People use our pages to make real decisions about jobs, budgets and moves. These editorial guidelines explain how we make sure our content is accurate, useful and honest.
Accuracy first
Every number in our calculators, tables and articles comes from our tax engine, which applies official rates and thresholds. Writers do not type figures by hand: they use the values the engine produces, so a calculator page and a guide always agree.
How our content is created
- Calculator pages are generated from our tax engine and hand-written templates, and include region-specific information written by our team.
- Guides are researched from official sources, written in plain English and checked against the engine.
- Articles may be drafted with the help of AI writing tools. Every draft is grounded in figures from our tax engine, then reviewed and edited by a person before publication. We never publish AI-generated statistics, quotes or studies.
Sources
We rely on primary sources: tax authorities (IRS, HMRC, CRA, Revenu Québec, ATO), government agencies and legislation. We link to them from our methodology and guides. We do not use other calculator websites as sources.
Clarity
- We answer the reader’s question first, then explain.
- We show the tax year every figure applies to.
- We explain assumptions and limits instead of hiding them.
- We avoid jargon, or explain it when it cannot be avoided.
Independence
Our content is funded by advertising, but advertisers never see, approve or influence our pages. We do not accept payment to rank a state, province or product higher. Ads are clearly separated from content.
Updates
We review tax data and guides at least once a year, before each new tax year, and whenever rules change. The “last updated” date on each page shows when it was last reviewed.
Corrections
If we make a mistake, we fix it quickly and transparently. Readers can report errors through our contact page. Significant corrections to guides are noted on the page.
Not financial advice
Our content is educational. It is not tax, legal or financial advice, and it cannot replace a qualified professional who knows your situation. See our disclaimer.
Our editorial guidelines, step by step
Here is how a new guide moves from idea to publication under these editorial guidelines.
- Choose the question. We start from a question readers ask, such as what a salary leaves after tax or how a rule works, and write the answer first.
- Research the rules. The writer reads the relevant pages of the tax authority and legislation for the tax year covered.
- Get the numbers from the engine. Every example, table and figure is produced by our tax engine, never estimated or copied from another site.
- Write in plain English. The draft explains the rule, the example and the limits, and links to the official sources.
- Review. A person checks every figure against the engine, every claim against the source, and the text for clarity, before the guide is published.
- Maintain. The guide is reviewed again before the next tax year, or earlier if the rules change.
Official sources we rely on
Our primary sources are the tax authorities of the countries we cover. For readers who want to check a rule directly, the main entry points are the IRS, GOV.UK Income Tax rates, the Canada Revenue Agency and the Australian Taxation Office. Our methodology lists the full set of sources behind the calculators.
What we do not publish
- Figures that do not come from our engine or from an official source.
- Statistics, quotes or studies generated by AI, or that we cannot trace to a primary source.
- Rankings or recommendations paid for by an advertiser.
- Personal tax advice presented as a general rule.
How to read our pages
Under our editorial guidelines, each guide states the tax year its figures apply to and the assumptions behind its examples, usually a single employee with one job. If your situation is different, the guide still explains the rule, and the calculator lets you enter your own figures. When a rule depends on personal circumstances, we say so and point to the tax authority or a professional.
Frequently asked questions about our editorial guidelines
Who reviews the content?
Under our editorial guidelines, every article is reviewed and edited by a person before publication, who checks the figures against our tax engine and the claims against official sources.
Do advertisers see articles before they are published?
No. Advertisers never see, approve or influence our pages, and ads are clearly separated from content.
What happens when a reader finds an error?
We check the report, fix the rule or text if it is wrong, and note significant corrections to guides on the page. You can report an error through our contact page.