Getting a raise often feels like a financial leg up until the next tax season when that bigger paycheck doesn’t translate into as much extra money as expected. Higher income can also change your tax bracket, leading to paying more in taxes, which reduces the impact of a raise.
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I asked ChatGPT how someone who just got a raise can reduce their tax exposure without resorting to aggressive or risky strategies.
A Raise Can Increase Taxes in Ways You Don’t Immediately See
First, ChatGPT warned that a higher salary not only raises your marginal tax rate — the rate applied to the last dollar you earn — it can push more of your income into higher brackets which makes you ineligible for valuable tax breaks. With rising income, you may also lose eligibility for some credits and deductions, including education credits, retirement savings incentives and certain itemized deductions. It warned that a raise can also increase taxable investment income exposure, affect student loan repayment formulas and, over time, raise Medicare Part B and Part D premiums through income-related surcharges.
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Increasing Pretax Contributions Is One of the Fastest Wins
ChatGPT said that contributing as much money into pretax retirement accounts as you can is one of the simplest ways to offset higher taxable income. Contributions to traditional 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans and similar plans lower adjusted gross income (AGI) dollar for dollar. However, be sure to pay attention to annual contribution limits so you are not surprised later. For 2026, the employee contribution limit for 401(k) and 403(b) plans is $24,500 for individuals, with an $8,000 catch-up contribution allowed for those ages 50 and older. If you get an employer match, this is also a great way to speed retirement savings along.
Health Savings Accounts Can Lower Taxes 3 Different Ways
For workers enrolled in high-deductible health plans, health savings accounts (HSAs) offer the most tax-efficient tools available, ChatGPT said. Contributions are tax-deductible, growth is tax-free and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free. For 2026, the HSA contribution limits are $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage. People ages 55 and older, not enrolled in Medicare, can contribute an additional catch-up of $1,000. This is a great way to also stay ahead of rising healthcare costs, too.
Timing Income and Deductions Matters More After a Raise
After any income boost, including a raise, ChatGPT suggested using “timing” as a strategy. This includes tactics such as deferring a year-end bonus into January when possible, increasing pretax retirement contributions before Dec. 31 each year and bunching charitable or medical deductions into one tax year to exceed the standard deduction. The standard deduction for 2026 is $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, $16,100 for single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately and $24,150 for heads of household.
It also suggested being thoughtful about when you claim capital gains, making Roth conversions or collecting freelance income that could push AGI high enough to lose credit or accrue higher Medicare premiums down the line. Whatever legal strategies you can use to keep your income lower will keep your raise from being absorbed by taxes.
A Raise Is a Good Moment To Revisit Withholding
It’s easy to forget about your tax withholding, since it’s not something you’re required to change regularly. However, a raise can throw off your prior income assumptions. So ChatGPT suggested reviewing your form W-4 settings to avoid underwithholding penalties or large surprises at filing time.
A raise isn’t just a pay increase — it’s a tax event. ChatGPT suggested that the most effective moves are timely adjustments that help taxpayers keep more of what they earn while staying within the rules.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Asked ChatGPT How To Reduce Tax Exposure After Getting a Raise — Here’s What It Said
