https://taxwren.com/blog Plain-English US tax guides with figures from IRS and state data. en-us https://taxwren.com/blog/net-investment-income-tax https://taxwren.com/blog/net-investment-income-tax The 3.8% NIIT applies when income passes $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint) in 2026. What counts as investment income, how it is figured, with examples. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/child-tax-credit https://taxwren.com/blog/child-tax-credit The 2026 child tax credit is up to $2,200 per child under 17, with up to $1,700 refundable. It phases out above $200,000 ($400,000 joint). Worked examples. Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/fica-tax https://taxwren.com/blog/fica-tax FICA is 6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare from your pay, matched by your employer. Self-employed people pay 15.3%. 2026 rates, cap and examples. Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/long-term-capital-gains-tax-rates https://taxwren.com/blog/long-term-capital-gains-tax-rates 2026 long-term capital gains brackets by filing status, how a gain stacks on your income, short-term rates, the 3.8% NIIT and the 25%/28% exceptions. Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/marginal-vs-effective-tax-rate https://taxwren.com/blog/marginal-vs-effective-tax-rate Your marginal rate is the bracket your last dollar falls in; your effective rate is total tax divided by income. 2026 examples: $75,000 pays 10.2%, not 22%. Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/bonus-tax-rate https://taxwren.com/blog/bonus-tax-rate Bonuses are withheld at a flat 22% federal rate (37% over $1,000,000) plus FICA and state tax, but taxed at your normal rates. Who gets money back and who owes. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/how-are-rsus-taxed https://taxwren.com/blog/how-are-rsus-taxed RSUs are taxed as wages when shares are delivered, with withholding that can be a flat 22%, then as capital gains when sold. An example and the cost basis trap. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/how-much-tax-is-taken-out-of-paycheck https://taxwren.com/blog/how-much-tax-is-taken-out-of-paycheck What comes out of each paycheck in 2026: federal income tax, 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare and state tax, with amounts per paycheck by salary and by state. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/no-tax-on-overtime https://taxwren.com/blog/no-tax-on-overtime How the overtime deduction works in 2026: only the premium counts, up to $12,500 ($25,000 joint), paychecks are still taxed, and how much it saves. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/quarterly-estimated-tax-payments https://taxwren.com/blog/quarterly-estimated-tax-payments The 2026 estimated tax due dates, who has to pay, how much to pay each quarter to avoid a penalty, and how to pay the IRS, with a worked freelancer example. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/social-security-tax-cap https://taxwren.com/blog/social-security-tax-cap In 2026, Social Security tax stops at $184,500 of wages: up to $11,439 for employees and $22,878 if self-employed. Medicare has no cap. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/states-with-no-income-tax https://taxwren.com/blog/states-with-no-income-tax The 9 states with no tax on wages in 2026, what that saves you, and the catches: Washington's capital gains and millionaires taxes, and high sales taxes. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://taxwren.com/blog/tax-loss-harvesting https://taxwren.com/blog/tax-loss-harvesting Sell investments at a loss to cancel out gains, deduct up to $3,000 a year from other income and carry the rest forward, without breaking the 30-day wash-sale rule. Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT