Why can a business deduct inventory, but you can’t deduct your rent or your drive to work? In this episode, we explore where the tax code draws the line between the costs of earning income and the costs of simply living. From business meals and entertainment to commuting, educator expenses, and COGS, we look at why income is broadly taxable while deductions have to be specifically allowed—and why those limits are necessary to keep the tax base from disappearing.

We look at a simple idea hidden throughout the tax code: the government generally wants one bite of the apple. From Traditional and Roth IRAs to tax-exempt income, municipal bonds, gift and estate taxes, and HSAs, we explore how the tax code decides when to take its bite, prevents double dipping, and sometimes deliberately gives up the bite altogether. And the next time someone tells you they’ve found a way to “never pay taxes,” you’ll know the first question to ask: where did the bite go?

Think a raise will push all of your income into a higher tax bracket? Think again. In this episode, we explain how tax brackets really work using a simple bucket analogy, discuss the difference between marginal and effective tax rates, and explore why earning more money always means taking home more after taxes.

Tax credits are one of the most valuable—and misunderstood—parts of the U.S. tax system. In this episode, we break down what tax credits are, how they differ from tax deductions, and why Congress often chooses credits to encourage certain behaviors.

We’ll explain why a $1,000 tax credit is usually worth much more than a $1,000 deduction, how credits allow Congress to provide targeted tax relief while keeping personal expenses generally nondeductible, and why credits create a more consistent incentive regardless of a taxpayer’s income level.

Whether it’s the Child Tax Credit, education credits, or clean energy incentives, you’ll learn why tax credits are often described as “dollar-for-dollar” reductions in your tax bill—and why they play such an important role in tax policy.

What exactly is a “write-off”? It’s one of the most common phrases in taxes—and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of Title 26, CPA Ben Lehman explains what tax deductions really are, why they exist, and why buying something simply because “it’s deductible” rarely makes financial sense. From business expenses and depreciation to charitable contributions and the famous Seinfeld “write-off” scene, discover why deductions reduce the cost of a purchase—but never make it free.

What makes income taxable? Many taxpayers believe a Form 1099 or W-2 determines whether income must be reported. In this episode, CPA Ben Lehman examines Section 61 of the Internal Revenue Code, the phrase “from whatever source derived,” and why taxable income is determined by law rather than information reporting forms.

Welcome to Title 26. In this introductory episode, CPA Ben Lehman discusses the origins of the federal income tax, the Revenue Act of 1913, and the purpose of this podcast: exploring the logic, history, and policy behind the American tax system.