Before focusing on avoiding a specific bracket, understand how marginal tax rates actually work. The 22% rate only applies to income above the threshold, not your entire income. For 2024, single filers hit 22% on income between roughly $47,150 and $100,525. Married couples filing jointly reach it between $94,300 and $201,050.

If you’re single and earn $50,000, only about $2,850 gets taxed at 22%. The rest falls into lower brackets. Earning slightly more doesn’t suddenly make all your income more expensive. This matters because some people turn down extra work or bonuses thinking it will hurt them. It won’t. You always take home more money when you earn more money.

That said, reducing taxable income is smart tax planning. Lower taxable income means less tax owed, regardless of which bracket you’re avoiding.

Retirement contributions are the most straightforward strategy. A traditional 401(k) lets employees contribute up to $23,000 in 2024, reducing taxable income dollar for dollar. Business owners have even better options. A SEP-IRA allows contributions up to 25% of net self-employment income, maxing at $69,000. A Solo 401(k) offers similar limits with more flexibility. These contributions grow tax-deferred and pull income out of your current tax calculation.

Health Savings Accounts work similarly if you have a high-deductible health plan. You can contribute $4,150 as an individual or $8,300 for a family in 2024, with an extra $1,000 if you’re 55 or older. HSA contributions reduce taxable income, grow tax-free, and come out tax-free for medical expenses.

For business owners, maximizing legitimate deductions matters more than most realize. Vehicle expenses, home office deductions, equipment purchases under Section 179, and retirement plan contributions all reduce taxable income. The problem is most owners don’t track expenses well enough to capture everything they’re entitled to claim. Proper small business bookkeeping services make a real difference here because you can’t deduct what you didn’t document.

Timing income and expenses helps when you’re close to a bracket threshold. If you can defer income to next year or accelerate deductible expenses into this year, you shift taxable income between years. This works best when you expect to be in a lower bracket next year or have lumpy income that varies significantly.

Tax preparation that actually looks at your situation can identify opportunities specific to your circumstances. Generic advice only goes so far. Someone who understands your business structure, income patterns, and financial goals can recommend strategies that make sense for your actual numbers.

The goal isn’t necessarily avoiding a particular bracket. The goal is keeping more of what you earn through legitimate tax planning. Sometimes that means staying below a threshold. More often it means taking every deduction you’re entitled to and contributing strategically to tax-advantaged accounts.