Taxes 101
Where your paycheck actually goes
How income tax really works — W-2 vs 1099, marginal brackets, deductions vs credits, and why a refund isn't free money. Stop fearing tax season.
3 lessons · about 18 minutes total · 100% free
Saved on this device only — no account needed.
1. How income tax works (and what W-2 vs 1099 means)
Why a $55,000 salary lands as $1,697 every two weeks, what each deduction funds, and why a 1099 dollar is worth less than a W-2 dollar.
7 min read
2. Tax brackets, deductions & credits — why nobody pays the rate they think
Moving into a higher tax bracket never lowers your take-home pay. Learn how marginal rates actually work, and why a $1,000 credit beats a $1,000 deduction every time.
5 min read
3. What a refund actually is — withholding and the W-4
A refund is your own overpaid money coming back without interest. See where it comes from, what each W-4 step controls, and how to land near break-even.
6 min read