📘 SECTION 3 — THE ENTIRE STEP 4b TAX CURRICULUM (Overview)

Below is the outline of every sub-course you will learn in this module.

 

🧾 Step 4ba — Understanding Taxes

“How Taxes Actually Work (Finally Explained in English)”

 

This lesson will teach you:

• How tax brackets really work

• What marginal tax rates mean

• The difference between effective and marginal tax rates

• Payroll taxes

• Income types (earned vs passive vs portfolio)

• How employers withhold taxes

• Why you owe or get refunds

• How state taxes differ

• How federal taxes flow into your budget

• How tax credits differ from deductions

• Why understanding tax brackets instantly makes you smarter than 90% of people

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This lesson builds your knowledge base.

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⚠️ Step 4bb — Tax Avoidance, NOT Tax Evasion (VERY IMPORTANT)

“The Difference Between Smart and Illegal.”

This is one of the most important lessons in the entire Quest.

 

You will learn:

• What tax avoidance is (legal)

• What tax evasion is (illegal)

• Why wealthy people use tax avoidance

• Examples of legal avoidance strategies

• Examples of illegal behaviors

• How to stay clean, ethical, and safe

• The mindset the wealthy use about taxes

• How to make taxes a strategic advantage

• Why the IRS encourages certain behaviors with deductions

 

Tax avoidance is the game billionaires play.

 

You will learn to play it too — legally and confidently.

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📉 Step 4bc — Tax Deductions (Getting Into Lower Brackets)

“Your First Line of Defense Against High Taxes.”

 

This lesson covers:

• What a deduction is

• Standard deduction vs itemized

• How deductions reduce taxable income

• Deduction categories

• Personal deduction opportunities

• Business deduction opportunities

• Retirement account deductions

• HSA deductions

• Charitable deductions

• Mortgage interest

• Medical deductions

• Education deductions

• Common mistakes

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You’ll learn how to move yourself into a lower tax bracket through structure, not luck.

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🟦 Step 4bd — Difference Between Personal & Business Deductions

“When Is It a Personal Expense? When Is It a Business Expense?”

 

This lesson covers:

• What counts as a personal deduction

• What counts as a business deduction

• What counts as a business purpose

• Mixed-use rules

• Home office rules

• Business meals rules

• Travel rules

• Mileage vs actual expense

• Equipment and technology

• Depreciation

• Business use of your vehicle

• The “ordinary & necessary” test

• Documentation practices

• Red flags the IRS dislikes

 

This is essential if you:

• Are self-employed

• Have a side hustle

• Run an LLC

• Run a corporation

• Are in real estate

• Operate online businesses

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This separates financial amateurs from financial adults.

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📅 Step 4be — Tax Planning

“Don’t Hope for Low Taxes — PLAN for Them.”

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This lesson covers:

• Tax planning vs tax filing

• Mid-year and quarterly planning

• How to adjust your tax strategy during the year

• How to choose the best tax-saving accounts

• How to plan with your accountant

• Income shifting

• Timing strategies

• Year-end tax planning

• Retirement contribution timing

• Harvesting losses

• Adjusting your withholding

• Avoiding underpayment penalties

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Tax planning is one of the highest-ROI activities in personal finance.

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🎯 Step 4bf — Tax Strategies

“How Wealthy People Legally Reduce Taxes.”

 

This lesson covers:

• Retirement account contribution stacking

• HSA “triple tax advantage” strategies

• Capital gains planning

• Long-term vs short-term tax strategies

• Real estate strategies

• Depreciation

• Bonus depreciation

• Business tax write-offs

• Entity structure strategies (LLC vs S-corp)

• Income splitting strategies

• Tax-efficient investing

• Roth conversion ladder

• Charitable giving strategies

• Backdoor Roth strategies

• Mega backdoor Roth

• Using your business for tax reduction

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This is the “playbook” wealthy individuals use.

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🧨 Step 4bg — Tax Implications

“Every Financial Move Has a Tax Reaction.”

 

This advanced lesson will teach you:

• How every choice you make changes your taxes

• The tax implications of:

  • Investing

  • Selling stocks

  • Selling real estate

  • Making business purchases

  • Hiring workers

  • Spending vs reinvesting

  • Having children

  • Marriage

  • Divorce

  • Asset sales

  • Inheritance

  • Death

• Capital gains and losses

• Passive income taxation

• Portfolio income taxation

• Business income taxation

• Employer taxes

• State taxes

• AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) basics

• Social Security taxation

• Medicare taxation

• Self-employed taxation

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This section helps you avoid unintended costly mistakes.