https://taxmath.org/articles/ Practical articles about US income taxes, brackets, state comparison, and capital gains. en-us Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://taxmath.org/articles/state-income-tax-rate-changes-2022-2026/ https://taxmath.org/articles/state-income-tax-rate-changes-2022-2026/ Twenty states lowered their top personal income tax rate over five years, three raised theirs, and four abandoned graduated brackets entirely. Every figure here is computed from TaxMath's own rate tables. Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/irs-phasing-out-paper-checks/ https://taxmath.org/articles/irs-phasing-out-paper-checks/ The IRS is pushing all tax refunds toward direct deposit and phasing out paper checks. Here's the timeline, who's affected, and how to set up direct deposit. Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/capital-gains-tax-state-patchwork/ https://taxmath.org/articles/capital-gains-tax-state-patchwork/ Some states tax capital gains as ordinary income, some offer preferential rates, Washington has its standalone 7% tax, and several exempt them entirely. A comparison guide. Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/nine-no-income-tax-states-2026/ https://taxmath.org/articles/nine-no-income-tax-states-2026/ An updated comparison of the nine states with no income tax — what each trades for zero income tax and how total tax burden actually compares at different income levels. Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/bonus-depreciation-2026-small-business/ https://taxmath.org/articles/bonus-depreciation-2026-small-business/ The TCJA's bonus depreciation continues its phase-down to just 20% in 2026, with full expiration in 2027. Here's what business owners should know about the QBI extension and Section 179. Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/when-does-itemizing-beat-standard-deduction-2026/ https://taxmath.org/articles/when-does-itemizing-beat-standard-deduction-2026/ With a higher standard deduction but also a quadrupled SALT cap, the itemizing calculus changed dramatically. Here's the break-even analysis by state, income, and homeownership. Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/schedule-1a-new-tax-form/ https://taxmath.org/articles/schedule-1a-new-tax-form/ The IRS created a new form specifically for the OBBB deductions. Here's what goes on it, how it works with your other forms, and mistakes to avoid. Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/senior-bonus-deduction-2026/ https://taxmath.org/articles/senior-bonus-deduction-2026/ Taxpayers 65 and older can claim an extra $6,000 deduction starting in 2025. Here's how it stacks with existing age-based deductions and what the real-world impact looks like. Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/car-loan-interest-deduction-2026/ https://taxmath.org/articles/car-loan-interest-deduction-2026/ Up to $10,000 in interest on US-manufactured vehicle loans is now deductible. Here's which vehicles qualify, how to claim it, and the actual tax savings at different income levels. Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/trump-accounts-tax-free-savings/ https://taxmath.org/articles/trump-accounts-tax-free-savings/ A new IRA-type account for children born 2025-2028 with a $1,000 government seed, $5,000/year cap, and mandatory index fund investing. Here's everything you need to know. Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/washington-luxury-taxes-2026/ https://taxmath.org/articles/washington-luxury-taxes-2026/ Starting 2026, Washington imposes an 8% surcharge on vehicles over $100K, plus new taxes on recreational watercraft and aircraft. How WA is building a patchwork of targeted taxes. Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/illinois-tax-overhaul-2026/ https://taxmath.org/articles/illinois-tax-overhaul-2026/ Illinois shifted from Joyce to Finnigan apportionment, capped GILTI deductions, and eliminated key expense addbacks — changes that significantly affect businesses operating across state lines. Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/new-york-estate-tax-cliff/ https://taxmath.org/articles/new-york-estate-tax-cliff/ New York's estate tax exemption is $7.35M with no portability and a punitive 'cliff' that can tax your entire estate. A case study in state-federal divergence. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/georgia-eliminate-income-tax/ https://taxmath.org/articles/georgia-eliminate-income-tax/ A Senate committee recommended eliminating Georgia's income tax by 2032. The bill that actually passed does something much smaller: a glide from 4.99% to a floor of 3.99%, with triggers that can pause it. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/washington-state-millionaire-income-tax/ https://taxmath.org/articles/washington-state-millionaire-income-tax/ Washington passed a first-in-the-nation income tax targeting high earners. Combined with the existing capital gains tax, WA's 'no income tax' status is increasingly asterisked. Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/no-tax-on-tips-overtime/ https://taxmath.org/articles/no-tax-on-tips-overtime/ The new tip and overtime deductions sound simple, but the eligibility rules, income limits, and sunset dates create important nuances most coverage misses. Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/estate-tax-exemption-2026-permanent/ https://taxmath.org/articles/estate-tax-exemption-2026-permanent/ The federal estate tax exemption jumped to $15 million per person — and unlike prior law, it's permanent. Here's what changed, and why state estate taxes still matter. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/salt-cap-2026-state-by-state/ https://taxmath.org/articles/salt-cap-2026-state-by-state/ The SALT deduction cap quadrupled from $10,000 to $40,400. Here's how it works, who benefits most, and why high-tax states are celebrating — cautiously. Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/2026-federal-tax-brackets/ https://taxmath.org/articles/2026-federal-tax-brackets/ The widely-feared reversion to pre-TCJA rates never happened. Here's what the 2026 federal brackets actually look like and how they compare to what would have been. Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath) https://taxmath.org/articles/one-big-beautiful-bill-2026-tax-changes/ https://taxmath.org/articles/one-big-beautiful-bill-2026-tax-changes/ A plain-language breakdown of the six new federal tax deductions — tips, overtime, car loan interest, senior bonus, expanded SALT, and Trump Accounts — including who qualifies and phase-outs most people miss. Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT feedback@taxmath.org (TaxMath)