Straight answers about your paycheck, take-home pay, and 2026 taxes — no jargon, just the math that matters.
Nine states have no income tax on wages in 2026: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Here's what that means for your paycheck.
5 min readGross pay is your total earnings before deductions; net pay (take-home pay) is what lands in your bank account after taxes and deductions. Here's how to go from one to the other.
4 min readA step-by-step guide to filling out the 2026 Form W-4 — when to claim dependents, how Step 2 works for two-income households, and how to use extra withholding to avoid a tax bill.
6 min readBonuses are taxed as supplemental wages: a flat 22% federal withholding (37% above $1 million), plus Social Security, Medicare, and state tax. Here's why your bonus check looks so much smaller — and what you actually owe.
5 min readMost workers lose 20–35% of gross pay to taxes. FICA alone is a fixed 7.65%; federal income tax averages 10–15% for typical earners, plus 0–10% for state tax. Here's how to estimate your number.
5 min readOvertime is not taxed at a special rate — it's ordinary wages. But because it bumps your gross pay, more tax is withheld. For 2025–2028, a new federal deduction also lets you write off part of your overtime. Here's how it works.
5 min readContribute at least enough to get your full employer match, aim for 15% of income including the match, and know the 2026 limits ($24,500, plus catch-up). Here's how 401(k) contributions affect your paycheck.
5 min read