Free, in-depth guides on pay stubs, paycheck calculations, payroll deductions, and everything else you need to understand your earnings.
Learn to read every line of your earnings statement, understand pre-tax vs. post-tax deductions, and catch payroll errors before they cost you.
FICA funds Social Security and Medicare. Learn the 2026 rates, wage base limits, employer matching, Additional Medicare Tax, and how self-employed workers pay both sides.
How federal progressive brackets work, which 9 states have no income tax, how flat vs. graduated state taxes differ, and how employers estimate your withholding.
How overtime appears on hourly stubs, how salary divides across pay periods, the difference between biweekly and semi-monthly pay, and why your check amount can change.
The exact formula — gross minus pre-tax deductions, federal tax, FICA, state tax, and post-tax deductions — with a fully worked numerical example.
The 2020 W-4 redesign removed allowances entirely. Learn Steps 1–5 of the new form, how each affects your paycheck, and when to submit an updated W-4.
A complete step-by-step guide to creating accurate pay stubs for employees or yourself, covering every field and common pitfalls to avoid.
A visual breakdown of every section of a pay stub — earnings, deductions, net pay, and YTD totals — with annotated examples.
Freelancers and independent contractors don't get employer pay stubs — here's what you use instead for income proof, and how self-employment tax works.
Every field on a pay stub explained — from employer and employee info to gross pay, FICA, state taxes, and net pay — with worked examples.
A detailed guide to reading your USPS LiteBlue earnings statement, including premium pay codes, FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, FERS, and leave balances.
Mandatory vs. voluntary deductions, pre-tax vs. post-tax, and how each type of deduction affects your take-home pay and tax liability.
Step-by-step net pay calculation from gross wages through every deduction category, with worked numerical examples for salaried and hourly workers.
Use our free 2026 paycheck calculator to estimate federal and state taxes for any salary across all 50 states.
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