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.
Pre-Tax vs After-Tax Deductions
Pre-tax deductions lower the wages your taxes are figured on, while after-tax deductions come out of pay that has already been taxed.
Pennsylvania Local Earned Income Tax Explained
Who levies Pennsylvania's local earned income tax, how your employer decides what to withhold, and what it does to a 2026 paycheck.
How to Spot and Fix Paycheck Errors
The most common paycheck errors, how to find them on your pay stub, and the steps to get them corrected by payroll…
What Changed for Paychecks in 2026
New brackets, a higher standard deduction, a bigger Social Security wage base and new contribution limits all affect 2026 paychecks.
Pay Frequency Explained: Weekly, Biweekly, Semimonthly and Monthly
How weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly pay schedules work, how each changes your paycheck size, and what stays the same over a…
How Part-Time Paychecks Are Calculated
Part-time pay is hours times rate, minus the same taxes full-timers pay, but federal withholding is often small or zero.
Paid Family Leave Payroll Deductions by State
Which states deduct paid family and medical leave premiums from paychecks, how the deductions work, and a Connecticut example with real numbers.
Ohio Municipal Income Tax Explained
How Ohio's city and village income taxes are withheld, how home-city credits work, and why local tax often outweighs state tax on…
New York vs Florida: Take-Home Pay Compared
2026 paycheck estimates comparing New York and Florida at three salaries, including New York SDI and how NYC tax widens the gap.
New York City Income Tax and Your Paycheck
NYC income tax applies to residents of the five boroughs. Here's how it's withheld, who doesn't owe it, and how to estimate…