Paycheck guides

Short, specific explanations of what happens between your gross pay and your deposit. Every example is computed with the same engine as the calculator.

How to read your pay stubWhat every line on a pay stub means: gross pay, federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, state and local taxes, pre-tax benefits and year-to-date totals.
How your W-4 changes your take-home payA plain-English walkthrough of the 2026 Form W-4: filing status, the Step 2 checkbox, dependent credits and Steps 4(a)–4(c), with each one’s effect on a paycheck.
Why your first paycheck looks differentPartial pay periods, payroll lag, benefit start dates, one-time deductions and W-4 timing: the reasons a first paycheck rarely matches your offer letter.
How the overtime tax deduction worksWhat “no tax on overtime” covers for 2025–2028: the FLSA premium, the $12,500 / $25,000 limits, the phase-out, and why paychecks still withhold on overtime.
Understanding your paycheck deductionsWhich deductions are taxes and which are benefits, which ones lower your taxable wages, and how 401(k), HSA, FSA and health premiums each change your take-home.
Why your bonus looks taxed so muchBonuses are withheld at a flat 22% federal rate or with the aggregate method. Here is why that differs from your real tax rate, with worked examples.
Weekly vs biweekly payHow weekly, biweekly and semimonthly pay compare: checks per year, five-paycheck months in 2026, withholding differences and budgeting tips.