Exactly.

If you are making 400-500K per year, the best way to reduce your taxes is give to a charity. A legit charity of your choice.....not one that has million dollar ads on the TV trying to get you to save polar bears or puppies.

If my business makes money and I can't "write" of enough expenses to offset my airline income tax liability because I don't have a loss, worst case is I get half of every dollar I made. Not as good as keeping it all, but still it's half of a dollar.

If I want to reduce the amount I pay to the Feds, I give a bunch to charity which is a completely legal and non shady way to reduce your tax burden.