Paycheck & Tax Guides
Short, practical explainers to go with our calculators.
Take-home pay by state on $100,000 (2026)
All 50 states + DC ranked by what a $100k salary actually leaves you after taxes. The spread is thousands.
How paycheck taxes work in 2026
Federal brackets, FICA, and state tax explained — and why your take-home is less than your salary.
How to read your pay stub (2026)
Every line on a US pay stub explained in plain English — gross, FICA, deductions, and net pay.
How bonuses are taxed in 2026
The 22% supplemental rate, FICA, and what you actually keep — plus why some of it comes back.
Married vs. single: how filing status changes pay
Computed examples of the marriage bonus (and penalty) on your 2026 take-home pay.
2026 federal tax brackets, explained
The official 2026 brackets for single and married filers — and why your bracket is not your tax rate.
The 9 states with no income tax
What a $75,000 salary really saves in Texas or Florida, and the property/sales-tax trade-offs.
How a 401(k) changes your take-home pay
Computed examples showing why saving $4,800 only shrinks your paycheck by ~$3,600.