Middle-income taxpayers often feel stuck between tax brackets, income phaseouts, and limited deductions. With today’s higher standard deductions and permanent tax changes from recent legislation, many clients believe there are few opportunities left to reduce their tax liability. However, strategic planning can still create meaningful tax savings.
In this practical, strategy-focused course recorded on March 11, tax expert Jason Dinesen, EA, explores real-world tax planning strategies designed specifically for middle-income households. The course focuses on managing Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), timing income, maximizing above-the-line deductions, and using retirement and healthcare planning tools to reduce taxable income.
You will also learn how to identify planning opportunities involving capital loss harvesting, HSA contributions, retirement planning strategies, withholding adjustments, and side-hustle deductions, along with recent OBBB updates that affect planning for 2025 and 2026.
This course provides practical guidance tax preparers can immediately apply when working with everyday taxpayers who want to reduce taxes and improve long-term financial outcomes.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
• Identify planning strategies that help middle-income taxpayers reduce taxable income.
• Explain how AGI thresholds affect eligibility for deductions and credits.
• Apply income timing and capital loss harvesting strategies to manage tax brackets.
• Recognize opportunities to use above-the-line deductions to lower AGI.
• Evaluate retirement and HSA contribution strategies to improve tax outcomes.
• Identify planning considerations related to withholding adjustments and side-income.
This course counts for 2 Hours of Federal Tax Law for IRS Continuing Education.
About the Presenter:
Jason Dinesen (EA, LPA) is a tax nerd, entrepreneur, tax expert, and a well-known presenter of continuing education courses.
Known for his sharp tax interpretations, he is one of the quickest to bring the analysis of the latest tax updates and IRS guidance to the professional community. Jason has coached over 200,000 accounting, tax, and HR professionals on various topics of accounting, individual taxation, corporate taxation, professional ethics, and much more.
He has presented dozens of webinars on Form 1099 (for 10 years on this subject!), marriage in the tax code, tax updates, the new Form W-4, payroll updates, filing status, tax credits, corporation and partnership taxation, and other issues relating to the modern-day setting.
