What if?
Run the numbers before you make the call.
Marriage. A raise. Maxing your 401(k). Each one shifts your federal tax bill — sometimes by a lot. Pick a scenario and see the real impact in seconds.
What if I got married?
See whether filing jointly with your future spouse would save you money or trigger a marriage penalty.
A $120k single filer marrying someone earning $40k saves about $2,400/year.
What if my salary changed?
A raise, pay cut, or competing job offer. See the after-tax delta in your take-home, plus your new marginal rate.
A $20k raise often nets only $14k after federal taxes — the rest goes to brackets and FICA.
What if I maxed out my 401(k)?
Pre-tax retirement contributions shrink your taxable income. See exactly how much you save and what it actually costs your paycheck.
Maxing your 401(k) at the $24,500 limit shaves $5,000+ off your federal tax bill.