How to use these tools, in order
Start with the paycheck and tax calculators to establish real take-home pay for a salary, a raise or a move between states. Then the retirement calculator for the long projection, the IRA tools to choose where contributions go, and the Social Security and RMD calculators for the two income sources and obligations that arrive on the government's schedule, not yours.
- Keeping more: paycheck, income tax, take-home pay, overtime, capital gains.
- Building more: retirement, Roth IRA, traditional IRA, investment calculators.
- Later life: Social Security estimates and required minimum distributions.
A worked example
On a $95,000 salary, single, in 2026: federal income tax after the standard deduction is about $12,300, FICA takes $7,268, and a 5% state tax adds roughly $4,300 — take-home near $71,100 before benefits and retirement contributions. Saving 12% of gross into a 401(k) removes $11,400 from taxable income and cuts the federal bill by about $2,500, because pre-tax contributions come out of the top bracket first. The paycheck and retirement calculators together show both effects of the same decision.
Mistakes that distort the answer
- Believing a raise can cut take-home pay by crossing a bracket — brackets tax slices, never the whole income at the new rate.
- Comparing job offers on gross salary across states with different income taxes and housing costs.
- Projecting retirement with a return assumption but no inflation assumption; the pair decides the answer, not either alone.
Questions, answered
What is a good savings rate for retirement?
A common planning band is 12–15% of gross income including any employer match, started early. Starting at 35 instead of 25 roughly doubles the required rate for the same outcome.
When do RMDs start?
Required minimum distributions from traditional retirement accounts currently begin at age 73 (75 for younger cohorts under SECURE 2.0). The RMD calculator applies the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table.
Reviewed by Tahir Shehzad, ACMA · Content reviewed November 2026 against primary sources — see our Methodology and Editorial Policy. Figures are educational estimates, not tax or financial advice.
Read deeper
How Federal Income Tax Brackets Work in 2026 (With Examples)
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Read the guideHow to Read Your Paycheck (Pay Stub): Deductions Explained
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