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Explainers and guides that show their working. Every one names its source and links to the calculator that does the arithmetic, and where a checked date is recorded it is shown beside the source.

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Explainer
Understand 2026 US federal ordinary-income tax brackets and standard deductions, with a worked example and explicit exclusions. US federal rules only; state and local treatment is outside scope.
Source: IRS, tax year 2026 inflation adjustmentsChecked 2 min read
The number it turns on
$16,100
Standard deduction, single or married filing separately

Browse by topic

38 guides and explainers

Tax

Explainer2 min
Understand 2026 US federal ordinary-income tax brackets and standard deductions, with a worked example and explicit exclusions. US federal rules only; state and local treatment is outside scope.
Source: IRS, tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · Checked
Explainer1 min
Understand the 2026 federal taxable-income thresholds for long-term capital gains. Special asset rules, state taxes and individual liability are outside scope.
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32 · Checked
Explainer1 min
United States estimated tax rules address income without sufficient withholding, with annual payment thresholds and scheduled instalment dates.
Source: IRS, 2026 Form 1040-ES · Checked
Explainer1 min
United States federal gift tax distinguishes an annual exclusion for qualifying gifts from the basic exclusion used for estate and gift tax credits.
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32 · Checked
All 11 tax guides

Retirement

Explainer1 min
Understand 2026 federal 401(k) employee deferral limits, ordinary catch-up contributions and the higher catch-up for ages 60 through 63. US federal rules only; state and local treatment is outside scope.
Source: IRS, 2026 retirement contribution limits · Checked
Explainer2 min
Understand 2026 US federal IRA limits, age-50 catch-up contributions and the Roth IRA income phase-out ranges for single and joint filers. US federal rules only; state and local treatment is outside scope.
Source: IRS, 2026 retirement contribution limits · Checked
Explainer1 min
Understand full retirement age by birth year and how early or delayed retirement claims affect benefits. No projected benefit amounts or claiming recommendation.
Source: SSA, retirement age and benefit reduction · Checked
Explainer1 min
US traditional IRA required minimum distributions use an age-based starting rule and an annual table denominator. General federal information only.
Source: IRS, Publication 590-B · Checked
All 10 retirement guides

Housing

Explainer1 min
Understand the parts of a US mortgage payment and why a fixed interest rate does not fix every housing cost. Includes an illustrative calculator example.
Source: CFPB, mortgage payment components · Checked
All 1 housing guides

Saving and banking

Explainer1 min
Understand the standard FDIC limit, ownership categories and the difference between insured deposits and investments. General US information only.
Source: FDIC, understanding deposit insurance · Checked
Explainer1 min
Understand free weekly access to nationwide credit reports and the process for disputing inaccurate information. General US information only.
Source: FTC, free credit reports · Checked
Explainer1 min
US Treasury I bonds have an annual electronic purchase limit, an initial holding period and an early-redemption interest penalty. General information only.
Source: TreasuryDirect, I bonds · Checked
All 3 saving and banking guides

Benefits and family

Explainer1 min
Understand 2026 US federal HSA contribution limits and the minimum deductibles and out-of-pocket ceilings for qualifying high deductible health plans. US federal rules only; state and local treatment is outside scope.
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-19 · Checked
Explainer1 min
The US Child Tax Credit has a per-child maximum, a separate refundable limit and income thresholds. General federal information only.
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32 · Checked
Explainer1 min
The US Earned Income Tax Credit varies with qualifying children and income, with a separate investment-income limit. General federal information only.
Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2025-32 · Checked
Explainer1 min
US Medicare Part B has a standard monthly premium and annual deductible, with higher premiums for some incomes. General information only.
Source: CMS, 2026 Medicare premiums and deductibles · Checked
All 10 benefits and family guides

Work and pay

Explainer1 min
Understand employee Social Security, Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax for 2026, including the wage base and filing-status thresholds. US federal rules only; state and local treatment is outside scope.
Source: SSA, contribution and benefit base · Checked
Explainer1 min
United States federal income-driven repayment plans base payments on income and family size or dependents, with eligibility varying by loan type and disbursement date.
Explainer1 min
United States self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare, with a general net earnings threshold and an income-tax deduction for half.
Source: IRS, Topic 554 self-employment tax · Checked
All 3 work and pay guides
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