Divorce the IRS

Welcome to Divorce the IRS, the Retirement Income Planning Podcast—built for people who want to pay the least amount of taxes possible and create retirement income that actually lasts. Inspired by Jimmy Miller’s bestselling book Divorce, the IRS, this show takes you behind the scenes of the tax rules, retirement strategies, and planning decisions that can quietly determine how much of your money you keep.

The truth is, taxes aren’t just “something you deal with later.” The U.S. tax code is massive, confusing by design, and full of traps that can hit hardest right when you need your money most. From 401(k)s and IRAs to Social Security and Medicare, many common “smart moves” can turn into expensive surprises—like required minimum distributions, Medicare surcharges, the widow’s penalty, and other retirement tax time bombs most people don’t see coming until it’s too late.

With 20+ years of experience as a global wealth manager, Jimmy breaks these topics down in a clear, practical way—so you can plan proactively, avoid unnecessary taxes, and build a retirement where your delayed gratification finally pays off. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and remember: this podcast is for general education only and isn’t legal, tax, or investment advice—always consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

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Divorce the IRS

Hidden Taxes

January 05, 2026 • Dustin • Episode 3

0:00 | 5:40

In this episode of The Divorce the IRS Podcast, Jimmy Miller pulls back the curtain on the many hidden taxes quietly draining your money every day. While most people are familiar with the taxes that come out of their paycheck, few realize how many additional taxes and fees are layered into nearly every aspect of daily life.

Jimmy begins by breaking taxes into two main categories. The first includes federal, state, and local income taxes, which are progressive and increase as income rises. The second category covers payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare—taxes most people sign up for without much thought when they fill out a W-2. This podcast focuses primarily on income taxes, with the goal of helping you eliminate or dramatically reduce them in retirement.

While payroll taxes technically stop when you stop working, Jimmy explains that they don’t disappear entirely. In retirement, higher income can trigger taxes on up to 85 percent of your Social Security benefits and lead to increased Medicare premiums through income-based surcharges. These outcomes surprise many retirees, especially since they already paid into these systems for decades. With proper planning, however, these taxes can often be minimized or avoided altogether.

From there, Jimmy expands the conversation beyond income taxes to reveal just how widespread hidden taxes have become. Taxes and fees are built into everyday necessities like fuel, transportation, utilities, cell phone bills, airline tickets, and cable services. Even leisure activities—dining out, entertainment, alcohol purchases, and pet registrations—carry layers of taxation that most people barely notice.

Many of these taxes are disguised with vague names like “service fees,” “documentation charges,” or “equalization fees,” making them easy to overlook and hard to question. Because they feel small in isolation, most people don’t object—exactly what makes them so effective. Jimmy emphasizes that these charges can add up to an enormous, ongoing drain on your finances, often without you ever realizing how much you’re paying over time.

Because many hidden taxes are unavoidable unless you radically change your lifestyle, Jimmy explains why it’s even more important to focus on eliminating the taxes you can control in retirement. Reducing federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare-related taxes can make a meaningful difference during the years when income matters most.

This episode lays the groundwork for understanding why tax planning must extend beyond paycheck withholding and into a broader awareness of how money is siphoned away over a lifetime. In the next episode, Jimmy tackles a common misconception about how the progressive tax system really works and why misunderstanding it can lead to costly mistakes.

Resources (mentioned in the episode)

How Do I Tax Thee?: A Field Guide to the Great American Rip-Off (Kristin Tate) - Click HERE.