Guides
Plain answers to money, tax, pay and contract questions, each with worked figures, official sources and a calculator to try your own numbers.
UK pay and tax
HMRC tax refund: are you owed money back and how do you claim it?
Owed an HMRC tax refund? See the 8 main reasons, which form to use (P800, P50, P87, P55, R40), how long it takes and why 2022/23 claims close on 5 April 2027.
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How to read your payslip: every line explained, with an example
How to read your payslip line by line, with a worked £32,000 example for September 2026, plus the 6 reasons take-home pay drops and how to spot an error.
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Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: does it apply to you, and when?
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax covers income over £50,000 from April 2026, then £30,000 and £20,000. Check if you're in, your start date and what to send.
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National Insurance rates 2026/27: what you pay and how it works
National Insurance rates 2026/27: employees pay 8% from £12,570 to £50,270, employers 15% above £5,000, self-employed 6%. Worked examples and gap deadlines.
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Payments on account: when they're due and how to reduce them
Payments on account explained: 2 payments due 31 January and 31 July, the £1,000 and 80% tests, a dated £40,000 example and how to reduce them with SA303.
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Tax year dates UK: when the tax year starts, ends and what is due
Tax year dates for the UK: 2026/27 runs 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. See every key deadline for 2026/27 and 2027/28, from P60s to Self Assessment.
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The 60% tax trap: how the £100,000 Personal Allowance taper works
The 60% tax trap hits income from £100,000 to £125,140, where each extra £1 loses up to 62p. See 2026/27 examples and how salary sacrifice gets it back.
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Capital gains tax on selling a second home or buy-to-let (UK, 2026/27)
Capital gains tax on selling a second home or buy-to-let in 2026/27: 18% or 24% above a £3,000 allowance, paid in 60 days. See costs you can deduct.
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Emergency tax: how it works and how to get your money back
Emergency tax on 1257L W1, M1 or X explained for 2026/27, with worked examples of what it takes and how to get it back through payroll, a P800 or form P55.
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High Income Child Benefit Charge: how it is worked out and cut
High Income Child Benefit Charge explained: 1% of Child Benefit per £200 over £60,000. See 2026/27 figures, pay it via PAYE and cut it with pension payments.
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How to compare two job offers properly
How to compare job offers in 2026: take-home pay, pension or 401(k) match, commute and holiday. A £46,000 hybrid job beat £50,000 by £2,786 a year.
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Is salary sacrifice worth it? How much you actually save
Is salary sacrifice worth it? At £35,000 it saves £140 a year on a 5% pension against net pay. See £60,000 and £110,000 figures and the 2029 change.
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Marriage Allowance: who qualifies and how much it saves
Marriage Allowance moves £1,260 of Personal Allowance to your partner and saves up to £252 in 2026/27. Check who qualifies and backdate to 2022/23.
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Pay rise take home: how much of a UK pay rise will you actually keep?
Pay rise take home in 2026/27: keep 72p of each £1 at basic rate, 58p at higher rate and 38p over £100,000. Worked examples, Child Benefit and loans.
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Pension tax relief: how it works and how to claim the higher rate
Pension tax relief explained: why £100 in your pension costs £80, £60 or £55, the 3 ways it is given, and how to claim the extra 20% or 25% from HMRC.
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Is redundancy pay taxed? What is tax-free and what is not
Is redundancy pay taxed? The first £30,000 is tax-free, but notice pay and holiday pay are taxed in full. See the tax on a £45,000 package and how to reclaim.
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Why is my tax code wrong? What it means and how to fix it
Tax code wrong? See what 1257L, 0T, BR, W1, M1 and K codes mean, why HMRC changes them and how to fix yours online, with a reply in 15 working days.
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US pay and tax
Child tax credit 2026: amount, income limits and who qualifies
The child tax credit 2026 is $2,200 per child under 17, with up to $1,700 refundable. See the $200,000 income limit, SSN rules and 3 worked examples.
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Earned income tax credit: who qualifies and how much you get
Earned income tax credit worth up to $8,046 for 2025 and $8,231 for 2026. Check the income limits, child rules and age limits, and work out your credit by hand.
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Federal Tax Brackets 2026 and 2025: Rates for Every Filing Status
Federal tax brackets 2026 and 2025 for single, joint, separate and head of household filers, with a $75,000 worked example showing your real effective rate.
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How much federal tax is withheld from my paycheck in 2026?
How much federal tax is withheld from my paycheck? $193.08 on $60,000 single, bi-weekly, in 2026. See the IRS method, each W-4 step and how to change it.
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How many paychecks in a year? 26, 27, 24 or 52, with 2026 dates
How many paychecks in a year: 52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semimonthly, 12 monthly. See the 2026 dates, 3-paycheck months and what a 27th check does to tax.
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Long term capital gains tax: 2026 rates, brackets and examples
Long term capital gains tax is 0%, 15% or 20% in 2026, with 0% up to $49,450 single. See brackets, how gains stack on income, NIIT and worked examples.
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What is OASDI tax on my paycheck? The 6.2% Social Security tax
OASDI tax is the 6.2% Social Security deduction on your paycheck, charged on wages up to $184,500 in 2026. See when it stops and how to claim excess back.
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What is SDI on my paycheck? California’s 1.3% deduction explained
SDI on your paycheck is California State Disability Insurance at 1.3% of all wages in 2026. See every state’s rate and what $85,000 costs you.
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Canada pay, tax and benefits
Canada tax brackets 2026: federal and provincial rates explained
Canada tax brackets 2026: 14% federal on the first $58,523, plus every province's rates, the basic personal amount and a worked $80,000 Ontario example.
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Disability tax credit: who qualifies, what it is worth and back pay
The disability tax credit amount is $10,341 for 2026, cutting federal tax by up to $1,448. See who qualifies, how to apply and how 10-year back pay works.
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How CPP is calculated: drop-outs, YMPE, start age and 2026 amounts
How CPP is calculated in 2026: the 8-year drop-out, the $74,600 YMPE, 0.6% less a month before 65, and worked examples at 60, 65 and 70 you can check.
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RRSP withdrawal tax: withholding rates, the real tax and how to cut it
RRSP withdrawal tax: 10%, 20% or 30% is withheld, but you owe your marginal rate. See a $20,000 Ontario example and 6 legal ways to pay less tax.
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TFSA over-contribution: the 1% tax, the withdrawal trap and the fix
TFSA over-contribution is taxed at 1% a month on the highest excess. See a dated worked example, the RC243 deadline of 30 June and how to ask for a waiver.
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OAS clawback: how the recovery tax is worked out and how to cut it
OAS clawback explained: you repay 15% of net income above $93,454 (2025) or $95,323 (2026). See a worked $110,000 example and 6 ways to reduce it.
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UK home costs
What happens if you don't pay Council Tax, and how to stop it
What happens if you don't pay Council Tax: 7-day reminders, court costs, bailiff fees of £79 and £247 from May 2026, and how to stop arrears growing.
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Council Tax bands explained: what each costs and how to find yours
Council Tax bands A to H (A to I in Wales): 1991 and 2003 values, what each band pays against Band D, and 2026/27 costs in Leeds, Glasgow and Cardiff.
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Council Tax when moving house: who to tell, what you pay and refunds
Council Tax when moving house: tell both councils, pay each only for your days, and claim a refund. A 2026/27 example of a move on 15 November, split by day.
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Mansion tax: what the £2m council tax surcharge will cost you
The mansion tax adds £2,500 to £7,500 a year to Council Tax on homes in England worth £2m or more from April 2028. See who pays, the bands and deferral.
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Think your Council Tax band is wrong? How to check and challenge it
Council Tax band is wrong? Check neighbours' bands free, challenge within 6 months, and see the risk: Band D to C saves £262.54 a year in Birmingham in 2026/27.
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Which Council Tax discount can you get? Every reduction explained
Council Tax discount rules for 2026/27: 25% for living alone, 50% or 100% for students and carers, a band lower if disabled, plus how to claim and backdate it.
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Should I overpay my mortgage or save? The rate test, with examples
Should I overpay my mortgage or save? £200 a month extra on a £200,000 4.5% mortgage saves £36,280 of interest. Compare it with savings after tax.
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Stamp duty on second home purchases: rates, examples and refunds
Stamp duty on second home and buy-to-let purchases: 5% extra in England, 8% ADS in Scotland, Wales's higher rates, and how to reclaim it within 3 years.
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Energy bills
Energy price cap explained: rates from 1 October 2026 and your bill
The energy price cap is £1,723 a year from 1 October 2026. See the unit rates, standing charges and regional rates, and what it means for your own bill.
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Is Economy 7 worth it? Hours, price cap and the night-use break-even
Is Economy 7 worth it? With example 32p day and 15p night rates you need 33.4% of use at night to beat the single rate. See your hours and the cap.
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Standing charge vs unit rate: which energy tariff is cheaper for you?
Standing charge vs unit rate explained with the October 2026 cap: find the break-even kWh where a low standing charge tariff beats 54.83p a day.
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Scams, complaints and your rights
Zelle scams: how they work, what they look like and how to spot them
Zelle scams explained: the 6 most common tricks, from fake bank alerts to "accidental" payments, the red flags, and what Regulation E covers if you pay.
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How to file a CFPB complaint, what happens next and does it work
How to file a CFPB complaint: what you need, the 15-day company response and 60-day final answer, 2026 changes, and how often complaints get relief.
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Debt snowball vs avalanche: which is better, and which is faster?
Debt snowball vs avalanche compared on $15,500 of debt: the avalanche saved $549 and 1 month. See when the snowball costs little and pick your plan.
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How to get your HR file from an employer: UK subject access request
Get your HR file with a subject access request: your employer has 1 month to send your file, emails and meeting notes. See what it can withhold and the dates.
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How much notice do I need to cancel a contract or subscription?
How much notice to cancel a contract: your terms set it, months run to the same date, and UK law gives 14 days to cancel online deals. UK and US rules.
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Section 75 or chargeback: which should you use to get your money back?
Section 75 or chargeback? Section 75 covers credit card items from £100 to £30,000; chargeback covers debit cards within about 120 days. Pick the right claim.
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