Financial Knowledge — 2026
The money lesson
most of us
never got
growing up.
California$80,000 / year
Federal Income Taxnational programs, defense, infrastructure
− $8,972Social Security6.2% — your future retirement benefits
− $4,960Medicare1.45% — healthcare for Americans 65+
− $1,160CA State Taxschools, roads, and state services
− $3,6090calculators covering every state and filing type
0states including Washington D.C.
~0%average effective tax rate on an $80k salary
$0cost — free forever, no account, no catch
01
Knowledge
Every deduction explained in plain English — what it is, why it exists, and where your money actually goes.
02
Accuracy
Real 2026 IRS tax brackets, current state income tax rates, and FICA rules updated for this tax year.
03
Freedom
Free to use, no account required, no paywall, no upsell. A tool built because the information should be accessible.
Find your state
Hover any state to see your exact take-home. Click to open the full calculator.
Salary
$
Filing
Paycheck & tax guides
Plain-language explainers on the rules behind the numbers — written and kept current for 2026.
New for 2026The 2026 Overtime Tax DeductionWho qualifies, the premium-only math, and why it isn’t "tax-free overtime."Tax formsYour W-2, Box by BoxWhy Box 1, 3, and 5 differ — and the new Code TT to look for.Job offersYour Real Take-Home From a Job OfferTurn an $85,000 offer letter into an actual monthly number.WithholdingTwo Jobs, One Tax ReturnWhy two jobs almost always means under-withholding — and the W-4 fix.
Browse all guides → Understanding your paycheck is the
first step to owning it.
Take 60 seconds. See exactly where your money goes.
Then decide what to do with that knowledge.