Tax planning hub
Most tax content only shows up in April. This hub is built for the other eleven months, brackets and deductions, but also the mid-year moves, tax-loss harvesting, HSA strategy, equity compensation timing, that actually change what you owe.
How this hub is built
Excludes self-employment tax and quarterly estimated tax content (covered in the freelancer and small business hub) and property tax and capital-gains-on-home-sale content (covered in the real estate investing hub), to avoid duplicating those hubs. Also excludes several near-duplicate articles covering the same ground twice, kept the more complete or more recently updated version of each instead of listing both. Every article and calculator below is live-verified before publishing.
Tax Basics
Brackets, deductions vs credits, and the alternative minimum tax.
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Federal Tax Bracket and Effective Rate Calculator
Estimate 2026 federal income tax, effective rate, and employee payroll tax from entered income and deductions.
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Tax Bracket Fill-Up Calculator
Calculate exactly how much income or a Roth conversion can be added this year before crossing into the next federal tax bracket.
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Marginal vs Effective Tax Rate Calculator
Compare the marginal federal income-tax rate you enter with the effective rate implied by your income and federal income tax entered.
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AMT Calculator
Calculate the Alternative Minimum Tax using the real AMT formula: AMT taxable income minus a phased-out exemption, taxed at 26% or 28%, owed only if it exceeds regular tax liability.
2026 Tax Brackets: How Federal Income Tax Rates Actually Work
See the seven 2026 federal tax brackets, how marginal vs effective rates work, the 2026 standard deduction, and why a raise never taxes all your income higher.
Tax Brackets Explained: How the U.S. Progressive Tax System Works
Most people misunderstand how tax brackets work. They think earning more money can put them in a higher bracket and reduce take-home pay. That is not how it works. Here is the actual math.
Tax Deductions vs. Tax Credits: What's the Difference?
Deductions reduce your taxable income; credits reduce your tax bill directly. A $1,000 credit is worth more than a $1,000 deduction for almost every taxpayer. Here's how each type works and which ones matter most.
What Is the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and Who Pays It?
The AMT is a parallel tax system designed to ensure high earners pay a minimum amount regardless of deductions. Most middle-income filers no longer trigger it after the 2017 tax law. Here's who still does and how to know if you are at risk.
State, Payroll & Retirement Tax
State-specific calculators and the tax side of retirement income.
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California Income Tax Planning Calculator
Estimate federal and California income tax using the latest published filing-status schedules and standard deductions. Educational estimate; credits and special adjustments are excluded.
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New York Income Tax Planning Calculator
Estimate federal and New York income tax using the latest published filing-status schedules, excluding recapture and local tax. Educational estimate; credits and special adjustments are excluded.
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Texas Income Tax Planning Calculator
Estimate federal and Texas income tax using no individual income tax. Educational estimate; credits and special adjustments are excluded.
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Flat-Rate State and Local Tax Estimator
Estimate state and local income tax from rates and deductions you enter. This is a flat-rate planning estimate, not a state-specific tax return calculation.
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Multi-State Residency Tax Calculator
Combine two entered state income allocations and effective-rate scenarios without claiming a return calculation.
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Social Security Payroll Tax Calculator
Estimate the employee OASDI tax on entered W-2 wages using the verified 2026 wage base.
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Retirement State Tax Relocation Planner
Compare retirement relocation after state income tax, pension and Social Security exemptions, property tax, housing cost difference, moving cost, break-even years, and net annual lifestyle value.
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Retirement Tax Stack Planner
Size a pre-retirement Roth conversion corridor across tax bracket room, IRMAA headroom, Social Security taxation, NIIT exposure, RMD pressure, and cash-bucket needs.
Deductions & Credits
Standard vs itemized, the SALT cap, and the credits most people miss.
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Standard vs Itemized Deduction Calculator
Compare the 2026 federal standard deduction with entered itemized amounts in a scoped federal planning estimate.
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Itemize or Standard Deduction Screening Calculator
Compare entered itemized deductions with 2026 standard-deduction and SALT-cap assumptions.
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Child Tax Credit Calculator
Estimate the nonrefundable 2026 federal Child Tax Credit after the income phaseout. This planning tool does not estimate the refundable Additional Child Tax Credit.
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EITC Calculator
Screen the 2026 Earned Income Tax Credit using published maximums, thresholds, child count, filing status, and investment income.
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Charitable Deduction Limits Estimator
Screen cash and appreciated-stock gifts against separate common AGI limits without presenting a mixed-gift total as a final deduction.
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Traditional IRA Deduction Calculator
Estimate a 2026 traditional IRA deduction using workplace-plan coverage, spouse coverage, filing status, MAGI, age, and contribution.
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Mortgage Interest Deduction Calculator
Estimate whether potentially deductible mortgage interest creates federal tax value after the 2026 standard deduction.
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Student Loan Interest Deduction Calculator
Estimate the 2026 student-loan-interest deduction, including an explicit zero result for married filing separately.
Standard Deduction vs. Itemizing: Which Should You Choose?
The 2017 tax law nearly doubled the standard deduction, and now roughly 90% of filers take it. But itemizing still saves money for homeowners with large mortgage interest, high state taxes, or significant charitable giving.
The New $40,000 SALT Cap: Should You Itemize in 2026?
The new $40,000 SALT cap changes who should itemize in 2026. Compare your deductions, see dollar impacts, and decide the right filing strategy for you.
New for 2026 (OBBBA)
The no-tax-on-tips, overtime, and car-loan-interest provisions, and who actually qualifies.
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2026 OBBBA Selected-Provisions Scenario
Illustrate selected 2026 OBBBA deduction and credit scenarios using user-confirmed eligible amounts.
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Car Loan Interest Deduction Calculator
Estimate a qualified passenger-vehicle loan-interest deduction after an entered filing-status and MAGI phase-out scenario.
Not All Your Overtime Is Tax-Free. The Word That Decides It Is 'FLSA'.
The new overtime deduction is real and worth up to $12,500. But it only covers overtime that federal law requires, which means the extra pay from your union contract, your state rules, or your employer's own policy may not count at all.
The Tip Deduction Rewards the Tips You Reported. The Ones You Did Not Were Never Eligible.
The new deduction can shelter up to $25,000 of tips from federal income tax. But it only counts tips that were reported, in occupations the IRS has put on a list. The cash that never made it onto a pay stub was never going to qualify.
The New Car Loan Tax Break Is Not Worth $10,000 to You. Here Is What It Is Actually Worth.
The headline number is $10,000. The number that lands in a typical buyer's pocket is closer to $700, and only if the car clears three rules most people have not read. The cap is not the story. Eligibility is.
Investment & Capital Gains Tax
Short vs long-term gains, crypto, and the net investment income tax.
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Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Apply user-entered federal tax-rate scenarios to a nonnegative stock or crypto gain.
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NIIT Calculator
Estimate the 3.8% NIIT on the lesser of entered net investment income or MAGI above the filing-status threshold.
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Portfolio Income Tax Calculator
Apply two entered rates to favorable and ordinary portfolio-income buckets.
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Taxable vs Tax-Advantaged Calculator
Compare simplified after-tax taxable and tax-deferred annual-contribution scenarios, including final taxable-gain tax.
Capital Gains Tax Explained: Rates, Rules, and How to Minimize It
Capital gains tax applies when you sell an investment for more than you paid. The rate depends on how long you held it and your income. Here's how it works and the legal strategies to reduce it.
Short-Term vs Long-Term Capital Gains Tax 2026: What the Difference Costs You
Short-term vs long-term capital gains tax rates explained with real dollar math. See how waiting one extra month can save thousands, and when short-term sale still makes sense.
Cryptocurrency Taxes in 2026: How Crypto Is Taxed and Reported
A plain-English guide to cryptocurrency taxes in 2026: crypto as property, taxable events, short vs long-term gains, cost basis, the new 1099-DA, and recordkeeping.
Interest, Cash & Fund Tax
Why savings interest and CD income get taxed differently than you might expect.
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ETF vs Mutual Fund Tax Cost Calculator
Compare two entered annual taxable-distribution scenarios while holding gross return constant.
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Muni Bond Tax-Equivalent Yield Calculator
Estimate tax-equivalent yield using entered tax assumptions for the taxable comparator.
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Savings vs Money Market Fund After-Tax Yield Planner
Compare savings and Treasury-heavy money market funds after federal tax, state tax, state-exemption assumptions, and deposit-insurance tradeoffs.
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State Tax Impact on Cash Yield Calculator
Compare after-tax cash yields when state income tax changes the real return on savings, CDs, and Treasury-heavy cash options.
Do You Pay Taxes on High-Yield Savings Interest? The 1099-INT Surprise
Savings interest is taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate, not the lower capital-gains rate. As yields rose, ordinary savers got a 1099-INT for the first time. Here is what you owe and when.
Phantom Income: Why Your CD Is Taxed Before You Ever See the Money
A multi-year CD can generate a tax bill every year on interest you cannot touch until maturity. Here is how the phantom-income surprise works and how to plan around it.
Equity Compensation & Bonus Tax
RSUs, stock options, ESPPs, and bonus withholding.
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RSU Vest Withholding and Tax Reserve Calculator
Estimate supplemental withholding, employee payroll tax, state tax, and an entered-rate federal reserve for an RSU vest.
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Bonus Tax Calculator
Estimate take-home cash from a bonus using entered regular wages, filing status, supplemental withholding, payroll taxes, and a user-set reserve.
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ESPP Qualifying vs Disqualifying Disposition Calculator
Compare simplified federal tax components for qualifying and disqualifying Section 423 ESPP sales.
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ISO Exercise Calculator
Estimate ISO exercise cash and a simplified AMT reserve from positive spread and a user-entered tax-rate assumption.
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NSO Exercise Calculator
Estimate a nonnegative NSO spread, entered-rate tax reserve, and cash requirement.
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Concentrated Stock Diversification Calculator
Estimate a pro-rata gain and tax scenario for selling an entered share of a concentrated position.
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Liquidity Event Tax Calculator
Combine entered federal, NIIT, and state rate scenarios for a liquidity-event gain.
RSU Tax 2026: Close the Withholding Gap Before April
RSU tax 2026 rules mean your employer withholds just 22%, but your real rate may be 32%+. Learn to calculate the gap, avoid penalties, and keep more.
Bonus Tax 2026: How Your Bonus Is Really Taxed
Understand bonus tax 2026 rules: the 22% federal withholding rate, FICA, state taxes, and how to calculate what you actually owe. Includes worked examples.
Tax-Advantaged Accounts
HSAs, FSAs, and the accounts that shelter income from tax entirely.
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HSA Calculator | Health Savings Account Growth Calculator
Project HSA growth while capping entered employer and employee deposits at selected 2026 IRS limits.
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HSA Triple-Tax Advantage Planner
Model the current HSA limit, employer contribution interaction, catch-up eligibility, payroll tax savings, projected growth, and banked medical receipts.
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HDHP/HSA vs PPO Decision Planner
Compare HDHP/HSA and PPO plans after premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, employer HSA money, tax savings, expected medical use, worst-case exposure, and cash-reserve readiness.
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Healthcare FSA Election Planner
Choose a healthcare FSA election after tax savings, employer contributions, predictable expenses, rollover or grace-period protection, use-it-or-lose-it risk, and paycheck impact.
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Dependent Care FSA Decision Planner
Decide how much to elect for a Dependent Care FSA after tax savings, employer contributions, plan fees, dependent-care credit tradeoffs, reimbursement timing, and uncovered childcare costs.
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529 State Deduction Scenario Estimator
Estimate a state income-tax deduction scenario from user-entered contribution, deduction percentage, cap, and marginal state rate; verify current state rules separately.
What Is an HSA? The Triple Tax Advantage Explained
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is the only account in the U.S. tax code that offers a tax deduction on contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals, all three. Here's who qualifies, how to use it, and why it functions as a retirement account.
HSA vs FSA: Which One, and Can You Have Both?
An HSA is yours forever and rolls over; an FSA is use-it-or-lose-it and tied to your employer. You generally cannot fund both. Here is the decision, the HDHP catch, and the one exception.
The Best Retirement Account in the Tax Code Is Disguised as a Medical Account.
Most people treat their HSA like a checking account for copays. Used that way, it is fine. Used the way the tax code actually allows, it is the only account that is never taxed going in, growing, or coming out.
The Cash in Your HSA Is Probably Earning 0.05%. The Same Dollars Could Earn the Top Rate.
Most HSA administrators pay almost nothing on the cash balance, often around 0.05%. On a typical balance that gap costs real money every year. Here is how to fix it without losing the tax break.
Tax-Loss Harvesting
Turning a down year in the market into a real tax benefit.
Tax Loss Harvesting 2026: The Complete Strategy Guide
Master tax loss harvesting 2026 with wash sale rules, ETF swap pairs, dollar-impact tiers, and a step-by-step annual workflow to reduce your investment taxes.
Tax-Loss Harvesting Is a December Ritual. That Is Exactly Why You Should Do It in June.
Everyone waits until year-end to harvest losses, which means everyone competes for the same dips at the same time and forfeits six months of flexibility. The losses sitting in your account right now spend just as well in summer.
Filing & Refunds
How to file, get a bigger refund honestly, and plan taxes year-round instead of in April.
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Federal Tax & Refund Estimator
Estimate 2026 federal income tax and withholding difference for single or married-filing-jointly scenarios.
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Federal Paycheck Withholding Planning Estimate
Estimate 2026 federal withholding using filing status, pre-tax adjustments, credits, and user-entered refund or balance-due target.
How to File Taxes in 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time and Repeat Filers
Learn how to file taxes in 2026: who must file, which documents to gather, standard vs itemized, free and paid filing options, deadlines, credits, and what to do if you owe.
How to File Taxes for the First Time: A Beginner's Checklist
Filing taxes for the first time is simpler than it looks. Here's exactly what to gather, which free filing options to use, what the forms are asking, and how to avoid the most common first-timer mistakes.
How to Get a Bigger Tax Refund (Without Breaking the Law)
A bigger refund means you overpaid taxes during the year, but there are legitimate ways to reduce your tax bill overall and receive more back. Here's what actually works.
Where to Put Tax Refund: A Step-by-Step Priority Guide
A step-by-step guide on where to put tax refund money, from paying high-interest debt to funding a Roth IRA, so every dollar moves your finances forward.
Stop Giving the IRS an Interest-Free Loan: Tune Your Withholding and Earn the Float
A big tax refund means you overpaid all year and the government held your money for free. At today's savings rates that forgone interest is real. Here is how to adjust your withholding and keep it.
The Year-Round Tax Playbook: A System, Not an April Scramble (2026)
Most people think about taxes once a year, in April, which is precisely when almost nothing can still be changed. This is the complete year-round system: a month-by-month calendar of the moves that actually cut your bill, when each one closes, and the 2026 numbers that anchor them.
Year End Tax Planning: 12 Moves to Make Before December 31
A complete year end tax planning guide with 12 deadline-driven moves ranked by dollar impact. Maximize deductions, harvest losses, and convert smartly.
Gift & Estate Tax
Annual exclusions, lifetime exemptions, and giving appreciated assets instead of cash.
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Gift Tax Annual Exclusion Calculator
Estimate 2026 present-interest annual-exclusion capacity and flag Form 709 review without calculating gift tax.
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Gift and Estate Exemption Planner
Track entered federal exemption usage using taxable gifts after annual exclusions.
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Federal and State Estate Tax Screening Calculator
Screen a taxable estate using entered assets, debts, deductions, exemption, and marginal estate-tax rate; confirm current federal and state rules with a professional.
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Estate Liquidity Calculator
Estimate a flat-rate federal estate-tax and liquidity scenario from user-entered assumptions.
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Donor-Advised Fund Bunching Calculator
Compare federal deduction scenarios for annual giving versus donor-advised-fund bunching using current assumptions you enter.
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Charitable Giving Appreciated Stock Calculator
Estimate tax-effect scenarios for a direct appreciated-stock gift without determining deductibility.
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GRAT Calculator
Model a simplified zeroed-out GRAT annuity and remainder scenario using entered growth and Section 7520 rates.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit?
A deduction reduces the income you're taxed on, so its value depends on your tax bracket. A credit reduces your tax bill directly, dollar for dollar, regardless of bracket, which usually makes a credit worth more than a deduction of the same face amount. The Child Tax Credit is a credit; the standard deduction is a deduction, they work differently even though both lower what you owe.
Should I itemize or take the standard deduction?
Itemize only if your total eligible deductions, mortgage interest, state and local taxes up to the SALT cap, charitable giving, exceed the standard deduction amount for your filing status. For most filers since the standard deduction roughly doubled in 2017, itemizing no longer makes sense, but it's worth running the actual comparison, especially in a high-property-tax state or a year with a large charitable gift.
How does tax-loss harvesting actually save money?
Selling an investment at a loss lets you use that loss to offset capital gains elsewhere in your portfolio, and up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year if losses exceed gains, with any excess carried forward to future years. The wash-sale rule blocks the deduction if you buy a substantially identical investment within 30 days before or after the sale, which is why the swap goes into a similar but not identical fund, not back into the same one.
Is an HSA really worth calling a retirement account?
It has a genuine triple tax advantage no other account matches: contributions are pre-tax, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free. After 65, you can withdraw for any reason and just pay ordinary income tax, the same as a traditional 401(k), which is why some people treat it as a stealth retirement account rather than spending it down on medical costs each year.
How do I avoid owing a big tax bill or getting an underpayment penalty?
The IRS generally requires you to pay at least 90% of your current year's tax liability, or 100-110% of last year's, through withholding or estimated payments during the year, not just at filing time. If your income includes bonuses, RSUs, or freelance work where too little gets withheld automatically, checking your withholding mid-year rather than waiting until April is the most reliable way to avoid a penalty.