Take-Home Pay Guides
Long-form, evidence-based guides on US payroll taxes. The 7 line items on every paycheck, why your December check is bigger after you cross the FICA wage base, the state-by-state income tax map, pre-tax 401k and HSA math, and why your bonus check looks taxed at 40 percent.
The 7-Tax Stack: Everything That Comes Out of Your Paycheck
Federal income, Social Security, Medicare, state, local, SDI, and family leave — every line item on your paycheck stub explained, with 2026 rates and wage bases.
FICA Wage Base 2026: Why Your Paycheck Gets Bigger in December
How the Social Security wage base works, the 2026 increase to $176,100, the high-earner December bump, and how to plan your bonus and 401k timing around it.
State Income Tax Comparison: 9 No-Tax States vs California's 13.3%
A complete state-by-state breakdown: which 9 states have no income tax, which have flat rates, which are progressive, and how local taxes (NYC, Philadelphia) push the burden even higher.
Pre-Tax vs Post-Tax: The 401k, HSA, and FSA Math That Actually Saves You Money
How marginal tax rates determine the value of pre-tax contributions, the 2026 limits for every retirement and benefit account, and why HSA is the only triple-tax-advantaged option.
Bonus Withholding Explained: Why Your 22% Bonus Check Looks Taxed at 40%
How the IRS supplemental wage withholding rule works, why your bonus check seems over-taxed, and how to get the difference back at tax time.
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- Take-home calculator → by salary and city
- US states → state-by-state tax comparison
- City lookup → local tax for major cities