Paycheck, salary and tax guides
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Plain-English explanations of pay, payroll taxes and deductions, checked against IRS and state sources for the 2026 tax year.
How to Calculate Your Take-Home Pay
A step-by-step method for working out your take-home pay by hand, with a full 2026 example for a $72,000 salary in Georgia.
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Gross Pay vs Net Pay: What's the Difference?
Gross pay is your earnings before deductions; net pay is what you actually take home. Here is everything that sits between the…
How to Read Your Pay Stub
A line-by-line guide to your pay stub, with a sample Illinois stub showing how gross pay becomes net pay.
Why Is My Paycheck Smaller Than Expected?
Taxes, benefits, W-4 settings and pay calendar quirks explain most smaller paychecks. Here's how to find the cause on your stub.
Understanding Federal Income Tax Brackets
The 2026 federal brackets run from 10% to 37%. Here are the thresholds for each filing status and how they apply to…
What Is FICA Tax?
FICA is the Social Security and Medicare tax taken from every paycheck: 7.65% for most employees, with an equal employer match.
How Much Is $100,000 a Year After Taxes?
A single filer on $100,000 keeps about $79,180 in a no-tax state and roughly $71,000 to $77,000 in the income-tax states compared…
How Much Is $15 an Hour a Year?
Full time, $15 an hour is $31,200 a year before taxes; after 2026 taxes, a single filer keeps about $26,200 to $27,250…
How Much Is $20 an Hour After Taxes?
At $20 an hour full time, a single filer takes home about $685 a week in a no-tax state, or roughly $655…
How Much Is $25 an Hour After Taxes?
Working full time at $25 an hour, a single filer takes home about $1,691 every two weeks in a no-tax state, or…
What Happens in a 27-Paycheck Year?
Biweekly paydays occasionally add up to 27 in a calendar year. Here's how that changes your paychecks, your taxes and your deductions.
How Much Is $40,000 a Year After Taxes?
$40,000 a year is about $34,320 after federal taxes for a single filer, less in states with income tax. See the full…
How Much Is $50,000 a Year After Taxes?
$50,000 a year comes to about $42,355 after federal taxes for a single filer, and less in states with income tax. Here…