Tax Guides & Articles
Written by the FiscTalk Editorial Team, checked against primary sources, and dated. Every figure links to the IRS or state source it came from. Below are our most-read guides, followed by the full library grouped by topic.
U.S. federal tax law changes every year — brackets shift with inflation, the standard deduction is indexed, and legislation like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) can permanently alter deductions, exclusions, and phase-out thresholds. Our guides are written to help you understand why a number matters, not just whatit is. Each article cites the IRS revenue procedure, publication, or state statute it draws from, so you can verify every figure independently.
The guides are organized into five topics: Federal Income Tax covers brackets, the standard deduction, itemizing, AMT, and the senior deduction;Planning & Credits walks through the child tax credit, education credits, estimated payments, and high-net-worth traps;State Taxes explains residency rules, convenience-of-employer traps, and the SALT cap by state; Wealth Transfer covers estate tax, gift tax, and the generation-skipping transfer tax; and Crypto & Investmentsaddresses the new 1099-DA reporting rules, cost-basis methods, and QSBS §1202 exclusions.
Every guide is paired with a calculator on the Tools pageso you can move from understanding the rule to modeling your own numbers in the same session. All figures are dated to the 2026 tax year and reviewed against the latest IRS guidance.
Featured guides
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets, Explained
The 2026 federal income tax brackets and standard deduction from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, with real thresholds and a worked example.
Published 2026-08-09 · Federal Income Tax
Standard vs. Itemized Deduction in 2026
Should you take the 2026 standard deduction or itemize? 2026 figures, who benefits from each, and the SALT cap wrinkle.
Published 2026-08-09 · Federal Income Tax
Self-Employment Tax and the QBI Deduction in 2026
Self-employment tax stays at 15.3% in 2026, while the 20% QBI deduction is now permanent with wider phase-out ranges. What owners need to know.
Published 2026-08-09 · Self-Employment
Federal Income Tax
2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets, Explained
The 2026 federal income tax brackets and standard deduction from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, with real thresholds and a worked example.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Standard vs. Itemized Deduction in 2026
Should you take the 2026 standard deduction or itemize? 2026 figures, who benefits from each, and the SALT cap wrinkle.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
The SALT Deduction Cap in 2026
SALT cap rises to $40,400 in 2026 with a high-income phase-down, then reverts to $10,000 in 2030. What itemizers need to know.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
How to Set Your W-4 Withholding for 2026
A plain-language W-4 guide for 2026: use the new form, the IRS estimator, and Pub 15-T tables so you neither owe a surprise nor overpay.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) in 2026
2026 AMT exemption is $90,100 (single) and $140,200 (joint), with phase-out thresholds. How AMT works and who it catches.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
How Much Tax Will I Owe in 2026? $75K–$300K
Worked 2026 federal tax examples for $75,000 to $300,000: federal income tax, FICA, effective and marginal rates, plus state tax notes. Every figure sourced.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
The 2026 Senior Deduction: $6,000 for Age 65+
The OBBBA added a temporary senior deduction for 2025–2028: up to $6,000 (single) or $12,000 (joint) for taxpayers 65+. See who qualifies and how the phase-out works.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Complete Guide to 2026 U.S. Income Tax & Tax Checklist 2026 PDF
Complete 2026 U.S. income tax checklist 2026 pdf guide: federal brackets, standard deductions, filing milestones, and tax document checklists with primary sources.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Child Tax Credit in 2026: $2,200 per Child
The 2026 Child Tax Credit is $2,200 per child, with up to $1,700 refundable as the ACTC. 2026 income limits, SSN rules, and how to claim it on Schedule 8812.
2026-08-14 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in 2026
The 2026 Earned Income Tax Credit is worth up to $8,231 for three or more children. 2026 maximums, income limits, and qualifying rules from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.
2026-08-14 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
2026 Education Tax Credits: AOTC vs. Lifetime Learning
Compare the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit for 2026 — maximum amounts, refundability, the shared MAGI phase-out ($80k–$90k single / $160k–$180k joint), and qualified expenses.
2026-08-16 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
2027 Federal Income Tax: Enacted vs. Pending Changes
The 2027 tax year is mostly settled by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but the exact bracket thresholds and standard deduction won't be official until the IRS publishes them in November 2026. The line between fact and projection:
2026-09-10 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
QSBS Five-Year Hold Rule and the 3-Year Early Sale Option in 2026
Qualified Small Business Stock can exclude up to 100% of gain under Section 1202. The standard hold is five years, but there is an optional three-year path with reduced exclusion. Here's how each works in 2026.
2026-10-12 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
The SALT Cap in 2026 — State-by-State Impact for Itemizers
The 2026 SALT deduction cap is ~$40,800 for married filers and ~$40,400 for singles. Here's how it affects itemizers in high-tax states and what the phase-out means.
2026-10-12 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Crypto Tax Reporting in 2026 — 1099 Forms, Cost Basis, and What the IRS Knows
The IRS now receives 1099-DA forms for most crypto dispositions starting in 2025. Here's what that means for your 2026 return, how to track cost basis, and what to do if your broker didn't report.
2026-10-12 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
2027 Standard Deduction Preview — What to Expect from the IRS Inflation Adjustment
The 2027 standard deduction has not been officially published yet, but we can project it from the 2026 baseline and the IRS inflation formula. Here's what to expect.
2026-10-12 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Self-Employment
Self-Employment Tax and the QBI Deduction in 2026
Self-employment tax stays at 15.3% in 2026, while the 20% QBI deduction is now permanent with wider phase-out ranges. What owners need to know.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Social Security and Medicare Tax Base in 2026
The 2026 Social Security wage base is $184,500; Medicare has no cap. How FICA and self-employment tax work, and where Medicaid fits.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
2026 Estimated Tax Payments: Deadlines & Safe Harbor
Who must pay quarterly estimated tax in 2026, the four due dates (Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, Jan 15), the 100%/110% prior-year safe harbor, and how to avoid the underpayment penalty.
2026-08-16 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Capital Gains
Long-Term Capital Gains Rates for 2026
2026 long-term capital gains brackets (0%, 15%, 20%) and the 3.8% NIIT, with thresholds from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
The QSBS Exclusion in 2026
Qualified small business stock can shield up to $15 million of gain under OBBBA, with graduated 50/75/100% exclusions. Rules and traps.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Estate & Gift
Estate Tax Exemption in 2026: The $15 Million Era
The 2026 federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per person under OBBBA, permanent and portability-friendly. What it means for planning.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Gift Tax Annual Exclusion in 2026
The 2026 gift tax annual exclusion is $19,000 per recipient. How it works, gift-splitting for couples, and how it differs from the $15M lifetime exemption.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
12 States With an Estate or Inheritance Tax in 2026
The 2026 estate-tax map: 12 states plus DC tax estates far below the $15M federal exemption, and 5 states tax inheritances. Exemption thresholds, top rates, and the gap that catches families.
2026-08-18 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
The Estate Tax Sunset Looming in 2026 — What It Means for Your Estate
The 2026 estate tax exemption is $15M per person, but the TCJA sunset is scheduled for 2026. Here's what drops back to, which estates are at risk, and how to plan before the change.
2026-10-12 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
State Taxes
Multi-State Tax Residency and the Convenience Rule
How multi-state residency and the convenience-of-the-employer rule can tax remote workers in a state they never visit. Real state list inside.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
States With No Income Tax in 2026
Eight states have no broad-based income tax in 2026; New Hampshire joined them in 2025. Washington adds a 7% capital gains tax.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Take-Home Pay 2026: What You Keep After Taxes
See how much of a 2026 salary you actually take home after federal income tax, FICA, and state tax — with state-by-state differences explained.
2026-08-09 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
High-Net-Worth
State Income Tax
State Income Tax Changes Taking Effect in 2027
A rundown of state income tax changes scheduled for 2027 — including North Carolina's statutory rate drop and ballot measures in other states — with the caveats that matter for planning.
2026-09-10 · FiscTalk Editorial Team
Remote Work and the Convenience of the Employer Rule — Which States Apply in 2026
The convenience of the employer rule forces remote workers to pay state income tax to their home state even when working from a no-tax state. Here are the states that still apply it in 2026.
2026-10-12 · FiscTalk Editorial Team