Tax rates and guides
The current US tax rates, and plain-English explanations of what comes out of your pay.
37 guides, checked against official sources
- Income tax Year-end tax moves for 2026: what to do by December 31 The tax moves to make before December 31, 2026: retirement contributions, the new deductions, charity changes, tax-loss harvesting, FSAs and RMDs. Read the guide
- Income tax The 9 states with no income tax in 2026 Which states have no income tax, how much more you take home there, the payroll taxes some still charge, and why it doesn't always mean low taxes. Read the guide
- Income tax 2027 tax brackets (projected): what changes from 2026 The projected 2027 federal tax brackets and standard deduction for every filing status, how much less tax you may pay, and when the IRS confirms them. Read the guide
- Buying a home First-time home buyer guide: down payment, loans and costs Buying your first home in the US: the down payment you need, FHA, conventional, VA and USDA loans, closing costs and help for first-time buyers. Read the guide
- Loans & credit How to build credit from scratch: a step-by-step plan No credit history? How to get your first FICO score with a secured card, credit-builder loan or authorized user, how long it takes and mistakes to avoid. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits How to fill out a W-4 (2026) A step-by-step guide to the 2026 Form W-4, with what's new for tips, overtime and people 65 or older, and how each step changes your paycheck. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits Why is my bonus taxed at 22%? Why bonuses have 22% federal tax withheld, what else comes off, whether you really pay more tax on a bonus, and what you'll get back or owe at tax time. Read the guide
- Income tax Quarterly estimated taxes: dates and how much to pay Who has to pay quarterly estimated taxes, the 2026 due dates, how much to pay to avoid a penalty, and how to pay, with worked examples for freelancers. Read the guide
- Retirement & saving Roth vs traditional: 401(k) and IRA explained Roth or traditional for your 401(k) and IRA? How each is taxed, the 2026 limits and income limits, and which comes out ahead, with worked examples. Read the guide
- Income tax No tax on tips and overtime explained How the 2025–2028 tips and overtime deductions work, who qualifies, how much you can deduct, how to claim them and which states follow them. Read the guide
- Retirement & saving HSA explained: limits for 2026 and 2027 How a health savings account works, the 2026 and 2027 HSA and HDHP limits, how much tax it saves, and how to use it for retirement too. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits How to compare two job offers in the US How to compare job offers in the US, from take-home pay after state and city tax to the 401(k) match, health insurance, bonuses and cost of living. Read the guide
- Retirement & saving How much should I save for retirement? (401(k) guide) How much to save for retirement in the US, why starting early matters most, a simple 401(k) target, and how to make the most of your employer match. Read the guide
- Income tax Marginal vs effective tax rate: how tax brackets work (2026) How the 2026 federal tax brackets work, your marginal vs effective tax rate, and why a raise or bonus never lowers your take-home pay. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits What is FICA? Social Security and Medicare tax explained FICA is the 7.65% Social Security and Medicare tax taken from almost every paycheck. What it is, how much you pay in 2026 and what lowers it. Read the guide
- Buying a home The 28/36 rule explained What the 28/36 rule says about how much house you can afford, what counts as housing costs and debt, and how lenders' limits compare. Read the guide
- Loans & credit US credit scores: what affects yours and how to raise it What a FICO score is, the five things that make it up, what counts as a good score, how to check yours for free, and the fastest ways to improve it. Read the guide
- Money basics Inflation and interest rates in the US, explained What inflation is, why the Fed raises and cuts interest rates, and what both mean for your savings, debts and mortgage. With an interactive example. Read the guide
- Money myths Myth: renting is throwing money away (US) Homeowners pay a lot they never get back too: mortgage interest, property tax and repairs. How to compare renting and buying fairly, with the 5% rule. Read the guide
- Money basics US banking basics: checking, savings and FDIC insurance How checking and savings accounts work, what to look for in a bank, how FDIC insurance protects your money and how to avoid fees, in plain English. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits Benefits and tax credits you might be missing (US) The Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and other US credits and benefits for working people and families, and how to check what you qualify for. Read the guide
- Loans & credit Buy now, pay later in the US: costs, credit and the rules How buy now, pay later works in the US, what it costs when you miss a payment, how it affects your credit, and the rules that protect you. Read the guide
- Loans & credit Help with debt in the US: free advice and formal options Where to get free, confidential help with debt in the US, how to talk to your lenders, and the formal debt solutions, with their current limits. Read the guide
- Money basics Emergency fund: how much you need and where to keep it Why an emergency fund comes before almost everything else, how to work out yours, where to keep it and how to build it from nothing. Read the guide
- Money basics How to make a budget in the US (the 50/30/20 rule) A simple way to budget. Start from your take-home pay, see where it goes, split it into needs, wants and savings with the 50/30/20 rule, and automate it. Read the guide
- Loans & credit How to pay off debt in the US: avalanche or snowball? How to pay off several debts in the US: the avalanche and snowball methods, which saves more, and how to pay less interest, with a worked example. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits How to read your pay stub What every line on a US pay stub means, in plain English. Gross pay, pre-tax deductions, federal withholding, FICA, state taxes and net pay. Read the guide
- Money basics How to spot and report money scams in the US The warning signs almost every scam shares, the most common scams in the US right now, how to protect your accounts, and where to report fraud. Read the guide
- Money basics Insurance basics in the US: what you need and what to skip Which insurance matters most in the US: protecting your income, health cover, life insurance, and the policies you can usually skip. Read the guide
- Investing Investing basics: how to start with index funds What investing is, how stocks, bonds and index funds work, which accounts to use first (401(k), IRA, brokerage) and how to start with a small amount. Read the guide
- Money myths Myth: checking your credit score lowers it (US) Checking your own credit score or report never affects it. The difference between soft and hard inquiries, and what applying for credit really costs. Read the guide
- Money myths Myth: a raise into a higher bracket cuts your pay (US) A higher bracket only taxes the extra income at the higher rate. Why a raise doesn’t cut your take-home pay, with a worked example and the rare exceptions. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits Social Security payment schedule: 2026 and 2027 dates When Social Security and SSI are paid in 2026 and 2027: the Wednesday schedule by birthday, the 3rd of the month, SSI on the 1st, and holiday changes. Read the guide
- Investing Capital gains tax explained: rates, losses and your home How capital gains are taxed in the US: short and long-term rates, the 2026 brackets, the 3.8% net investment income tax, losses, and selling your home. Read the guide
- Investing Index funds vs picking stocks in the US: why go passive What an index fund is, why most fund managers fail to beat one, how much fees cost you over time, and how to start investing in the US. Read the guide
- Income tax Side hustle taxes: what to report and how much to set aside How side hustle and gig income is taxed in the US: self-employment tax, the 1099-K and 1099-NEC thresholds for 2026, deductions and quarterly payments. Read the guide
- Investing Where to invest: 401(k), IRA, HSA or brokerage account? Which investment accounts to use first in the US: the 401(k) match, HSA, Roth or traditional IRA, and a taxable brokerage, with the 2026 limits. Read the guide
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