About TakeHome Pay

Our Mission

TakeHome Pay was created to solve a simple but frustrating problem: most people don't know what their actual take-home pay will be until they receive their first paycheck. By then, it's too late to make informed decisions about job offers, salary negotiations, or financial planning—especially when working across borders or in different tax jurisdictions.

We believe everyone deserves transparency about their compensation, whether you're working in the US or abroad. Our calculators provide accurate, instant estimates so you can make better financial decisions—whether you're evaluating a job offer, planning a move, relocating internationally, or simply trying to understand where your money goes.

Based in Silicon Valley, California, we understand the complexities of modern compensation—from RSUs and stock options to international assignments and remote work. Our focus on accuracy, transparency, and real-world scenarios helps professionals navigate today's compensation landscape with confidence.

We take accuracy seriously. Our calculations are based on:

• Official government sources: IRS tax brackets, FICA rates, state revenue department publications, and international tax authority data
• Current tax year: We update our calculations annually (or more frequently for expat scenarios) to reflect the latest tax laws (currently using 2026 tax brackets)
• Standard withholding methods: Our calculations use typical employer withholding practices and official tax treaty provisions
• Transparent methodology: We explain our assumptions and provide detailed breakdowns of every calculation, including cross-border tax scenarios

However, it's important to note that our calculators provide estimates only. Your actual take-home pay may vary based on your specific tax situation, employer policies, and other factors. We always recommend consulting with a tax professional for personalized advice.

We rely on authoritative government sources and official publications to ensure accuracy across all our calculators:

United States

• Federal Taxes: IRS Publication 15-T (Tax Withholding Methods), IRS tax brackets, and Social Security Administration wage base limits
• State Taxes: Official state revenue department publications, tax brackets, and rate tables for all 50 states and DC
• Local Taxes: City and county tax ordinances, local revenue department data, and official tax rate publications
• Income Percentiles: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data and IRS Statistics of Income

International (Expat Calculators)

• Foreign Tax Rates: Official tax authority publications from each country's revenue department (e.g., HM Revenue & Customs for UK, Canada Revenue Agency, Australian Taxation Office)
• Tax Treaties: U.S. Department of Treasury tax treaty documents and IRS guidance on foreign tax credits and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE)
• Social Security Agreements: Totalization agreements and bilateral social security arrangements between the U.S. and partner countries
• Currency Exchange: Real-time exchange rates from authoritative financial data providers for accurate take-home pay conversions

We review and update our data sources annually (or more frequently for expat calculators) to ensure our calculators reflect the most current tax information available. International tax laws and exchange rates change regularly, and we work to keep our calculations current.

We're always working to improve our calculators and resources. If you notice an error, have a suggestion, or have questions about our methodology, we'd love to hear from you.

You can reach us on X (formerly Twitter) at @RealTakeHomePay.