<prompt> Human: Got a new job, and just got my first paycheck. YAY! I make approx 5000 a pay period, unfortunately as im sure you know, thats a high tax bracket, and Federal and state taxes are hitting me high, nearly 1500. Now, Im an American, and I feel taxes are a reasonable expense, or at least I used to... as a single person with no deductions, is there anything I can do to reduce my tax burden? I know one option is IRAs, anything else?  <response>: If you company offers a 401K plan, contribute to that pre-tax. You will not have to pay income taxes on that now. You will have to pay income taxes on that when you withdrawl that money later in life, however, since you never paid income taxes on that money. 