# Usage Guide — irs-taxpayer-mcp
A practical guide to getting the most out of the 39 tax tools.
## Quick Reference: Which Tool to Use
| I want to... | Use this tool |
| ----------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| Calculate my federal tax | `calculate_federal_tax` |
| See my total tax (federal + state + FICA) | `generate_full_tax_report` |
| Compare states for relocation | `compare_state_taxes` |
| Check if I should itemize | `standard_vs_itemized` |
| See what credits I qualify for | `check_credit_eligibility` |
| Calculate my EITC | `calculate_eitc` |
| Plan year-end tax moves | `get_tax_planning_tips` |
| Compare MFJ vs MFS | `compare_mfj_vs_mfs` |
| Process my 1099 forms | `process_1099_income` |
| Check my paycheck withholding | `analyze_paycheck` |
| Model a what-if scenario | `simulate_tax_scenario` |
| See what changed in 2025 | `what_changed_between_tax_years` |
| Calculate OBBB new deductions | `calculate_obbb_deductions` |
| Check my audit risk | `assess_audit_risk` |
| Get my tax deadlines | `get_personalized_tax_calendar` |
| Understand a Roth strategy | `get_retirement_strategy` |
## Common Workflows
### Workflow 1: "How much tax do I owe?"
Start with the full report for a complete picture:
> "Generate a full tax report: $120K W-2 income, married filing jointly, 2 kids, California, $18K mortgage interest, $10K state taxes paid"
This gives you federal tax, FICA, state tax, take-home pay, and refund/owed amount in one shot.
### Workflow 2: "Should I move to a no-tax state?"
Use the scenario simulator:
> "Simulate relocating from California to Texas with $200K income"
Or compare multiple states:
> "Compare state taxes for CA, TX, WA, NV, and FL at $200K income"
### Workflow 3: "I'm a freelancer, what do I owe?"
Use the self-employment tool:
> "Estimate self-employment tax: $150K gross revenue, $40K expenses, single"
Then check your quarterly payments:
> "Estimate quarterly tax: $110K income, single, self-employed"
### Workflow 4: "What changed in 2025?"
> "What changed between tax years 2024 and 2025?"
This shows every difference: brackets, standard deduction, CTC, SALT cap, and all OBBB new provisions.
### Workflow 5: "Should I do a Roth conversion?"
> "Simulate a $50K Roth conversion: current income $80K, single"
Shows the tax cost, effective conversion rate, and break-even analysis.
### Workflow 6: "Am I withholding enough?"
> "Analyze my paycheck: biweekly, $4,000 gross, $520 federal withheld, $248 SS, $58 Medicare, single"
Tells you if you're over/under-withholding and by how much.
### Workflow 7: "Year-end tax planning"
> "Give me tax planning tips: $150K income, single, have 401k and HSA, contributed $15K to 401k so far"
Gets personalized suggestions for maximizing deductions before year-end.
## Tool Categories
### Core Calculations (6 tools)
These do the math. They take income and deduction inputs and return precise tax calculations.
- `calculate_federal_tax` — The foundation. All other tools build on this.
- `get_tax_brackets` — Look up brackets for any year/status
- `compare_filing_statuses` — Which status saves the most?
- `estimate_quarterly_tax` — For self-employed and gig workers
- `calculate_total_tax` — Federal + state in one call
- `calculate_w4_withholding` — W-4 form guidance
### Analysis & Planning (7 tools)
These help you make decisions.
- `get_tax_planning_tips` — Year-end optimization
- `compare_tax_years` — How do 2024 and 2025 differ?
- `estimate_self_employment_tax` — Full SE breakdown
- `analyze_mortgage_tax_benefit` — Should I itemize with my mortgage?
- `analyze_education_tax_benefits` — AOTC vs LLC
- `compare_mfj_vs_mfs` — Joint vs separate filing
- `simulate_tax_scenario` — What-if modeling
### Full Reports (4 tools)
These give you the big picture.
- `generate_full_tax_report` — Everything in one report
- `process_1099_income` — Handle multiple 1099s
- `get_personalized_tax_calendar` — Your deadlines
- `analyze_paycheck` — Verify your pay stub
### Credits & Deductions (5 tools)
These help you find money.
- `list_tax_credits` — Browse 20+ credits
- `check_credit_eligibility` — Quick screening
- `calculate_eitc` — Precise EITC amount
- `list_deductions` — All deductions with rules
- `standard_vs_itemized` — Which is better for you?
### Retirement (2 tools)
Long-term planning.
- `get_retirement_accounts` — IRA, 401k, HSA, 529 details
- `get_retirement_strategy` — Backdoor Roth, tax-loss harvesting
### State Taxes (4 tools)
State-level analysis.
- `get_state_tax_info` — Any state's rates and brackets
- `estimate_state_tax` — State tax estimate
- `compare_state_taxes` — Multi-state comparison
- `list_no_income_tax_states` — The 9 tax-free states
### IRS Info (3 tools)
Public IRS data.
- `get_tax_deadlines` — Filing deadlines
- `check_refund_status` — How to check your refund
- `get_irs_form_info` — Form descriptions
### OBBB & Risk (3 tools)
New law and compliance.
- `calculate_obbb_deductions` — Tips, overtime, senior, auto loan
- `what_changed_between_tax_years` — Full year-over-year diff
- `assess_audit_risk` — Red flag identification
## Tips
- Always specify `taxYear` — TY2024 and TY2025 have different rules (OBBB Act)
- For the most accurate results, provide as many inputs as possible
- Use `generate_full_tax_report` when you want everything at once
- Use `simulate_tax_scenario` when you want to compare two situations
- All calculations are estimates — consult a tax professional for filing
