One of the biggest myths in tax filing is that everyone should follow the same approach. In reality, how you earn money matters just as much as how much you earn.

W2 employees typically focus on credits, retirement contributions, and withholding accuracy. Over withholding may feel safe, but it often means you gave the IRS an interest free loan all year.

Self employed professionals face a completely different challenge. Quarterly estimates, legitimate deductions, depreciation, and entity structure all play a role in how much tax you actually owe. Filing without a strategy often results in surprise balances and penalties.

Commission based professionals often fall in the middle. Income fluctuates, bonuses push people into higher brackets, and without proactive planning, refunds disappear.

A proper tax strategy aligns income type with the right tools. This could include retirement optimization, business expense tracking, or restructuring how income flows.

The goal is not just to file correctly. The goal is to keep more of what you earn legally and consistently.