Identify and claim credits for which you qualify, such as the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and education credits like the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit;

Contributing to a 401(k) or Traditional IRA allows you to defer taxes on both your contributions and the earnings within the account. Conversely, contributions to a Roth IRA offer the benefit of tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals during retirement;

If your itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction, track and claim expenses such as medical and dental costs (above 7.5% of AGI), state and local taxes (up to $10,000), mortgage interest, and charitable donations;

Contributions to HSAs are tax-deductible, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. Additionally, HSAs offer tax-free growth on investments;

FSAs allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for medical and dependent care expenses, reducing your taxable income;

Contributions to a 529 plan by December 31 (in most states) can qualify for a state tax deduction, allowing you to take advantage of tax benefits for education savings;

Invest in municipal bonds to earn interest income that is generally exempt from federal income tax;

If self-employed, maximize deductions for home office expenses, travel and meals, equipment purchases (using the Section 179 deduction), and retirement plans like SEP-IRAs or Solo 401(k)s;

Shift income to the following tax year (e.g., defer bonuses) or to a taxpayer with lower tax rates to manage your tax liability;

Prepay deductible expenses like property taxes or mortgage interest to lower your current year’s taxable income;

Proper estate planning can minimize estate taxes and ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Consider strategies like gifting and setting up trusts.