What zero-tax retirement actually looks like (and how it feels)
What zero-tax retirement actually looks like? It’s not magic. It’s the same nest egg, the same markets, the same spending, just a smarter order of withdrawals and a cleaner mix of accounts. I’ve watched two households with ~$1.6 million each (roughly 50% pre-tax IRA, 30% brokerage, 20% Roth) end up with radically different tax bills, one paid under $500 in federal tax, the other cut checks north of $12,000. Same portfolio, different sequence. That’s the point here.
Before, the default approach, goes like this: you tap the IRA when cash runs low, sell a few winners in the brokerage account because “the market’s up,” forget that capital gains stack on top of ordinary income, and, whoops, you push into a higher bracket. On top of that, you trip Medicare IRMAA surcharges you never budgeted for. Quick reality check: the first IRMAA tier in 2024 kicks in when your MAGI exceeds $103,000 (single) or $206,000 (married filing jointly), which hits your premiums two years later. And those “just a few” capital gains? They can make up to 85% of your Social Security taxable, because of the IRS’s “provisional income” test, basically, they add half your Social Security to your other income plus tax-exempt interest and then decide how much to tax.
After, the planned version, uses the rules in your favor. You stage withdrawals to fully use the standard deduction, sit gains inside the 0% long-term capital gains bracket when possible, and keep Social Security taxes minimal. For reference, the 0% long-term capital gains bracket in 2024 extends up to taxable income of $47,025 (single) and $94,050 (married filing jointly). The standard deduction in 2024 is $14,600 (single) and $29,200 (MFJ), plus the age-65 add-on. Numbers change each year, but the structure is the same: fill the zero and low brackets first, on purpose. That’s one of the very real, legal-ways-to-pay-no-tax-in-retirement.
Here’s the contrast, fast and simple:
- Before: Ad‑hoc IRA pulls + capital gains “for spending money” = bracket creep, IRMAA, and surprise AMT-like headaches (not literally AMT, I’m just describing the feeling of phantom thresholds).
- After: Planned sequencing to hit 0% capital gains, fully use the standard deduction, and manage provisional income so only a small slice of Social Security is taxed.
Timing matters, big time, because we’re in late 2025. We’ve got one more tax year before the 2017 individual tax cuts are scheduled to sunset after 2025. My take (and yes, it’s just one practitioner’s read): the window this year is worth using. The risk if you wait? In 2026, marginal rates are slated to step up, the standard deduction shrinks while personal exemptions return, and some people lose the easy headroom that made zero-tax years doable. Even small Roth conversions or capital gain harvests that fit neatly in 2025 could push you into higher brackets later.
Market backdrop matters too. Yields are still decent by recent-history standards, and stocks have been choppy this year. That volatility creates chances to harvest gains (or losses) without blowing through your bracket plan. One practical note from my own calendar: I’ve had more Q4 calls this year about IRMAA than any year since 2020, people underestimate how quickly a one-off gain shows up as a premium hike two years later.
What you’ll learn in this section: how a simple withdrawal calendar, a clean Roth/brokerage/IRA mix, and a few measurements, AGI, taxable income, and that provisional income formula, can push your federal bill toward zero without gimmicks. And I’ll flag the spots where a $1 of extra income ruins the math, because those cliffs are real.
One last thing, I almost said “improve across tax-efficiency frontiers.” Sorry. Translation: we’ll stack your income in the cheapest buckets first, on purpose, while steering around IRMAA and keeping Social Security mostly out of the tax base. It’s not flashy, but it feels really good on April 15.
Your tax-free income floor: deductions, 0% gains, and Social Security math
Here’s the engine. You build a “no tax” year by stacking income in the cheapest buckets, in order, and refusing to spill over the edges. First, you use the standard deduction, always. That wipes out a chunk of ordinary income before the tax table even wakes up. Then you layer in long-term capital gains and qualified dividends that sit in the 0% bracket while your taxable income stays low. Meanwhile, you keep an eye on Social Security’s odd rules so benefits don’t sneak back into taxable income. Sounds simple; it is, until the edges and cliffs show up.
Step 1: Fill the standard deduction with ordinary income you can’t avoid. That can be part of your IRA withdrawal, interest, short-term gains, a small pension, or a carefully sized Roth conversion. The goal is to absorb ordinary income up to the standard deduction so it’s taxed at 0%. That’s your floor. If you’re married and taking Social Security, I like to test two cases in the software: with benefits and without, because of the provisional income boomerang I’ll explain in a second.
Step 2: Stack long-term gains and qualified dividends in the 0% bucket. When your taxable income is low enough, long-term capital gains (held >1 year) and qualified dividends are taxed at 0%. Importantly, the rate is determined by taxable income after deductions, not AGI. Translation: use the standard deduction first, then fill the 0% capital gains bracket with sales from your brokerage account, resetting basis without federal tax. If markets have been choppy (and they have, small-caps lagged for most of this year while big tech kept humming), you can pair this with loss harvesting from earlier this year to clean up positions.
Social Security tax gotchas that trip people:
- The thresholds that decide how much of your benefit is taxable were set in 1983 and expanded in 1993 and still aren’t indexed: single $25,000/$34,000; married filing jointly $32,000/$44,000. Those are the “base amounts.”
- Up to 50% of benefits become taxable once you cross the first threshold; up to 85% once you cross the second. That’s not an 85% tax rate, just 85% of the benefit enters your taxable income calculation.
- The formula uses “provisional income” = AGI (before Social Security) + tax-exempt interest + 50% of your Social Security. So a big muni bond coupon or a capital gain can pull more of your benefit into the tax base. Sneaky.
Because those thresholds weren’t indexed, regular inflation has dragged more retirees into taxation over time. No scare tactic, just a reminder the math is 1980s vintage while prices are 2025 vintage.
Harvest losses in down pockets; harvest gains in low-income pockets. If you had a drawdown earlier this year in small-cap value or international (a lot of folks did), capture losses to bank against future gains. In a quiet-income year, flip it: realize long-term gains intentionally to raise basis and still stay in the 0% bracket. I do this with clients in Q4 when we can see the year pretty clearly. One caution: the 0% capital gains rate stacks on top of ordinary income, so a stray IRA withdrawal can push your gains into 15% without you noticing… ask me about the Tuesday I spent with a highlighter and a coffee that was too strong.
Mind the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT). It kicks in when modified AGI exceeds $200,000 for single filers or $250,000 for married filing jointly (law since 2013, still not indexed). Trigger it and you may owe an extra 3.8% on net investment income. Even if your regular bracket is low, a large one-time gain can cross this line. Keep big sales split over years or use installment strategies when possible. And remember IRMAA looks back two years; that oversized gain in 2025 can bite your Medicare premiums in 2027.
Putting it together, quick sequence:
- Project ordinary income (interest, RMDs, small pension). Fill up to the standard deduction, aim for $0 tax on that slice.
- Estimate provisional income to keep Social Security out of the 85% zone if you can. Sometimes $1 of muni interest or an extra $2k Roth conversion flips the switch, no bueno.
- Layer in long-term gains/qualified dividends up to the top of the 0% capital gains band, reset basis tax-free.
- Check NIIT thresholds ($200k/$250k MAGI). Avoid big spikes. If you must sell big, consider staging it; also, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) can help… I’ll come back to that.
Bottom line: Use the deduction first; keep Social Security from dragging more income into the base; then stack 0% gains. In a normal year, that’s your tax-free floor. In a messy year, loss harvest early; gain harvest late; and double-check the cliffs right before you hit “sell”.
Fill the right buckets now, 2025 is your last big pre‑sunset year
Fill the right buckets now, 2025 is your last big pre‑sunset year. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act sunsets after December 31, 2025. That means today’s brackets, 12%, 22%, 24%, etc., are scheduled to revert in 2026 to the old structure that topped out at 39.6% and had higher middle brackets (think 15%, 28%, 33%). The gap between 24% now and 28% later isn’t small. If you plan to be a consistent saver or converter, this year is the window to stuff tax‑free buckets while the “toll” is cheaper.
Roth now while rates are on sale. If you can contribute directly, front‑load 2025 Roth IRA/401(k) to get more dollars compounding tax‑free for longer. If your income disqualifies you from direct Roth IRA contributions, consider the backdoor Roth (nondeductible IRA to Roth conversion). Yes, mind the pro‑rata rule, if you have pre‑tax IRA balances, conversions pull in a taxable % of those. I run a quick spreadsheet every January; the math usually favors acting in lower brackets rather than waiting. And 2026 probably isn’t lower.
Mega backdoor Roth (if your plan allows). Some 401(k)s let you add after‑tax contributions up to the overall annual 415(c) limit and then convert to Roth inside the plan or roll out. Last year (2024), the overall limit was $69,000 ($76,500 age 50+). If your plan supports in‑service conversions, this takes future growth out of the “maybe higher later” taxable column and moves it to the tax‑free column. I know it’s paperwork‑y. Worth it.
HSAs: the stealth IRA. HSAs are triple‑tax‑advantaged: deductible going in, tax‑free growth, and tax‑free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. For 2025, the IRS set HSA contribution limits at $4,300 for self‑only and $8,550 for family coverage, with a $1,000 catch‑up at age 55+ (IRS 2025 guidance). If you can cash‑flow current medical costs and leave the HSA invested, it becomes a tax‑free pool for later. Keep receipts; reimbursement years later is still tax‑free under current rules.
Still working with company stock? Check NUA. Net Unrealized Appreciation lets you distribute employer stock from your plan in kind at separation, pay ordinary income tax only on the plan’s cost basis, and then get long‑term capital gains treatment on the embedded appreciation when you sell. It can be powerful when basis is low and you need liquidity. It can be a headache when basis is high or you’re flirting with IRMAA brackets. Case‑by‑case. Do the basis math before you roll to an IRA, once it’s rolled, NUA is off the table.
Tax‑efficient fixed income in taxable accounts. With short Treasury bills still yielding near ~5% earlier this year and drifting lower into Q4, Treasuries look clean: exempt from state and local tax. In high‑tax states, that exemption matters. Munis can make sense too, especially if you’re in a high bracket and buying in‑state paper. Quick taxable‑equivalent yield check: a 3.5% muni is roughly 4.6% taxable for someone facing 24% federal plus ~5% state tax. If you think your 24% becomes 28% in 2026, the muni math only gets better.
Thread the 2025 needle. Use lower brackets now to convert or contribute to Roth. Push after‑tax 401(k) to mega‑backdoor if your plan is friendly. Max the HSA. Evaluate NUA before rolling. And in taxable bonds, lean Treasuries or munis depending on your bracket and your zip code. I keep repeating this to clients because, well, the calendar doesn’t care, after this year, the toll booth probably gets pricier.
Reminder: The top marginal rate is scheduled to jump back to 39.6% in 2026 unless Congress acts. If you’re asking, “Should I build tax‑free capacity now?”, that’s the signal. Yes, run the numbers. But don’t let perfect kill good.
The go‑go years playbook: Roth conversions, gain harvesting, ACA guardrails
This window between retirement and RMD age 73 (SECURE 2.0 made 73 effective in 2023) can be golden. Low W‑2 income, plenty of control. But it’s not a free buffet, you’ve got ACA subsidies under 65, Medicare IRMAA after 65, and future RMDs waiting down the road. My take? Use the space, but draw the lines before you color.
Roth conversions, aim for the top of a target bracket. Pick a bracket you’re comfortable with and fill it on purpose. For a lot of couples, that’s the 12% or 22% band while we still have the 2017 TCJA brackets this year. Why do it now? Because rates are slated to rise in 2026, and shoving dollars into Roth at 12-22% today may beat paying 25-28% later. The catch is health insurance: if you’re buying on the ACA exchange and you’re under 65, your Modified AGI sets premiums.
ACA guardrails, not cliffs, at least through 2025. The Inflation Reduction Act extended the enhanced ACA subsidies through 2025, which means the old hard cutoff at 400% of the Federal Poverty Level is suspended this year. Instead, the benchmark silver premium is capped at no more than 8.5% of household income (through 2025). Translation: as your income rises, subsidies phase out smoothly, but they do shrink. In practice, I map conversions so clients stay under key thresholds that meaningfully change net premiums, especially around 150% FPL (very low premiums) and 200-250% FPL (cost-sharing reductions). Will a cliff return in 2026? Maybe, the law reverts unless Congress acts, so plan as if it does and be pleasantly surprised if it doesn’t.
Harvest long‑term gains in the 0% bracket. Yes, this is one of those “legal ways to pay no tax in retirement” items you see online, except it actually works when managed. If your taxable income fits inside the 0% capital gains band, realize gains, reset basis, and still pay 0% on those gains. For 2024, that 0% threshold runs up to $47,025 for single filers and $94,050 for married filing jointly (taxable income). Numbers shift with inflation, but the concept holds: fill the 0% space with gains, not ordinary income. I sometimes pair a modest Roth conversion with gain harvesting until we touch the top of the 12% ordinary bracket, then stop. Simple rule, fewer surprises.
Bunch deductions when you go big. If you’re doing a chunky conversion year, consider bunching gifts to charity or seeding a donor‑advised fund. The itemized deduction can offset part of the conversion. And if you’re already 70½, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from IRAs can reduce future RMDs while keeping AGI lower than writing checks, helpful for both taxes and Medicare thresholds.
Medicare IRMAA: the two‑year look‑back sting. Hit 65 and the game changes. A large conversion at 65 can raise your Part B/D premiums at 67 because IRMAA uses a two‑year income look‑back. Watch the brackets. For 2024 premiums (based on 2022 MAGI), the first IRMAA tier started at $103,000 single / $206,000 married filing jointly. The exact thresholds adjust each year, so check CMS before you press “convert.” I’ve seen great tax plans wrecked by avoidable IRMAA surcharges, annoying and expensive.
Coordinate with future RMDs. The goal isn’t bragging about a single low‑tax year; it’s flattening lifetime taxes. Project your RMDs at 73+ using reasonable return assumptions (yes, interest rates are still higher than the 2010s norm, so bond income matters). If future RMDs push you into higher brackets, or interact badly with Social Security taxation and NIIT, convert more now. If not, take it slower. The gray area is real; there isn’t one perfect answer.
- Under 65 and on ACA? Keep MAGI where your net premiums still make sense. Remember the 8.5% income cap for benchmark silver through 2025.
- Have space in the 0% LTCG band? Harvest gains, reset basis, and keep your ordinary income low.
- Big conversion year? Bunch deductions or fund a DAF. If 70½+, use QCDs to trim future RMDs.
- Turning 65? Model IRMAA two years ahead, don’t trigger a surcharge by accident.
- Always run the RMD math so your 70s don’t blow up your bracket.
Is this complicated? Yep. I tripped over “MAGI aggregation” writing this, fancy way of saying all your income sources get lumped together. Keep a simple summary page: target bracket, ACA/IRMAA thresholds, and how much room you have left this year. Then execute, calmly, before December sneaks up, again.
Spend from the smartest pocket: basis‑first, 0% gains, and muni interest
Early retirement is where sequencing really pays the bills without waking up the IRS. The simple playbook I use with clients (and frankly in my own planning during my semi‑sabbaticals) is: fund lifestyle from your taxable account first, preferably cash and high‑basis lots, while tax‑deferred money keeps compounding and you map out Roth conversions on your schedule, not the government’s. Yes, “tax lot optimization” sounds fancy, what I mean is use specific‑lot identification and sell the shares with the highest cost basis so realized gains are tiny or zero.
Then there’s the 0% long‑term capital gain bracket. It’s one of the few clean “legal-ways-to-pay-no-tax-in-retirement” levers that works year after year if you plan it. In 2024, the 0% LTCG threshold went up to $94,050 for married filing jointly and $47,025 for single filers (IRS tables, 2024). 2025 thresholds are a bit higher with inflation, but the mechanics haven’t changed: keep your taxable income beneath the line and you can harvest gains at 0%. Harvesting = realize gains intentionally to reset basis. I’ll catch myself saying “harvest” like it’s farming, what you’re really doing is taking profits up to the 0% ceiling so future rebalancing or big sales don’t sting. One catch: capital gains stack on top of ordinary income, so conversions or side income can crowd out that 0% room. Keep a running tally; I literally keep a one‑pager on my desk by October.
On munis: layer tax‑exempt interest where it actually saves you money. If you’re in a high‑tax state, pairing state‑specific munis with your bracket can beat Treasuries after tax. As of October 2025, many high‑grade national muni funds are showing SEC yields in the ~3%-4% range; in a 24% federal bracket that’s roughly a 3.95%-5.26% taxable‑equivalent yield, higher if you dodge state income tax too. Just remember the gotchas. Private‑activity bonds can trigger AMT preference items. And yeah, tax‑exempt interest still counts in ACA MAGI calculations and in Social Security provisional income, been the surprise that blows up more than a few plans. I watched a couple in Marin see their ACA subsidy vanish because of “tax‑exempt” muni interest. Painful lesson.
Home sale timing is the big swing. Section 121 gives you up to $250,000 of gain tax‑free if single, $500,000 if married filing jointly, assuming you meet the 2‑out‑of‑5‑year ownership and use test. If you’re going to sell the long‑time primary home, try to do it in a year when other income is low, maybe you’re living off cash and high‑basis sales, doing minimal conversions. Pair it with 0% LTCG harvesting and you can clear a lot of embedded gains across your life at near‑zero tax. I’ve seen folks clip seven‑figure checks and still keep their federal tax bill surprisingly small by stacking these rules in the right order.
Social Security fits in here too. Delaying to 70 still increases your benefit by about 8% per year after full retirement age (statutory delayed credits), which bolsters survivor benefits and, this part gets missed, reduces your dependence on large RMDs later. Fewer forced withdrawals in your 70s usually means lower lifetime taxes. With SECURE 2.0, RMD age is 73 for many retirees now, moving to 75 for those born 1960 or later. Use the gap years to convert IRAs to Roth up to your target bracket, while you spend from taxable. If the breakeven math pencils out (often late 70s/early 80s), delaying SS is the tax tool hiding in plain sight.
Putting it together in practice:
- Spend cash and high‑basis taxable lots first (use specific‑lot ID).
- Harvest LTCGs annually up to the 0% band (2024: MFJ $94,050; Single $47,025; 2025 is a bit higher, check the IRS table when you trade).
- Add muni interest where your bracket and state justify it; avoid AMT‑heavy private‑activity bonds if you’re close to AMT.
- Time a primary home sale for a low‑income year to maximize the Section 121 exclusion.
- Delay Social Security to 70 if the breakeven and survivor math works; fill the gap with taxable assets and measured Roth conversions.
If this feels like Tetris on hard mode, you’re not wrong. The order matters, but the order can change, markets move, yields change, life happens… Re‑check the thresholds each fall and adjust before December sneaks up. And yeah, triple‑check that ACA and IRMAA math, muni interest and harvested gains sneak into those formulas in ways that don’t feel intuitive at first.
Charitable moves that erase taxes: QCDs, DAFs, and appreciated stock
If you give, give tax‑smart. Charity is one of the cleanest ways to lower, or even erase, taxes in retirement if you line it up right. Three tools do most of the heavy lifting: Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), appreciated securities, and donor‑advised funds (DAFs). They aren’t fancy. They just work.
QCDs from IRAs (age 70½+). Once you’re 70½ (not 71, not the year you turn 70½, literally after the date), you can send money straight from your IRA to a qualified 501(c)(3). That transfer never hits your AGI, and starting at 73 it can satisfy part or all of your Required Minimum Distribution. Big deal for IRMAA and the 3.8% NIIT crowd because lower AGI means fewer downstream surtaxes. One catch I still see botched: QCDs can’t go to DAFs or private foundations, and you don’t also take a charitable deduction. Different lane.
On limits: QCD caps have been indexed for inflation since 2024. In 2024 the limit rose to $105,000 per person (SECURE 2.0 change). For 2025, the number adjusts again, check the IRS figure before year‑end when you queue the transfer. If you’re married, each spouse with their own IRA can do their own QCD up to the annual cap. And yes, direct transfer only; don’t touch the funds.
Donating appreciated stock or ETFs. If you’ve got positions in your taxable account with big embedded gains, lots of folks do after this year’s tech‑heavy rebound, give shares instead of cash. You avoid the capital gain entirely and, if you itemize, you can deduct the fair market value of publicly traded securities held more than one year, subject to AGI limits. Longstanding rules: gifts of appreciated securities to public charities/DAFs are generally deductible up to 30% of AGI; cash gifts up to 60% of AGI. If you’re sitting on a 10+ year winner, this is one of the few truly elegant trades left in the code.
Use a DAF to bunch giving in a high‑income year. Big Roth conversion? Business sale? RSUs hit all at once? Front‑load several years of giving into a DAF in that high‑income year, then grant it out over time. You lock a large deduction when your marginal rate is elevated, but you don’t have to rush the actual grants. I did this after a chunky bonus back when rates were higher, sleep was better, and frankly the admin was easier.
Quick reality check: the 0% long‑term capital gains band can pair nicely here. For 2024, it’s up to $94,050 for MFJ and $47,025 for Single filers. 2025 is a bit higher, confirm the IRS table before you trade. Between harvesting in the 0% band and gifting high‑gain lots, you can shape your bracket pretty precisely.
Paperwork, don’t wing it. The substantiation rules have teeth. For any gift of $250 or more, you need a contemporaneous written acknowledgment by the earlier of your filing date or the due date (keep the “no goods or services” language). For non‑cash gifts over $500, file Form 8283. Over $5,000 for non‑publicly traded assets? You generally need a qualified appraisal. Miss the paperwork and the IRS can deny the deduction even if the charity got the cash. Seen it. It hurts.
One last thing, I get a little too excited about this, sorry, when markets are choppy but mega‑caps are still up big year to date, appreciated‑stock gifting plus a DAF can be a cleaner way to rebalance than selling into gains and writing a check. You reduce single‑name risk, cut taxes, and the charity still gets the same economic benefit. Not perfect every time, but pretty close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I structure withdrawals to keep my tax bill near zero?
A: Think sequence, not heroics. A practical order that works for a lot of retirees: (1) Use your standard deduction with ordinary income first, small IRA withdrawals up to the deduction amount (2024 standard deduction is $14,600 single / $29,200 MFJ, plus the age-65 add‑on). (2) Then harvest long‑term capital gains that still fit in the 0% LTCG bracket (2024: up to $47,025 taxable income single / $94,050 MFJ). (3) Cover extra cash needs from Roth to avoid stacking more income. (4) Be careful not to accidentally realize short‑term gains. (5) Keep an eye on provisional income so you don’t make up to 85% of Social Security taxable. I literally watched two near‑identical $1.6m portfolios land under $500 vs. over $12k in federal tax, only difference was the order and the amounts.
Q: What’s the difference between the 0% capital gains bracket and the standard deduction?
A: They’re separate levers. The standard deduction reduces your taxable ordinary income (and capital gains too, technically, after ordinary income fills the stack). The 0% long‑term capital gains bracket is the range where, after ordinary income is counted, your LTCGs are taxed at 0%. Example for 2024 MFJ: first use the $29,200 standard deduction against ordinary income; whatever ordinary income remains takes up space in the tax brackets; then LTCGs “sit on top.” As long as your total taxable income stays under $94,050, those LTCGs are 0%. Miss that and part of the gains jump to 15%. Translation: fill low ordinary brackets intentionally before you pile on gains.
Q: Is it better to start Social Security earlier or later if I’m aiming for low taxes?
A: It depends, annoying answer, but true. Tax‑wise, many folks do better delaying to 70 because the gap years (say 62-69) are prime time for modest IRA withdrawals and Roth conversions at low rates, without Social Security pushing provisional income higher. Once benefits start, capital gains and IRA draws can make up to 85% of your benefit taxable. Rough rule I use with clients: if you’ve got sizeable pre‑tax balances and can live on brokerage/Roth for a few years, delaying SS often lowers lifetime taxes and RMD pain. If your IRA is tiny and you need the cash now, starting earlier can be fine, just model the brackets and IRMAA before you lock it in.
Q: Should I worry about IRMAA surcharges, or just ignore them while I improve taxes elsewhere?
A: You should at least check the math. The first IRMAA tier in 2024 starts when MAGI exceeds $103k (single) / $206k (MFJ), and it hits your Medicare premiums two years later. A few options if you’re close: (1) Spread Roth conversions across multiple years to stay under a tier. (2) Realize capital gains over two tax years instead of one big bite. (3) Use Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs after 70½ to reduce MAGI. (4) If you do breach a tier, make sure it’s on purpose, sometimes paying a small IRMAA to convert more at today’s lower rates beats huge RMD‑driven taxes later. One more gotcha: municipal bond interest counts in MAGI for IRMAA even though it’s “tax‑exempt,” so don’t forget to include it in your calc.
@article{legal-ways-to-pay-no-tax-in-retirement-a-real-plan,
title = {Legal Ways to Pay No Tax in Retirement: A Real Plan},
author = {Beeri Sparks},
year = {2025},
journal = {Bankpointe},
url = {https://bankpointe.com/articles/legal-ways-pay-no-tax-retirement/}
} 