Tax Guides

Plain-English guides to federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and withholding for the 2026 tax year.

Social Security tax is 6.2% of your wages up to $184,500 in 2026, matched by your employer. Here's what it covers and…

Self-employment tax is how freelancers pay Social Security and Medicare. Here is the 2026 math, step by step, with real examples.

New brackets, a higher standard deduction, a bigger Social Security wage base and new contribution limits all affect 2026 paychecks.

The Medicare tax rate is 1.45% of every dollar you earn, with no wage cap. Here is how it shows up on…

Filing jointly usually means lower total tax for married couples, but withholding can fall short. See how each choice plays out on…

Your marginal rate is the tax on your next dollar; your effective rate is your average. Here's how to find both and…

A plain walkthrough of each step on the W-4, what to enter, what to skip, and how each line changes the federal…

Bonuses are usually withheld at a flat 22% federal rate, but your actual tax depends on your bracket. Here is why the…

Head of household status gives single parents and other qualifying taxpayers a bigger standard deduction and wider brackets. Here is who qualifies.

The filing status you check on your W-4 sets your standard deduction and brackets for withholding. Here is what that does to…