Paycheck & Tax Guides
Plain explanations of why your deposit is smaller than the salary offer, with the official sources behind each claim and calculators to test your own numbers.
20 detailed state paycheck pages for 2026
The 20 most populous states in the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates. Each existing calculator page now includes state-specific withholding guidance, hourly and salary examples, overtime information, FAQs, and official sources.
Pay basics
How to calculate take-home pay
A good estimate starts with the right earnings period and separates taxes from benefits. Use your pay stub to make each input meaningful.
Pay basicsGross pay vs. net pay: what the numbers mean
Your salary offer, tax wage totals, and bank deposit answer different questions. Understanding the difference makes both budgeting and paycheck comparisons more reliable.
Pay basicsW-2 vs. 1099: why the same pay is not the same take-home
An employee paycheck and a contractor payment have different tax mechanics. Compare the work arrangement and costs—not just the hourly number.
Pay basicsPaycheck deductions explained
“Pre-tax” does not mean exempt from every tax. Identify which wage base each deduction changes and whether it is actually taken out of your cash pay.
Federal taxes
How overtime pay is taxed in 2026
Overtime can increase your withholding without having its own permanent tax rate. The 2026 deduction has specific limits—and does not make your entire overtime check tax-free.
Federal taxesFederal tax withholding explained: your 2026 W-4
Your employer is collecting a payment toward your annual income tax. The W-4 tells payroll how to estimate that payment; it does not determine your final return by itself.
State guides
State paycheck guides: choose the right rules, not just a rate
The right state selection is only the beginning. Withholding certificates, wage definitions, local charges, and where you work can all change your deposit.
State guidesCalifornia paycheck guide: DE 4, income tax, and SDI
California personal income-tax withholding and State Disability Insurance are different deductions. Check them separately before comparing net pay.
State guidesNew York paycheck guide: state, city, and remote-work questions
A New York paycheck can contain more than one income-tax line. Location and state elections matter as much as the salary amount.
State guidesTexas paycheck guide: no state income tax does not mean no withholding
A Texas state income-tax line can be zero while federal taxes and benefits still materially reduce the deposit.
State guidesPennsylvania paycheck guide: state wages and local deductions
Pennsylvania’s flat state rate does not eliminate wage-base differences or local taxes. A federal pre-tax deduction is not automatically a Pennsylvania exclusion.
State guidesMaryland paycheck guide: state withholding is only part of the total
Maryland’s county component can materially change take-home pay. A state-only result is not the full withholding amount for every Maryland worker.
State guidesWashington paycheck guide: no wage income tax, but payroll premiums remain
Washington’s state income-tax line is zero for 2026 ordinary wages, but covered workers can still have state payroll-program deductions.
Guides are editorial explanations, not personalized tax or legal advice. How this site works