Tax / CRA / IRSDepth 0 · Foundation
Tax Deduction
An expense that reduces how much of your income gets taxed
Tax deductions reduce your taxable income rather than your total tax owed. Their value depends on your marginal tax rate. Deductions can include business expenses, contributions, and certain personal costs depending on jurisdiction.
Mental modelIncome reduction lever
Where you'll encounter this
- →Business expense tracking
- →Personal tax filing
- →Accounting and bookkeeping
- →Tax optimization strategies
What breaks when this is misunderstood
- ✕Claiming ineligible deductions
- ✕Overestimating tax savings
- ✕Poor documentation leading to audits
- ✕Missing legitimate deductions
Signals this concept is in play
- ◆Expense categories in accounting software
- ◆Tax forms listing deductible items
- ◆Receipts and supporting documentation
- ◆Adjusted income calculations