Club Benefits
Like most people, I don’t look forward to tax season. Every year, it’s the same routine: tracking down documents, digging for receipts I probably should’ve saved better and bracing myself for whatever surprise the IRS might have waiting.
But this time, I tried something different. Instead of just going through the motions, I asked a simple question: What tax write-offs am I missing?
Article continues belowThis approach changed how I’m tackling my taxes this year — and probably next year too.
These seven tax benefits are worth remembering
I tapped into Gemini with my inquiry by asking this simple question: What are seven tax write-offs that most people overlook?
Google’s chatbot responded with some common knowledge about taxes being a chore to navigate and finding any money the IRS “forgot” to make you aware of feels amazing when it happens to you. The one thing it mentioned that I forgot about was the 2026 tax season being a lot different than last year’s due to the introduction of the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act” and its newest deductions, plus the often-ignored deductions people miss.
Then, Gemini brought up the seven overlooked write-offs that most U.S. taxpayers are unaware of. It’s worth noting that the chatbot sourced its information directly from the official IRS site as well as the properly cited pages from Alloy Silverstein Accountants and Advisors, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and TurboTax:
- The "No tax on overtime" deduction: This is a massive newcomer for the 2026 filing season. If you are an hourly worker who clocked extra hours, you may be able to deduct up to $12,500 ($25,000 for married couples) of your qualified overtime pay from your taxable income. The Catch - This starts to phase out if your income (MAGI) is over $150,000 (single) or $300,000 (joint).
- Car loan interest (New for 2026): This is a massive newcomer for the 2026 filing season. If you are an hourly worker who clocked extra hours, you may be able to deduct up to $12,500 ($25,000 for married couples) of your qualified overtime pay from your taxable income. The Rule - The vehicle must be new (purchased after 2024) and assembled in the U.S. You can check your VIN on the NHTSA website to see if yours qualifies.
- The "No tax on tips" deduction: If you work in the service industry, the new tax laws allow you to deduct up to $25,000 of your taxable tips. This is a game-changer for servers and bartenders who previously saw a huge chunk of their take-home pay go to federal taxes.
- The senior deduction (65+): While there has always been a "bonus" standard deduction for seniors, there is now a separate, additional deduction of up to $6,000 ($12,000 for couples) if you are 65 or older. Bonus - You can claim this whether you take the standard deduction or itemize. It phases out for single filers making over $75,000.
- State sales tax (Instead of income tax): Most people default to deducting state income tax. However, if you live in a state without income tax (like Florida, Texas, or Washington) or if you made a major purchase this year—like an engagement ring, a boat, or a home renovation—your sales tax total might actually be higher. You have the right to choose whichever one saves you more.
- Out-of-pocket charitable expenses: You probably remember to track big cash donations, but many forget the "micro-deductions." Driving for Charity - You can deduct 14 cents per mile driven for volunteer work. Supplies - If you bought ingredients for a soup kitchen or stamps for a non-profit fundraiser, those receipts are gold.
- Reinvested dividends: This isn’t a direct "line-item" deduction, but it's a huge way people overpay. If you have dividends that are automatically reinvested to buy more stock, that money has already been taxed. If you don't add those reinvested amounts to your cost basis when you sell the stock, you'll end up paying capital gains taxes twice on the same money. Quick Tip - The SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction cap, which was famously stuck at $10,000 for years, has jumped to $40,000 for the 2025–2028 tax years. If you own a home in a high-tax state, it might finally be worth itemizing again!
As the son of a tax preparer with over 30 years of experience, I was already familiar with common write-offs like charitable donations.
But the rest? Totally new to me. And there’s a good chance they’ll be new to you too.
It’s also worth asking Gemini for write-offs tailored to your situation — whether you’re a full-time employee, freelancer or juggling a side hustle. That’s where this really gets useful.
Final thoughts
The annual headaches that come with filing taxes are unavoidable. But at least there’s a bunch of tax write-offs that can actively fill your pockets instead of emptying them.
With Gemini’s assistance and the official sources it cited to find its information, I learned about the lesser-known ones and made sure to list them here for your convenience. It’s okay to dread Tax Day — take advantage of these write-offs if you’re eligible for them to make filing those dreaded taxes a little less stressful.
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