Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Real Take Home
General
What is Real Take Home?
Real Take Home is a free online calculator that helps you determine your actual take-home pay after federal taxes, state taxes, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and deductions. We help you compare job offers, plan your budget, and understand the real value of your salary across different states.
Is Real Take Home free to use?
Yes! Our core calculators are completely free with no registration required. We also offer a Premium plan with additional features like unlimited saved calculations, export capabilities, and advanced comparison tools.
How accurate are the calculations?
Our calculations use current federal and state tax brackets, FICA rates, and standard deductions. They provide reliable estimates for planning purposes. However, actual withholdings may vary based on your W-4 elections, additional income, tax credits, and other factors. Always consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Tax Calculations
What taxes are included in the calculations?
We calculate federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security tax (6.2% up to the wage base), Medicare tax (1.45%), and Additional Medicare Tax (0.9% on high earners). We do not include local/city taxes, property taxes, or sales taxes.
Why is my paycheck different from the calculator?
Your actual paycheck depends on your W-4 withholding elections. The calculator uses standard withholding assumptions. If you claim additional withholding allowances or have pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions, your actual withholding will differ. You can adjust pre-tax deductions in the calculator for more accuracy.
Do you include state tax for all states?
Yes! We include tax rates for all 50 states. Nine states have no income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
What about local or city taxes?
We currently do not include local or city income taxes in our calculations. Some cities like New York City, San Francisco, and Philadelphia have additional local taxes. You may want to research local tax rates and manually add them to your calculations.
How often are tax rates updated?
We update our tax rates annually when the IRS and state governments release new brackets and rates, typically in late fall for the following tax year.
Using the Calculators
What is the difference between pre-tax and post-tax deductions?
Pre-tax deductions (like 401(k), HSA, health insurance premiums) reduce your taxable income before taxes are calculated, lowering your tax burden. Post-tax deductions (like Roth 401(k), garnishments) are taken from your paycheck after taxes are calculated and do not reduce your tax liability.
How do I use the Compare Offers tool?
Enter the salary, location, and benefits for each job offer. The tool will calculate the net take-home pay for each and highlight the best offer. You can compare multiple offers side-by-side to make an informed decision.
What is the Net Target Planner?
The Net Target Planner works backwards from your desired take-home pay. Enter how much you want to take home annually, and it will calculate the gross salary you need to negotiate for, considering taxes and deductions.
How does the 1099 calculator work?
The 1099 calculator is for self-employed individuals and contractors. It calculates self-employment tax (both employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare), federal and state income tax, and provides estimated quarterly tax payment amounts.
History & Premium
How is my calculation history stored?
Free users have their last 50 calculations stored in browser local storage. This data stays on your device and is not synced across devices. Premium users get unlimited cloud storage with access from any device.
What do I get with Premium?
Premium includes unlimited saved calculations, cloud sync across devices, CSV/PDF export, unlimited offer comparisons, advanced tax scenarios, ad-free experience, and priority support.
Can I export my calculations?
Premium users can export calculations to CSV or PDF format for record-keeping or sharing with financial advisors.
Technical & Privacy
Do you store my personal information?
For free users, calculations are stored locally in your browser only. We do not collect or store your salary information on our servers. Premium users who create accounts have their data encrypted and securely stored.
Is my data secure?
Yes. We use industry-standard encryption (HTTPS) for all communications. Premium user data is encrypted at rest and in transit. We never sell your data to third parties.
Do I need to create an account?
No account is required for free calculators. Only Premium users need to create an account to access cloud sync and advanced features.
Still have questions?
Can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team.
Email: support@realtakehome.com
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