If taxpayers fail to pay what officials say they owe, the IRS can assess a penalty, in addition to collecting the back taxes. In contrast, tax avoidance is perfectly legal. IRS regulations allow eligible taxpayers to claim certain deductions, credits, and adjustments to income. For instance, some homeowners can claim a deduction for interest they pay on a home mortgage. Working parents may be able to claim a credit for child-care expenses. There are also deductions based on the number of family members. These are only a few of the many ways people can legally limit the tax they pay. However, the taxpayer must be able to prove that he or she qualifies. Many people pay more federal income tax than necessary because they misunderstand tax laws and fail to keep good records. https://apps.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/whys/thm01/les03/media/ws_ans_thm01_les03.pdf