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The FireDawg Podcast

Episode 63 – Tax Strategy for Federal Firefighters Before April 15 – Matt Stelmaszek

FireDawg.us February 18, 2026


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Tax season isn’t something we talk about much in the firehouse — but maybe we should.

In this episode, we sit down with former Air Force firefighter turned financial and tax expert, Matt Stelmaszek, to break down what federal firefighters need to know before the April 15 filing deadline. We cover:

  • How the tax system actually works (and why more OT doesn’t “tax all your income higher”)
  • The difference between deductions and credits
  • Traditional TSP vs Roth IRA considerations
  • “No Tax on OT” for federal firefighters — what qualifies and what doesn’t
  • Roth IRA contributions you can still make before the deadline
  • Common financial mistakes service members make

This episode is a little outside our normal programming — but it’s practical, timely, and designed to help firefighters avoid leaving money on the table.

If you’re a military or federal civilian firefighter, this one matters.

Resources mentioned during the episode:

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