Tax Field Guide
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Tax Savings Finder

Find ways you may be able to save on taxes

Free, anonymous and about five minutes. Every question is optional except the acknowledgment at the end.

Before you start. This tool shows educational information about tax strategies that are commonly discussed in situations like yours, plus questions to bring to your CPA or tax attorney. It does not give tax, legal or investment advice and doesn’t know your full situation. We don’t ask for your name, email, SSN or tax documents.
Privacy: your answers are used only to build this one results page. We don’t store them, and we don’t link them to you.
Step 1: Your situation (no personal identifiers)
Why we ask: Several limits (SALT cap, QSBS, charitable) differ by filing status.
Why we ask: State credits and property-tax programs are state-specific.
Why we ask: State residency affects state tax. We only flag this for your advisor.
Why we ask: Some charitable-trust terms depend on age.
Why we ask: Wages are non-passive, and many credits can't offset them.
Why we ask: Active business owners have different options.
Why we ask: Some credits can only offset passive income (IRC 469).
Why we ask: Rental activity is generally passive unless special rules apply.
Why we ask: Portfolio income is generally not passive income for 469.
Why we ask: One-time spikes and recurring income are discussed differently.
Why we ask: Charitable and SALT strategies depend on itemizing.
Step 2: What's happening
What's happening, or about to happen? (select all that apply)
Why we ask: Different events open different strategies.
Why we ask: Some strategies have meaningful fixed costs.
Why we ask: Many strategies must be set up before a sale is locked in.
Why we ask: Holding period drives QSBS and long-term gain treatment.
Why we ask: Low-basis assets are the usual candidates for charitable trusts and gifts.
Why we ask: QSBS applies only to C-corporation stock.
Why we ask: QSBS generally requires original issuance.
Why we ask: 1031 covers only investment/business real property.
Why we ask: Agricultural valuation programs can lower property tax.
Why we ask: Texas 1-d-1 requires 5 of the past 7 years (other states differ).
Why we ask: The 1062 installment election requires a qualified farmer buyer.
Step 3: Preferences and constraints
Why we ask: Several strategies are illiquid by design.
Why we ask: Charitable strategies only make sense with real charitable intent.
Why we ask: We flag strategies the IRS scrutinizes more.
Why we ask: Material participation affects whether credits/losses can offset wages (469).
Why we ask: Some deadlines are time-sensitive.
Why we ask: We suggest bringing the questions to them.
Why we ask: Lets us show relevant warnings.
If so, a tax attorney is the right first step, so we won’t show a strategy list.