Explanation
Limitations & assumptions
Clear boundaries, simplifications, and why they exist.
NotTaxAdvice is designed to explain how retirement tax systems behave under clearly stated conditions.
That clarity requires boundaries.
This system makes deliberate simplifications so users can understand why outcomes change — without mistaking the output for advice or prediction.
Why assumptions exist
Tax systems are complex.
They involve overlapping rules, thresholds, exceptions, and timing effects that interact across decades.
To make those interactions understandable, NotTaxAdvice models the system using explicit assumptions rather than hidden defaults.
Every explanation depends on knowing what is included — and what is not.
What this system assumes
NotTaxAdvice uses assumptions that are:
+ Stated explicitly
+ Consistent across scenarios
+ Easy to inspect and question
Examples include:
+ Current federal tax law
+ Published IRS thresholds and formulas
+ Standard filing assumptions
+ Deterministic rule application
These assumptions are not predictions — they are inputs.
What this system simplifies
Some elements of real-world tax planning are intentionally simplified, including:
+ Investment return variability
+ Behavioral changes over time
+ Future legislative uncertainty
+ Personalized deductions and credits
These factors are excluded so the mechanics of the system remain visible.
Why simplification is intentional
Most tax software hides complexity behind optimization.
NotTaxAdvice does the opposite.
By simplifying selectively, it becomes possible to see:
+ Which rule caused a change
+ Which threshold mattered
+ How timing altered outcomes
+ Where uncertainty enters the picture
This makes the system easier to reason about — not less accurate in purpose.
What this system does not model
NotTaxAdvice does not attempt to:
+ Predict future tax law
+ Forecast market performance
+ Account for individual behavioral decisions
+ Optimize for a “best” outcome
Those questions require judgment, context, and professional input.
How to use these explanations
These explanations are meant to be read as:
+ A system description
+ A rule map
+ A transparency layer
They are not instructions.
They are tools for understanding.
The role of professional judgment
Tax decisions remain human decisions.
NotTaxAdvice is designed to support better conversations with professionals by making the underlying mechanics clear.
Understanding the limits of a model is part of using it well.
Summary
NotTaxAdvice trades hidden complexity for visible assumptions.
That tradeoff is deliberate.
The goal is not certainty.
The goal is clarity.