US Tax and Pay Guides 2026
Plain-English guides to US federal tax and paychecks, with accurate figures for 2026.
401(k) and Your Take-Home Pay 2026
Does a 401(k) reduce take-home pay? Less than the contribution: a 6% deferral at $100,000 costs far less net, with the 2026 limit, FICA rules and examples.
No Tax on Tips and Overtime 2026
How the 2026 tips and overtime deductions actually work: the $25,000 and $12,500 caps, the income phase-outs, why FICA still comes out, with worked examples.
US Paycheck Deductions Explained
Every line between gross and net on a US paycheck: federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, 401(k) and the pre-tax vs post-tax logic.
2026 Federal Tax Brackets Explained
The 2026 IRS tax brackets and standard deduction explained with worked examples: marginal vs effective rates, OBBBA changes, and what hits your paycheck.
W-4 Withholding Explained 2026
How Form W-4 controls federal withholding: filing status, the Step 2 multiple-jobs box, claiming dependents and what to enter in Step 4(c) for side income.
FICA Tax 2026: Social Security and Medicare Explained
Social Security at 6.2% on wages to $184,500, Medicare at 1.45% on all wages, the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax and the employer match.
Standard Deduction 2026: Single, Married, Head of Household
The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 married filing jointly and $24,150 head of household. How it reduces your federal tax bill.
States With No Income Tax 2026
Nine states charge no wage income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. How your take-home varies by state.