About TakeHomeTax
NumbersLab builds free, data-driven financial calculators and comparison tools that help people make smarter money decisions. We pull real market data from authoritative sources — IRS tax brackets and revenue procedures, Zillow ZHVI and ZORI indices for real estate, NAIC insurance data, Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures, and Bureau of Economic Analysis cost-of-living metrics — and turn that raw data into instant, actionable answers.
Our portfolio spans four specialized sites, each focused on a different financial decision: TakeHomeTax for salary and tax analysis, CapRateCity for rental property investment, MortgageMathLab for home buying and mortgage math, and InsuranceCostCity for homeowner insurance costs. Together, they cover the full financial picture of earning, buying, insuring, and investing in property across every US market. We also publish The Numbers Letter, a weekly newsletter breaking down the real math behind money decisions, and produce video content on our YouTube channel.
Every tool we build follows the same principle: source the best available public data, compute accurate results client-side (your data never leaves your browser), and present the numbers with clear context so you can actually use them. No accounts, no paywalls, no selling your data. We believe financial literacy should be free, instant, and backed by real numbers — not guesswork.
Visual breakdowns of tax concepts, salary comparisons, and financial planning strategies. New videos covering topics like "What $100K really looks like in every state" and "The states saving you the most on taxes."
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Four specialized sites, each powered by real market data:
How We Calculate
Our calculations use the latest IRS data for federal tax brackets, standard deductions, Social Security wage bases, and Medicare thresholds. We support both 2025 and 2026 tax years.
Federal tax brackets are sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-11 (for 2026) and Rev. Proc. 2024-40 (for 2025). These include all seven brackets from 10% to 37% for both single and married filing jointly statuses.
State tax rates are updated annually based on data from the Tax Foundation, state department of revenue websites, and legislative updates. We track rate changes for all 50 states including 2026 reductions in Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia.
City and local taxes are sourced from municipal tax authorities for 46 cities across 11 states, including NYC's graduated brackets, Philadelphia's wage tax, Ohio municipal taxes, Maryland county taxes, and Portland metro area taxes.
FICA uses the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500 (2025: $176,100), the 6.2% SS rate, 1.45% Medicare rate, and the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on earnings above $200,000.
OBBBA provisions: Our overtime calculator incorporates the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 4, 2025), which exempts up to $12,500 ($25,000 married) of overtime premium pay from federal income tax through 2028.
Data Sources
- IRS.gov — Federal tax brackets, standard deductions, FICA rates
- Tax Foundation — State income tax rates and brackets
- Bureau of Labor Statistics — Profession salary data
- Bureau of Economic Analysis — Cost of living indices
- State department of revenue websites — State-specific rules and local tax rates
Editorial Standards
Original source data only. Every calculation is built from authoritative primary sources (IRS Revenue Procedures, SSA tables, BLS CPI-U series, state revenue departments). We do not cite secondary aggregators or pull rates from competitor calculators. When a number appears in a tool, we can point to the exact federal regulation, IRS publication, or government dataset that produced it.
Annual review cycle. Every calculator and pillar guide is reviewed each January when the IRS publishes the inflation-adjusted Revenue Procedure for the new tax year. State tax rates are reviewed quarterly to catch mid-year legislative changes. Content stamped with a year (e.g., "2026 federal brackets") reflects the most recent verified rates as of the page's last update date.
Transparent corrections. If we publish an error, we fix it promptly and disclose what changed. See our corrections policy for the process. We welcome reader corrections at the contact address below — accuracy is more important than appearing right.
Methodology disclosure. Every calculator page includes a "Sources & Methodology" box that names the specific IRS sections, regulations, and tables used. We disclose assumptions (e.g., "state tax modeled as flat top-marginal") so users understand what the tool captures and what it doesn't.
Calculations run in your browser. Every calculator computes results client-side. We do not transmit, store, or sell your inputs. See our privacy policy for what we do (and don't) collect.
No AI-generated calculations. The math behind every tool is hand-coded JavaScript using authoritative formulas. AI is not used to produce tax outputs. Written explanations are authored and edited by NumbersLab; we may use AI tools for editing assistance but every published claim is human-verified against primary sources.
Disclaimer
TakeHomeTax is an educational tool, not a tax preparation service. Our calculators provide estimates based on simplified models. They are not a substitute for professional tax advice. For complex situations, consult a qualified CPA or tax professional. See our full terms of service.
Contact
Have a question, found an error, or want to suggest a feature? Reach out at jake@numberslab.xyz or visit the contact page.