Guides on pay, taxes, and paperwork
Plain-language explainers on pay stubs, withholding, and the paperwork that comes with getting paid — written to actually be useful.
Minimum Wage Increases 2027: Every State Raising Pay on January 1
15 states raise the minimum wage on January 1, 2027: Washington $17.73, California $17.40, Michigan $15.00 and more. Full list, tipped rates, payroll checklist.
IRS Mileage Rate 2026 and 2027: 76¢ Since July, and What's Next
2026 IRS mileage rate: 72.5¢ a mile to June 30, 76¢ from July 1. How to split your miles, reimbursements on pay stubs, and when the 2027 rate is due.
How to Pay Taxes When Self-Employed: 2026 Guide and Example
Self-employed? You pay 15.3% self-employment tax plus income tax in quarterly estimates. A $60,000 example, safe-harbor rules, 2026–2027 due dates, forms.
What Is FUTA Tax? 2026 Rate, $7,000 Wage Base and Form 940
FUTA is a federal unemployment tax only employers pay: 6.0% of the first $7,000, usually 0.6% after the state credit. Example, 2026 rates, Form 940.
Semi-Monthly Pay: Meaning, 24 Paychecks and Per-Check Math
Semi-monthly means paid twice a month, 24 paychecks a year. What it looks like on a pay stub, per-check amounts at common salaries, and vs biweekly.
W-2 vs W-4: What Each Form Does and When You Get It
A W-4 tells your employer how much tax to withhold; a W-2 reports what was withheld. How the two connect, what changed for 2026, and when to update.
Gig Worker Proof of Income: Uber, Lyft, DoorDash & Instacart
No pay stubs from Uber, Lyft, DoorDash or Instacart? Where to download each app’s earnings statements and 1099s, and how to show one monthly income figure.
Proof of Income for an Apartment: What Landlords Accept
What counts as proof of income for an apartment, the 3x rent rule worked out, offer letters, self-employed renters and what to do if you fall short.
How to Make a Pay Stub: Step by Step, With a Worked Example
How to make a pay stub: gross pay, federal and state withholding, FICA, net pay and YTD, worked through on a real Illinois example. Generator, payroll or template.