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Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about the calculator, our methodology, and your privacy.
For implementation details, read the TrueTaxRate methodology.
What does TrueTaxRate actually measure?
Your total annual tax burden as a share of gross income — federal income, state and local income, payroll, sales, property, vehicle, gas, and a switchable inflation-tax estimate combined.
Do my inputs leave my browser?
No. Everything is computed locally on your device. We never see your numbers.
How accurate is the estimate?
It is a transparent estimate using 2025 source coverage across federal, state, local, payroll, sales, property, vehicle, and fuel components. Entering W-2 figures and a spending CSV will make it more precise.
Where do the calculator assumptions come from?
TrueTaxRate uses public tax data, including IRS guidance, state tax publications, Tax Foundation sales tax references, and user-entered values. The methodology page explains the major assumptions and limitations.
Why include payroll tax?
Payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) come out of every paycheck. Excluding them would understate what you actually pay.
What is the estimated inflation tax?
The conventional inflation tax is the implicit burden on holders of cash and unindexed nominal assets when government-related money creation contributes to inflation and reduces their purchasing power. TrueTaxRate estimates the household-side burden as the annual CPI-U purchasing-power loss rate multiplied by your average exposed balance. It is included by default but can be switched off.
What balance does the inflation-tax calculation use?
Enter the average amount held during the year in cash, checking, and other unindexed fixed-dollar assets. Do not include stocks, real estate, or inflation-indexed securities. If you leave it blank, TrueTaxRate visibly uses one month of after-tax income and shows a half-month to three-month sensitivity range.
Why include sales tax?
Sales tax is paid throughout the year and usually does not appear on an income tax return. TrueTaxRate estimates it from spending inputs and location-based sales tax rates unless you enter a known amount.
Why include property tax?
Property tax can be one of the largest household taxes. For owners, TrueTaxRate uses the amount entered because the bill depends on the home, locality, assessment, and exemptions. When a renter enters monthly rent, it estimates embedded property tax from a state price-to-rent ratio, effective property-tax rate, and a 70% pass-through midpoint, with a 50%-89% low-confidence range.
Does TrueTaxRate include every possible tax?
No. It focuses on major household tax categories. It does not model every local fee, business tax, deduction, credit, surcharge, or special situation.
Is TrueTaxRate tax advice?
No. TrueTaxRate is an educational estimator, not tax preparation software. It should not be used to file or amend a return or to choose a tax position.
What happens if I upload a file?
CSV and tax-document parsing happens in your browser. Uploaded files are not stored by TrueTaxRate on its servers, and uploaded transaction rows are not used for ad targeting.
Does TrueTaxRate store my exact income or tax numbers?
No account is required, and exact calculator inputs stay on your device by default. The privacy page explains local storage, anonymous analytics, and ad-related disclosures.
Why are some pages noindex?
Utility pages such as results, shared results, unsubscribe, and feedback are meant to support the product workflow. They are not intended to be search landing pages.
Will ads affect my calculator inputs?
No. Ads are not based on uploaded files, raw transaction data, or exact calculator inputs. Content ads are kept separate from private calculator flows.