RE tax questions from a noob

[Mark Stone]

Ok I have a few questions in regards to my taxes and am hoping someone could help answer them or point me in the right direction! Thanks in advance for any insight!

Due to my income falling between the $100-$150k, I am curious on how to increase the amount I can write off of the maximum $25k passive loss for active real estate investors (not sure if there is a term for this write off). 

Questions)

1.) If I contributed more money to my 401k would it lower my overall income that is viewed by this rule and therefore I could write more off?

2.) Currently if I work overtime I get paid 1.5x base pay, but I am wondering if someone can help me with the math of what I would roughly be making (1.4x, 1.3x etc.), since I would also be lowering how much I could write off the above rule (my OT wouldnt be extensive enough to have my income >$150k). This may not be feasible without more specifics on my taxes but perhaps a rough formula on how I could figure it out.

My basic thought process with the math would be the following:

For every extra $1.50 I make above $100k (but below $150k); I lose $0.75 I can write off.

So here is where my knowledge really breaks down (if it hasn't already unbeknownst to me).

So for every $0.75 I lose the ability to write off as a passive loss; will this cost me $0.75 or will it cost me $0.75 times my marginal tax bracket of 28%, which would be $0.75 x 0.28 = $0.21

And if it cost me $0.21 per $0.75 and therefore $0.41 per $1.5, that would basically bring my OT down from 1.5x base pay to roughly 1.1x base pay?

Thanks again for any insight!

Sincerely, 

Mark