What's the fastest way to lower my taxable income before the year ends?

Focus on pre-tax contributions, which reduce the income the brackets apply to. Maxing or increasing your 401(k), 403(b), or traditional IRA lowers taxable income now; contributions to a Health Savings Account do the same and are triple tax-advantaged, per the IRS. Above-the-line moves like these count even if you take the standard deduction. If you itemize, accelerating deductible expenses such as charitable gifts or bunching them into this year can help. Selling losing investments to harvest capital losses can offset gains and a limited amount of ordinary income. Contribution limits change yearly, so verify current amounts with the IRS. The Tax Strategies tool at wealthserene.com/tools/tax-strategies can help you find which levers move your bill the most.