Tax Guides & Resources
51 state income tax guides and 73 in-depth tax topics, all updated for 2026.
State Income Tax Guides
51 states + D.C.Tax Topics
Self-Employed & Gig
11 guidesNurse Take-Home Pay in Texas
How Texas nurses are taxed on base, overtime, and shift differentials — with real 2026 federal numbers and Texas no-income-tax rules.
Gig & Side Hustle Taxes 2026
A 1099 dollar is worth less than a W-2 dollar. Self-employment tax of 15.3% cuts take-home — see the exact 2026 numbers for gig income.
No Tax on Overtime 2026
The new overtime deduction explained: only the premium half counts, up to $12,500 single — and FICA plus your state still apply.
No Tax on Tips 2026
Up to $25,000 of tips is deductible in 2026 for ~70 listed occupations. What counts, the phase-out, and what it is really worth.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes 2026
Freelancers and gig workers: safe harbor rules, real quarterly amounts, and the January 15, 2027 Q4 deadline.
Solo 401(k) vs SEP IRA 2026
A Solo 401(k) shelters far more than a SEP IRA at the same income — the $24,500 employee deferral is the difference. 2026 comparison.
S Corp vs LLC 2026
Electing S Corp status can cut self-employment tax on your distributions. The dollar difference, the reasonable-salary rule, and when it pays.
Home Office Deduction 2026
Self-employed and working from home? Deduct $5 per square foot (up to $1,500) with the simplified method — or more with actual expenses.
1099 vs W-2: Am I Actually a Contractor?
The recurring r/tax question: is paying you as a 1099 contractor legal? How classification works and what it costs you.
Selling Stuff Online: Do You Owe Tax?
Sold old stuff online? Usually no tax — unless you sold at a profit or you're running a resale business.
Hobby vs Business: Can You Deduct It?
The 3-of-5-year profit test and nine factors that decide if your side project is a business or a hobby.
Family & Credits
13 guidesTwo-Income Couple Tax 2026
Marriage is a wash for equal earners but a bonus for unequal ones. Compare the 2026 marriage bonus and penalty across states.
Child Tax Credit 2026
$2,200 per child under 17, up to $1,700 refundable, and a much higher income limit. What families need to know for 2026.
Earned Income Tax Credit 2026
The government's biggest cash-back credit for working families — up to $8,231. Who qualifies, how much you get, and the income limits.
Child and Dependent Care Credit 2026
The child care credit now covers up to 50% of daycare costs — up from 35%. Expense caps, the new rate, and who qualifies.
Married Filing Jointly vs Separately 2026
Joint almost always wins — a single-earner couple saves $7,500+. The dollar difference and when separate filing actually pays.
Alimony & Divorce Tax 2026
For post-2018 divorces, alimony is no longer deductible or taxable. Child support never was. How divorce money is taxed in 2026.
529 Plan 2026
College savings that grow and come out tax-free — plus state deductions and the new $35,000 Roth rollover for leftover funds.
Premium Tax Credit 2026
The enhanced ACA subsidies expired — the 400% poverty-line cliff is back. Who still qualifies for the health insurance premium credit.
Head of Household Filing Status 2026
One of the most misused — and most valuable — filing statuses. Who qualifies, the $24,150 deduction, and the most common mistake.
Who Can You Claim as a Dependent?
The two types of dependents and the tests for each — child and relative — in plain English.
Education Tax Credits 2026
AOTC vs Lifetime Learning Credit. Which education credit to take, how much each is worth, and the rules.
Foreign Tax Credit
Paid tax to another country? The foreign tax credit stops you being taxed twice. How it works and who it helps.
Solar & Energy Tax Credits 2026
The 30% residential clean energy credit (no cap) and the home efficiency credits — what qualifies and how to claim.
Investing & Capital Gains
5 guidesCapital Gains Tax 2026
Long-term vs short-term capital gains, the 0/15/20% thresholds, and the 3.8% NIIT — how investment profits are really taxed.
Crypto Taxes 2026
Exchanges now report your sales to the IRS on Form 1099-DA. Long-term gains are 0/15/20%, short-term is your bracket — the 2026 rulebook.
Dividend Tax 2026
Qualified dividends are taxed at 0/15/20%, ordinary dividends at your full rate. What makes a dividend qualified and what it saves you.
Home Sale Tax Exclusion 2026
Keep up to $250,000 (single) or $500,000 (married) of home-sale profit tax-free. The 2-of-5-year test, partial exclusions, and what happens above the cap.
Tax Loss Harvesting 2026
Turn losing investments into tax savings — offset gains and up to $3,000 of income. The strategy and the wash-sale rule to avoid.
Home, Real Estate & Wealth
7 guidesSALT Deduction Cap 2026
The state and local tax cap jumped from $10,000 to $40,400 for 2026. Who benefits, the phase-out, and when it flips you to itemizing.
Standard Deduction vs Itemizing 2026
$16,100 standard or itemize with the new $40,400 SALT cap? The decision, the four itemized categories, and worked comparisons.
Mortgage Interest Deduction 2026
Deduct interest on up to $750,000 of mortgage debt — but only if you itemize. The cap, what qualifies, and how the $40,400 SALT cap changes the math.
Gift Tax 2026
Give $19,000 per person with no tax or filing — a couple can give $38,000. The rules, the lifetime exemption, and Form 709.
Rental Income Tax 2026
Rent is taxable — but depreciation, mortgage interest, and repairs can slash the bill. The landlord rulebook and the $25,000 loss exception.
Estate Tax 2026
Almost no one owes federal estate tax — but every heir should understand the step-up in basis. Who owes it and how it works.
Inherited IRA 2026
Most heirs must empty an inherited IRA within 10 years. The rules for spouses, children, and everyone else — and how withdrawals are taxed.
Retirement & Savings
13 guidesYear-End Tax Moves 2026
12 moves to make before December 31: the new $24,500 401(k) limit, HSA top-ups, FSA deadlines, and the new 2026 deductions — with real IRS numbers.
Senior Tax Deduction 2026
Taxpayers 65+ get a new $6,000 deduction on top of the standard deduction — $12,000 for a couple. Here is who qualifies and what it is worth.
Social Security Tax 2026
Up to 85% of your Social Security can be federally taxable. The 2026 provisional-income thresholds, how the 50% and 85% tiers work, and how to keep more untaxed.
Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA 2026
The 2026 IRA limit is $7,500 — but the two accounts are taxed in opposite directions. Income phase-outs and the real decision: your tax rate now vs later.
Best States to Retire for Taxes 2026
Nine states tax nothing, Illinois exempts all retirement income, and a few tax your IRA and pension hard. The 2026 ranking, with real numbers.
401(k) Early Withdrawal 2026
Cashing out before 59½ usually costs a 10% penalty on top of income tax. The exceptions, the Rule of 55, and what a withdrawal really costs.
HSA Triple Tax Advantage 2026
The only account that is tax-free going in, growing, and coming out. The 2026 limits, the HDHP rule, and what it is really worth.
Required Minimum Distributions 2026
Starting at 73, the IRS forces withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s — miss it and pay a 25% penalty. How RMDs are calculated in 2026.
Backdoor Roth IRA 2026
Earn too much for a Roth? The backdoor Roth gets you in anyway — the two-step process, the pro-rata trap, and when it is worth it.
Roth Conversion 2026
Trade tax today for tax-free growth later. When a Roth conversion wins, the 5-year rule, and the tax you pay now.
401(k) vs IRA: Which Should You Max First?
The priority order that wins: 401(k) match, then IRA, then back to the 401(k) — with 2026 limits.
What to Do With Your 401(k) When You Leave
Roll it over without triggering tax or penalties. Direct transfer vs the 60-day rule, and the mistake to avoid.
FSA vs HSA: Which Should You Use?
Use-it-or-lose-it FSA vs the rollover-and-invest HSA. The 2026 limits and which one to pick.
Tax Basics & Planning
24 guidesSoftware Engineer Salary After Taxes in California
How California engineers are taxed on base salary, RSU vesting, and ISO/NSO stock options — with real 2026 federal and California numbers.
New York City vs Texas Take-Home Pay
NYC residents pay federal, New York State, and a city income tax; Texans pay none. See the 2026 take-home gap and cost-of-living reality.
How to Lower Your Tax Bill in a High-Tax State 2026
Legal, practical ways to cut state and federal taxes in California, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, and Minnesota using real 2026 figures.
Remote Worker Tax Guide 2026
Where you live — not where your company is — usually decides your tax bill. Learn the residency rule, convenience states, and the real take-home gap.
Teacher Take-Home Pay Comparison 2026
The same teacher salary keeps very different amounts after tax by state. Compare no-tax, flat-tax, and progressive states with 2026 numbers.
How Are Bonuses Taxed 2026
The 22% supplemental withholding rate is a deposit, not the tax. See when your bonus means a refund — and when you will owe more.
W-4 Withholding 2026
Your W-4 decides whether you owe at filing or lend the IRS an interest-free loan. How to fill it out so you break even in 2026.
Student Loan Interest Deduction 2026
Claim up to $2,500 of student loan interest without itemizing. The 2026 income phase-outs and how much it is actually worth.
Federal Tax Brackets 2026
Every 2026 federal bracket and the standard deduction, plus the marginal-vs-effective insight — with a worked example.
Unemployment Benefits Tax 2026
Unemployment benefits are taxable income — the $10,200 break is gone. How it is taxed in 2026 and how to avoid a surprise bill.
Why Do I Owe Taxes This Year?
The most common question on r/tax every spring. Eight real reasons your refund turned into a bill — and how to fix each one.
Got a Letter From the IRS?
A CP2000 or other IRS notice is scary but usually routine. How to read it, when to respond, and how to spot a scam.
Made a Mistake on Your Taxes?
Missed a 1099 or forgot a deduction? Fix it with a 1040-X. What to amend, what not to bother with, and the deadline.
Can't Pay Your Tax Bill?
Owe more than you can pay? File anyway, then set up an IRS payment plan. Your options and how to avoid the worst penalties.
W-2 Form Explained
Box 1, Box 2, Box 12, the codes — a plain-English walkthrough of every box on your W-2.
Where's My Refund?
How long refunds really take, why yours can be delayed, and what an offset means for your money.
Moving States? Part-Year Resident Taxes
Moved mid-year? You may file in two states. How part-year residency works and how to avoid double taxation.
Filing Taxes for the First Time
First job, first return? A beginner-friendly walkthrough — what you need, free filing, and the mistakes to avoid.
Medical Expense Deduction 2026
Deduct medical costs above 7.5% of your AGI — but only if you itemize. The math, what counts, and who benefits.
Charitable Donation Deduction
Donated this year? The 60% limit, the itemizing catch, and the receipt rules that make your deduction stick.
Tax Filing Extension
An extension moves your filing deadline to October 15 — but not your payment. What it really gives you.
ESPP & Employee Stock Plans
How the 15% employee stock purchase discount is taxed — and the qualifying-disposition timing that saves you.
What Is AGI? Why It Drives Everything
Adjusted gross income explained — what it is, how it's calculated, and why it gates nearly every credit.
What Happens If You Don't File Taxes?
The penalties, the interest, and the collection risk of not filing — plus the simple fix that stops it.
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