Key TakeawaysAs a W-2 employee, you pay half of Social Security and Medicare tax through withholding. As a self-employed taxpayer, you pay both halves through self-employment tax. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your adjusted net earnings, and you also pay...
Key Takeaways Use your 2025 return as a diagnostic tool to calculate your real tax percentage and identify specific areas for AGI reduction. Use the post-tax season window to calibrate your withholding or estimated payments. IRS limits have increased for 401(k)s...
Key TakeawaysA federal extension provides six extra months to file, but all taxes owed must still be paid by the April 15th deadline to avoid penalties and interest. For 2026, the IRS assesses a 0.5% monthly failure-to-pay penalty plus 7% annual interest...
Key TakeawaysToday’s tax scams look professional, sound convincing, and are built to get your Social Security number, filing credentials, or signature on a bad return. A big refund promise is one of the clearest warning signs of a scam. You are...
Key TakeawaysA federal tax extension gives you until October 15 to file your individual return, but it does not extend the time to pay tax due. Filing an extension makes sense when your return would otherwise be incomplete or inaccurate. You should consider...
