I have long religiously maxed out all tax-advantaged retirement plans I have been eligible to participate in each year when I have been eligible for each type of plan or combination of plans - 401k, IRA, SEP.
I gladly pay a CPA a few bucks to do my taxes, and write off anything I possibly can. If there is an issue with deductions or anything else according to the crooks at the IRS, the CPA deals with it - not me.
I also have a chunk of money in a tax deferred variable annuity that I contribute a few bucks to each year, and generally keep at least a little in tax-free muni bonds. I will put more into munis when I retire and need the income, and will start to draw on the annuity and the retirement accounts in about 15 years.
If you have a Roth 401k option (after-tax dollars) at work, contribute to that. And if your household income is below the income limit for a Roth IRA, do this also.
Otherwise, the tax-deferred traditional 401k and IRA are also good for at least putting the taxes off and lowering your current taxable income level. And when you start paying taxes on those tax-deferred accounts after retirement, your overall taxable income may be lower than it was when you were working, perhaps putting you into a lower tax bracket.