Paycheck and Freelance Tax Guides
Plain-English explanations of how paychecks, bonuses, overtime, W-4s and self-employment taxes actually work, written to go with our calculators and updated for 2026.
How Paycheck Withholding Works: Where Your Money Goes
A clear 2026 guide to paycheck withholding: gross vs. net pay, federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, pre-tax deductions and why your refund or bill happens.
Biweekly vs. Semimonthly Pay: What’s the Difference?
Biweekly pay means 26 checks a year; semimonthly means 24. Learn how each schedule affects your paycheck, budgeting, hourly overtime and take-home pay.
How Bonuses Are Taxed (2026)
Learn how federal, FICA and state taxes apply to a bonus in 2026, the difference between the 22% flat method and the aggregate method, and how to keep more of it.
Pre-Tax vs. Post-Tax Deductions
Understand pre-tax and post-tax paycheck deductions: 401(k), Roth, HSA, FSA and insurance premiums, with a worked example of how each one changes your take-home pay.
States With No Income Tax (2026 List)
Nine states do not tax wages in 2026. See the full list, the catches in Washington, Tennessee and New Hampshire, and what take-home pay really looks like compared with California and New York.
Form W-4 Explained: A Step-by-Step Guide
A plain-English walkthrough of IRS Form W-4 for 2026: filing status, multiple jobs, dependents, other income, deductions, extra withholding and when to submit a new form.
How to Read a Pay Stub
A line-by-line guide to your pay stub: gross pay, taxable wages, FICA, federal and state withholding, pre-tax and post-tax deductions, year-to-date totals and common errors to check.
Overtime Pay Rules Under the FLSA
How federal overtime works in 2026: the 40-hour workweek, time-and-a-half, the exempt salary threshold, how the regular rate is calculated, state rules and the new overtime tax deduction.
Hourly Wage to Annual Salary: How to Convert
Convert any hourly wage to an annual salary using the 2,080-hour rule. Includes a $15 to $50 table, take-home pay estimates, overtime, part-time and PTO adjustments.
1099 vs. W-2: Which Is Better, and What Does It Cost?
Compare 1099 contractors and W-2 employees: tax treatment, self-employment tax, benefits, classification tests and a worked example showing how much more a freelancer must earn to match a salary.
Self-Employment Tax Deductions for Freelancers
The deductions that reduce a freelancer’s tax bill in 2026: half of self-employment tax, health insurance, retirement plans, QBI, home office, mileage, equipment, and what you cannot deduct.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes: A Complete Guide
How quarterly estimated taxes work: who must pay, 2026 and 2027 due dates, the safe harbor rules that avoid penalties, how to calculate each payment and how to pay the IRS.
How Sales Tax Works by State
Understand U.S. sales tax: state vs. local rates, the five states without a state sales tax, origin vs. destination sourcing, online purchases and what is exempt, with rates for all 50 states and DC.