Paycheck, salary and tax guides
Blog
Plain-English explanations of pay, payroll taxes and deductions, checked against IRS and state sources for the 2026 tax year.
Negotiating Salary With Take-Home Pay in Mind
Know what each extra dollar of salary is worth after taxes, and how benefits and bonuses change the value of an offer.
Moving to Another State Mid-Year: What Happens to Your Taxes
How a mid-year move splits your state income tax, what to update with payroll, and how much your paycheck can change.
How to Work Out Your Monthly Take-Home Pay
Your monthly take-home pay is your net paycheck times the number of paychecks per year, divided by 12. Here's how to get…
Medicare Tax Explained
The Medicare tax rate is 1.45% of every dollar you earn, with no wage cap. Here is how it shows up on…
Maryland County Income Tax Explained
Every Maryland county and Baltimore City adds a local income tax. Here's how it's withheld and what it does to a 2026…
Married Filing Jointly vs Separately: Paycheck Impact
Filing jointly usually means lower total tax for married couples, but withholding can fall short. See how each choice plays out on…
Marginal vs Effective Tax Rate: What’s the Difference?
Your marginal rate is the tax on your next dollar; your effective rate is your average. Here's how to find both and…
States With the Lowest Income Tax Rates in 2026
The states with the lowest income tax rates in 2026, why North Dakota often takes nothing at all, and how local taxes…
Which States Have Local Income Taxes?
Which states let cities, counties or school districts tax your wages, typical local rates, and how much a local income tax takes…
Living in One State and Working in Another: How Taxes Work
How state income tax works when you live in one state and work in another, including credits, reciprocity and no-tax states.