[Retric]

Avoiding X% tax on money going in and paying X% tax on money going out aounds balanced. But you avoid the highest marginal tax rate when putting money in and social security alone doesn’t push them into the highest tax bracket.

So most people get taxed at lower marginal rates in retirement when they take money out. Which makes deferring taxes a meaningful advantage. This is especially true if you intend to money to a state with lower tax rates in retirement, but a worse deal if you intend to do the reverse.