I never found it that confusing. Essentially, you just follow the directions.
It also pays to know the mechanics of the "internal organs" of the beast. That is, how will more taxable income and/or tax deductions affect you now vs. later. Of course, the rules can change a lot later so it's like hitting a moving target. But, if you're deciding between a Roth IRA and a regular (deductible) IRA/401k, you'd be nuts to take a tax deduction at 12% (if that's your marginal rate now) to defer taxes 'til you're in the 24% bracket.
Unless you own property that you're renting out, it's not complicated.
The 25k pages and loopholes are there so the government can nudge you into doing what they want. You can get a tax write-off for buying new equipment for your factory or business, because Congress presumes that will create more jobs, which will allow more tax revenue coming from those additional jobs. There are "Opportunity Zones," where the gains from your investments are tax-deferred because those "underserved" zones are in desperate need of investments. Of course, arranging your finances to legally get what you're entitled to can have a drawback, when those like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren vilify someone for taking those legal deductions/credits...which they, as senators, allow in the tax code!
Interest on your primary home? Deductible. Interest on a car loan? Not deductible. It's all to reward/punish certain actions that are deemed favorable/unfavorable.
It also pays to know the mechanics of the "internal organs" of the beast. That is, how will more taxable income and/or tax deductions affect you now vs. later. Of course, the rules can change a lot later so it's like hitting a moving target. But, if you're deciding between a Roth IRA and a regular (deductible) IRA/401k, you'd be nuts to take a tax deduction at 12% (if that's your marginal rate now) to defer taxes 'til you're in the 24% bracket.
Unless you own property that you're renting out, it's not complicated.
Interest on your primary home? Deductible. Interest on a car loan? Not deductible. It's all to reward/punish certain actions that are deemed favorable/unfavorable.