. If you're a visual learner, that might be the better choice for you.

How accurate is it though? I've tried other AI tools that gave me completely wrong information about tax stuff. Does it actually cite the relevant tax code sections?

I'm curious about this too. Does it work well for rental property specific questions? Like can it help figure out depreciation schedules and stuff like that?

It's surprisingly accurate because it's actually trained specifically on tax documents and IRS publications. When it gives you an explanation, it cites the exact sections of the tax code so you can verify if you want to. I double-checked some of its answers with my accountant and she was impressed. For rental properties, it's been super helpful with depreciation questions, explaining the difference between repairs vs. improvements, and how to handle things like home office deductions if you're managing properties yourself. It even helped me understand passive activity loss limitations which saved me thousands last year.

Wait, how does this actually work? The IRS phone system is notoriously impossible to get through. Are they just constantly calling on your behalf until they get lucky?

This sounds like bs honestly. I've tried calling the IRS dozens of times and always get disconnected. No way some service can magically get through when millions of people can't.

They use a system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. They basically call continuously until they get through the busy signals, then when they finally get in the queue, they call you to connect you with the agent. You don't have to sit on hold for hours - they do it for you and only call when there's actually an agent ready. It's not magic, just persistence and technology. They can't create openings that don't exist, but they can handle all the busy signals and hold time so you don't have to waste your day. I was skeptical too but it worked surprisingly well for me when I needed specific answers about rental property reporting.

Thanks for the suggestions! I've actually tried Publication 334 and still found it pretty confusing. Do the NOLO books have good examples? I find I understand tax concepts much better when I can see them applied to real situations.

Yes, the NOLO books are full of practical examples! That's what makes them so useful compared to the IRS publications. They'll walk through scenarios like "Jane owns a duplex and lives in one unit while renting the other" and then show exactly how different rules apply. They also include lots of sample filled-out forms so you can see exactly where different numbers go. The visual examples make a huge difference in understanding the concepts. They update them annually too, so make sure you get the 2025 edition for current tax laws.

I like "The Real Estate CPA" channel. They have awesome videos specifically about rental property tax strategies and explain things clearly without too much jargon. Their series on cost segregation studies saved me thousands on my rental properties.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely check out The Real Estate CPA channel. I agree that videos can sometimes make complex topics easier to understand than text. It helps to see someone work through examples step by step.

Great point! I definitely need current information. Do you have any recommendations for resources that are updated regularly?

The J.K. Lasser guides mentioned earlier are updated annually, so that's a safe bet. The "Income Tax Guide for Investors" by Michael Zhuang is also updated each year and has good real estate sections. If you want something that's constantly current, the Kiplinger Tax Letter is a subscription service that sends updates whenever tax laws change. A bit pricey but worth it if you're managing multiple properties and need to stay on top of changes.