Category: Paychecks & Work
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April Jobs Report: The Numbers Behind the Headline
Employers added 115,000 jobs in April and unemployment held at 4.3%. Behind the headline: where hiring is real, where it isn’t, and what wages did.
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Renting Out a Room: The Tax Rules Nobody Mentions
Rent a room in your home and the IRS has rules for you, including one that makes short rentals tax-free. Here is how the 14-day rule and Schedule E work.
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Your Final Paycheck: What Employers Owe and When
When must your last paycheck arrive after you quit or get fired? Federal law says next payday; some states say same day. Here’s who owes what, and when.
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The Self-Employment Tax, Explained in One Sitting
The 15.3% self-employment tax funds your Social Security and Medicare. Who owes it, the $400 trigger, the 92.35% quirk, and the deduction that softens it.
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Fired vs. Laid Off: What It Means for Unemployment
Laid-off workers usually qualify for unemployment. Fired workers often do too. How states draw the misconduct line, and what to do the week you lose a job.
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How to Read a Job Offer: Salary Is Only Half the Number
Benefits average roughly 30 cents of every compensation dollar, per BLS data. How to compare two job offers on total compensation, not just salary.
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Side Hustle Taxes: The Quarterly Payment Basics
Earning side income with no taxes withheld? Here’s how IRS quarterly estimated payments, the $1,000 rule, and the safe harbor actually work in 2026.
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What the May Jobs Numbers Mean for Job Switchers
May added 172,000 jobs and unemployment held at 4.3%, but quits are near decade lows. What Friday’s report means if you’re thinking about switching jobs.
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Unpaid Overtime: How to File a Wage Claim That Sticks
Owed time-and-a-half you never got? Filing a federal wage claim is free and confidential. What to gather, how the process works, and the deadlines.
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Retirement Plans When You Work for Yourself
No employer 401(k)? Self-employed workers can shelter up to $72,000 in 2026 with a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k). How each plan works and which fits.