Taxes Made Simple
Capital gains, marginal vs. effective rates, tax-advantaged accounts, tax-loss harvesting, the wash-sale rule, and what to do if you have side income. Educational, not legal advice.
About this course
This course is a sequence. Work through the lessons in order; each one builds on the last. You can skip around, but the order is intentional, and the math compounds in the order written.
Lessons in order.
What 'marginal tax rate' actually means
The most common tax misconception in America: 'I don't want a raise. It'll push me into a higher tax bracket and I'll take home less.' This is wrong. Understanding why is the first step to reading a paycheck like an adult.
Marginal vs. effective tax rate
The difference everyone confuses. Knowing this is the difference between making smart tax decisions and making panicked ones.
Capital gains: short-term vs. long-term
Selling an investment for more than you paid creates a capital gain. How long you held it determines how heavily it is taxed, sometimes by a huge margin.
Which tax-advantaged account to fund first
Different account types in the U.S. get different tax treatment. Knowing the menu is half the battle in personal finance.
Tax-loss harvesting in detail
Beyond the basics: when it's worth doing, how to avoid the wash-sale trap, and why it works best in years you don't expect.
Quarterly estimated taxes for self-employed people
If you have freelance income, side gig revenue, or investment gains, you may need to pay taxes four times a year, not once. Here's the basic structure.
Ready to start?
No signup, no email, no upsell. Free to read, always.