Tax Guides
Free tax guides with plain-English explanations and live calculators.
Capital Gains Tax: Short-Term vs. Long-Term Rates Explained (2025)
Learn how short-term and long-term capital gains are taxed in 2025, including income thresholds, a worked example, and the Net Investment Income Tax.
Home Office Deduction: Simplified vs. Regular Method (2025)
Learn how to claim the home office deduction using the simplified or regular method, qualifying rules, and how it reduces both income and self-employment taxes.
Marginal vs. Effective Tax Rate: What's the Difference and Why It Matters
Understand the key difference between marginal and effective tax rates, with a 2025 worked example, and learn how to use both for smarter financial decisions.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes: Who Owes Them, When to Pay, and How to Calculate
A complete guide to 2025 quarterly estimated tax payments — due dates, safe harbor rules, and a step-by-step calculation method for freelancers and self-employed workers.
Self-Employment Tax for Freelancers: What You Owe and How to Reduce It
Understand how the 15.3% self-employment tax works, the 2025 Social Security wage base, and strategies to lower your SE tax bill legally.
Understanding Tax Brackets: How the U.S. Progressive Tax System Works
Learn how 2025 federal income tax brackets work, the difference between marginal and effective rates, and a step-by-step worked example.