Explainers behind the calculators. Each one should end in a number you can run yourself — brackets after the standard deduction, a mortgage PITI split, a 401(k) match formula, or a Roth versus traditional compare on the same paycheck dollars. Guides are written and updated by Greg at Finance Maxx; they are educational, not advice.
The IRS says to request an Identity Protection PIN before its online tool goes down for annual maintenance in mid-November 2026, if you plan to file early in 2027. Who can get one, the three ways to enroll, dependents, income limits for Form 15227, and how to use the six-digit PIN on your 2026 return.
HealthCare.gov open enrollment for 2027 runs Nov 1, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027 (Dec 15 for a Jan 1 start). What changes for the premium tax credit under the 2025 tax law, with dates checked against IRS, CMS, and HealthCare.gov. No repayment cap from 2026, citizenship and immigration limits from 2027, and new checks before enrollment from 2028.
Starting January 1, 2027, a new federal tax credit of up to $1,700 per person ($3,400 for a married couple filing jointly, under proposed IRS rules) pays you back dollar for dollar for cash gifts to K-12 scholarship granting organizations in participating states. Which states are in, how the credit is figured, the state credit and charitable deduction rules, Form 8525, and what is still proposed.
The IRS is automatically refunding adoption credit carryforwards from 2020–2024 on 2025 returns, up to $5,000 per child, for 2025 only. Who qualifies, no amended return needed, what the IRS notice shows, offsets, timing through Dec 31, 2026, and how to fix your carryforward for 2026.
SSA announced a 3.6% COLA for 2027 on October 14, 2026. Average retirement benefit up about $75/month, SSI raise starts Dec 31, 2026, wage base $192,300, earnings test $25,560, max benefit at FRA $4,188, and when your COLA notice arrives.
Extended your 2025 taxes with Form 4868? Your Form 1040 is due October 15, 2026. What the extension covered (filing, not paying), failure-to-file penalties including the $525 minimum, file-even-if-you-can't-pay steps, refunds, and Michigan disaster relief to Nov 2.
Got an IRS CP321J letter? It is an informational notice about the new Saver's Match — a federal deposit of up to 50% of your 2027 retirement contributions, capped at $1,000 per person. Income limits, worked examples, Form 8880-A timing, and what to do (nothing in 2026).
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15–December 7. Review Annual Notice of Change, compare plans at Medicare.gov, and lock in coverage effective January 1, 2027. Prep steps, Medigap caution, and related tax/retirement links. Links the 3.6% 2027 SSA COLA; no invented 2027 premiums.
Notice 2025-67 / IR-2025-111 sets 2026 401(k) deferrals at $24,500 and IRA at $7,500. Catch-up, ages 60–63 super catch-up, Roth MAGI phase-outs, and open-enrollment deferral planning for fall 2026.
Rev. Proc. 2026-24 sets 2027 HSA limits at $4,500 self-only and $9,000 family (+$100 / +$250 vs 2026). HDHP floors, OOP caps, catch-up, and open-enrollment notes for fall 2026 plan elections.
Announcement 2026-11 raised the business mileage rate to 76 cents from July 1, 2026. Use 72.5¢ for H1 miles and 76¢ for H2. Medical/moving 20.5¢ then 23.5¢. Charity stays 14¢.
IRS Notice 2026-60 rates effective Oct 1, 2026. Transportation M&IE $80/$86, high-low $329/$230, incidental $5, transition rules for late 2026, and locality list changes.
How employer contributions to Trump accounts work under IRC section 128. The $2,500 exclusion per employee, W-2 box 12 code TA, FICA still applies, and how the $5,000 account limit interacts.
How the temporary enhanced deduction for seniors works. The $6,000 per person cap, MAGI phaseout, Schedule 1-A Part V, and how it stacks with the extra standard deduction for age 65+.
How the temporary deduction for qualified tips works. The $25,000 cap, MAGI phaseout, tipped occupations list, W-2 box 12 code TP, and why FICA still applies.
How the temporary deduction for FLSA overtime premium works. The $12,500 cap, MAGI phaseout, W-2 box 12 code TT, and why only the “half” of time-and-a-half counts.
How the temporary deduction for interest on a new US-assembled car loan works. The $10,000 cap, first-lien and personal-use tests, negative equity, and why the tax savings are smaller than the interest you paid.
Same extra dollar each month — pay the loan down or invest it — and compare net worth at a horizon, including leftover debt.
How a withdrawal-rate target turns annual spend into a nest-egg goal, and why a constant real return is only a planning shortcut.
Self-only vs family HDHP limits, the age-55 catch-up, and why employer deposits count toward the same IRS ceiling.
How SALT, mortgage interest, and charity stack against this year’s standard deduction — and when itemizing actually cuts federal tax.
Why the fair compare is tax now versus tax later on the same pre-tax contribution, not two equal account deposits.
How a paycheck is split into Social Security, Medicare, federal income tax, and optional 401(k) deferrals — and what this model leaves out.
What Trump Accounts are for kids in 2026, who gets the $1,000 pilot seed, the $5,000 annual contribution limit, tax treatment, and how compounding can grow balances by age 18.
Elective deferrals, employer match formulas, SIMPLE IRA, IRS limits, and Roth IRA MAGI phase-outs in plain language.
Needs, wants, and savings — a flexible split for take-home pay, not a hard rule.
How big a cash buffer to target and how long contributions take to get there.
Why the same dollars may buy less later — and how to read a simple future inflation projection.
When a lower rate is worth the closing costs — cash-flow break-even vs total interest.
Principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and PMI — what goes into a monthly housing payment and how fixed-rate amortization works.
Housing and total DTI rules of thumb, why max home price is not a pre-approval, and how down payment, debts, APR, and taxes change the estimate.
Assets minus debt, a simple goal bar, and why a lightweight snapshot is often enough to stay honest about progress.
Why paying more than the minimum shortens payoff time, how interest is calculated each month, and when a payment is too low to ever catch up.
How a loan payment calculator estimates monthly payment from principal, APR, and term — and why total interest grows with longer terms.
Why time and recurring contributions matter more than chasing the perfect interest rate — for savings, bonds, stocks, and more.
Federal tax brackets explained — they apply after the standard deduction. Marginal vs effective rates, and why a higher bracket does not re-tax all your income.