Plain-English guides to paycheck deductions, tax withholding, and pay conversion.
Federal income tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), state tax, and any voluntary deductions come out before you see your paycheck. Here is what each one is and how it is calculated.
Read →Why your 2025 checks did not change, what still comes out of your tips, and how to claim the deduction.
Read →Gross pay is what you earn before deductions. Net pay is what hits your bank account after taxes and other withholding. Here is how to calculate both.
Read →Pay stubs list gross pay, taxes withheld, benefit deductions, and net pay. Here is what every line and code means so you can verify your paycheck is correct.
Read →Federal income tax withholding depends on your gross pay, filing status, and W-4 elections. See the 2025 brackets and how withholding is calculated per paycheck.
Read →FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and covers Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) taxes withheld from every paycheck. Here is how it works.
Read →Divide annual salary by 2,080 to get the hourly rate. Multiply hourly rate by 2,080 to get annual salary. See the formulas, a quick-reference table, and worked examples.
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