Tax planning isn’t about what you earned last year—it’s about how you structure your income today. The wealthy know this better than anyone. They don’t just wait until April to file; they develop a strategy that maximizes savings year-round.

In this Q&A, I’ll break down what I call the 8 D’s of Tax Planning—the levers that let you control how, when, and if you pay taxes. These aren’t loopholes; they’re strategies built right into the tax code.

For a full breakdown, watch the video here.

What Are the 8 D’s of Tax Planning?

The 8 D’s are the foundation of every effective tax plan, especially in real estate tax planning and small business strategy.

They are: Divide, Deduct, Dump, Depreciate, Delay, Donate, Disguise, and Disinherit.

Each one is a lever you can pull to:

• Shift income into lower-tax categories,
  
• Accelerate deductions or defer recognition,
  
• Or remove income from taxation entirely.

When you learn to stack these D’s together, you can reduce your tax bill dramatically—legally and strategically.

How Do Different Types of Income Affect My Taxes?

Not all income is created equal. The tax code treats money differently depending on where it comes from.

• Earned or Active Income: This is W-2 or self-employment income. Earned income is taxed the hardest—at ordinary rates plus payroll or self-employment taxes.
  
• Passive Income: Rental income or profits from businesses you don’t materially participate in. Passive income isn’t subject to self-employment tax, and passive losses can generally only offset passive income (unless you qualify for special exceptions like Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) or Short-term Rental Rules).
  
• Portfolio or Capital Gains Income: From selling stocks, property, or investments. Hold for over a year, and you may qualify for long-term capital gains rates, which can be half your normal rate—or even 0% in some cases.

Once you understand this, the goal becomes clear: to move income away from heavily taxed categories to favored ones. That’s where the 8 D’s come in.

What Does “Divide” Mean in Tax Planning?

Divide means spreading income among different taxpayers or entities that pay less tax.

This strategy is especially powerful for tax planning for small businesses and family-owned operations.

For example:

• A business owner hires their kids to help with marketing or admin work. The business deducts the wages, and the kids pay little or no tax because of the standard deduction.
  
• A trader sets up an LLC taxed as a partnership and pairs it with a C-Corp to access a 21% flat tax rate and medical reimbursement benefits.
  
• You can even “divide” money into retirement accounts or charitable entities, shifting when and how it’s taxed.

Divide is not just income-splitting—it’s income rebalancing across smarter structures.

How Can Entrepreneurs Maximize Deductions?

Deduct means turning your necessary spending into business write-offs.
The key is understanding what qualifies as “ordinary and necessary” for your trade or business.

Smart deductions for small business and real estate professionals include:

• Continuing education and business travel for consulting or investing work.
  
• The Augusta Rule (Section 280A(g)): Rent your home to your business for up to 14 days per year—your business deducts it, and you pay zero tax on that income.
  
• Meals, vehicles, and medical reimbursements structured through the right entity.

For tax planning for high-income earners, deductions often combine with other levers like Delay or Disguise to multiply savings.

What Does It Mean to “Dump” Income?

Dump means shedding taxable income by realizing losses the smart way.

Here’s how the wealthy do it:

• Harvest investment losses. Crypto, for example, isn’t subject to the wash-sale rule. Sell it when prices dip, claim the loss, and buy it back immediately.
  
• Release suspended losses. Selling a rental or passive business can unlock passive losses that have been trapped for years—sometimes wiping out entire chunks of other income.

Dumping isn’t about taking a loss for the sake of it—it’s about timing and strategy to turn paper losses into real tax savings.

Why Is “Depreciate” So Powerful for Real Estate Investors?

Depreciation is one of the most powerful tax tools ever created. It allows you to write-off property and equipment—even when the value increases.

For example:

• You buy a $500,000 four-plex with financing, perform a cost segregation study, and use bonus depreciation. You could deduct $150,000+ in year one, even though you didn’t spend that much out-of-pocket.
  
• Real estate professionals (REPS) and those using the short-term rental strategy can often apply those losses against active income, wiping out W-2 or consulting taxes.

Depreciation lets you make money on paper losses—the hallmark of strategic wealth building.

When Should I “Delay” Paying Taxes?

Sometimes the best tax strategy is simply not paying yet.

Here’s how to Delay taxes while keeping control:

• Installment sales spread capital gains over several years, lowering the bracket hit.
  
• 1031 Exchanges let you defer capital gains when reinvesting in new real estate.
  
• Retirement plans (IRAs, 401(k)s, defined benefit plans) give you deductions today and let your money grow tax-deferred until later.

The rule of thumb: The more you make, the more they take. So if you can spread income out across lower-tax years, you win twice—time and rate.

How Does “Donate” Reduce My Tax Bill?

Charitable giving is both generous and strategic when done right. Instead of writing a check, donate appreciated assets like stock or property.

For example:

• An investor donates stock that was purchased for $50,000 and is now worth $100,000. They get a $100,000 deduction and avoid capital gains on the appreciation.
  
• I once donated a house worth $300,000 that I’d bought for $90,000. The deduction saved me more in taxes than the property cost—and it helped fund a charitable housing program.

You can use Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) or Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) to plan large donations and time deductions strategically. Done right, Donate hits multiple D’s at once—Divide, Delay, and Deduct. This approach is perfect for entrepreneurs and high-income earners who want to make a difference while lowering their tax liability.

What Does “Disguise” Mean—And Is It Legal?

Disguise means choosing the right entity to change how income is taxed; it’s not about hiding it, but using the tax code to your advantage, and it is 100% legal.

Consider:

• A sole proprietor earning $150,000 converts to an S-Corp. Now, only the salary portion is subject to self-employment tax, and the remaining profit passes through free of it. Savings: about $10,000 a year.
  
• A C-Corp taxed at 21% can pay medical benefits, build retained earnings, or even distribute dividends taxed at capital gains rates.

When structured properly, your entity becomes your tax armor—shielding your earnings with smarter treatment.

How Can I “Disinherit” the IRS Instead of My Family?

The final D, Disinherit, is about estate planning. The goal here? Keep Uncle Sam from becoming your biggest heir.

Here’s how:

• Use trusts, annual gifting, family LLCs, and charitable tools to move wealth tax-free or tax-efficiently to your heirs.
  
• Avoid probate, minimize estate taxes, and keep family assets private and protected.

For families with growing portfolios, planning ahead can mean saving millions—and keeping control where it belongs.

Can I Combine These Strategies?

You absolutely should—and trust me, the wealthy already do. Real tax savings come from stacking D’s.

Example: A real estate investor uses an LLC (Disguise) to acquire a short-term rental, performs a cost segregation study (Depreciate) to create losses, uses the short-term rental loophole to offset active income (Divide), later does a 1031 Exchange (Delay), donates appreciated stock (Donate), and places property in a trust (Disinherit).

That’s how a tax plan becomes a wealth plan.

Who Benefits Most from the 8 D’s?

• Small Business Owners: Need entity structure, deductions, and medical/retirement optimization.
  
• Real Estate Investors: Thrive on depreciation, 1031 Exchanges, and cost segregation.
  
• Traders & Investors: Benefit from proper entity planning and loss harvesting.
  
• High-Net-Worth Families: Use charitable and estate planning strategies to preserve wealth.
  

How Can I Find Out Which D’s Apply to Me?

Every taxpayer’s situation is unique—especially if you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, trader, or real estate investor. That’s where personalized tax advice makes all the difference.

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work when it comes to real estate tax planning or tax planning for high-income earners. The right mix of D’s depends on your income sources, entities, and long-term goals.

That’s why I offer a free 45-minute Strategy Session with one of our Senior Advisors. Bring last year’s return and a simple P&L—we’ll show you exactly how to Divide, Deduct, Dump, Depreciate, Delay, Donate, Disguise, and Disinherit to minimize taxes and protect your wealth.

You’ll walk away with actionable real estate tax advice tailored to your investments and business—so you can keep more of what you earn and confidently plan for growth.

Schedule Your Free Strategy Session Now

It’s Not What You Make—But What You Keep?

Absolutely. Two identical homeowners can live on the same street—one pays heavy taxes, the other almost none. The difference isn’t the home—it’s the plan.

The same is true for your business, your investments, and your legacy. It’s not about how much you make. It’s about how you structure it—and how much you keep.