Guides
Tax Guides
How federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes come out of your paycheck, explained with 2026 figures.
All guides
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.
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…
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…
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.
Illinois vs Indiana: Take-Home Pay Compared
Indiana's 2.95% state rate beats Illinois's 4.95%, but county income tax changes the math. See 2026 paycheck estimates and the break-even county…
How to Fill Out a W-4, Step by Step
A plain walkthrough of each step on the W-4, what to enter, what to skip, and how each line changes the federal…
How Bonuses Are Taxed
Bonuses are usually withheld at a flat 22% federal rate, but your actual tax depends on your bracket. Here is why the…
States With the Highest Income Tax Rates in 2026
The states with the highest income tax rates in 2026, where those top rates actually start, and what a $120,000 earner pays…