Paycheck & tax guides
Short, original explainers written to answer the questions our calculator users ask most. No jargon, no fluff — just the parts of US payroll that actually move your take-home pay.
How US Paychecks Work: Gross, Net, and Everything Between
A plain-English walkthrough of pay frequencies, withholding, and every line on your pay stub.
Federal Income Tax in 2024: Brackets, Deductions, and Real Examples
What the 2024 brackets actually mean for your paycheck, plus the difference between marginal and effective tax rates.
FICA Explained: Social Security, Medicare, and the 0.9% Surtax
How the 6.2% / 1.45% / 0.9% pieces fit together, the wage base, and what self-employed workers pay.
401(k), HSA, and Pre-Tax Deductions: How They Boost Take-Home
Why a dollar into a traditional 401(k) costs you less than a dollar of net pay, with worked numbers.
State Income Tax in the US: A 50-State Overview
Flat states, progressive states, no-tax states, and how state withholding shows up on your stub.
Looking for state-specific information? See our 50-state index.