Blog

Take-home & tax

Take-home and tax posts separate gross raise math from withholding reality. A larger base can change your paycheck by less than the headline percent once federal withholding, FICA sketches, benefits, and retirement deferrals apply—and only dollars above a bracket threshold face a higher marginal rate. This category covers why raises look smaller on the stub, how bonuses differ from base increases for cash flow and taxes, and how raising a 401(k) contribution percentage can absorb part of a new raise on purpose. Treat every after-tax figure as a planning estimate, not filing advice. Update calculator tax fields to a realistic marginal rate, confirm deductions on your stub, and read sibling guides when you need the gross percent story without mixing layers in one sentence.

Start here for the first read in this category.

• All
• Raise math
• Ask for a raise
• Benchmarks
• Take-home & tax
• Inflation & real pay
• For HR & managers