Get the Playbook · $12
First Paycheck & Tax Playbook

Your offer said $45,000. Your first paycheck said $1,286. Here's where the rest went.

Your pay stub, the W-4, tax brackets, the 401(k) match, benefits and your first tax return, explained in plain English with the real 2026 IRS numbers. Made for your first job.

Get the Playbook · $12

One-time payment · Instant PDF download · 30-day refund

First Paycheck and Tax Playbook PDF
What you'll finally understand

The numbers nobody explains at orientation.

Sam's example from the Playbook: $45,000 a year, paid every 2 weeks, single, 2026 rules (illustration).

Gross vs net
$1,731 → $1,287

Every line of the pay stub explained: 401(k), health premium, federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, state.

Tax bracket myth
6.1%

Sam is "in the 12% bracket", but pays 6.1% of his salary in federal income tax. A raise never lowers take-home pay.

The 401(k) match
$1,350

a year of free money with a "50% up to 6%" match, if he contributes enough to get it.

New for 2027
up to $1,000

The new federal Saver's Match for eligible savers: who qualifies and what to check on irs.gov.

What's inside

8 short chapters + checklists.

  • Your pay stub line by line, and the 3 things to check every payday.
  • The W-4 in 5 steps, and why a big refund is a free loan to the IRS.
  • Tax brackets with the 2026 numbers and a step-by-step example.
  • 401(k) and IRAs: match, vesting, Roth vs traditional, 2026 limits, the 2027 Saver's Match.
  • Benefits: health plan, HSA, FSA, disability, the perks people forget.
  • Your first tax return: forms, deadline, the new tips and overtime deductions, free filing options, scams.
  • First budget and a 12-month checklist for a new job.
How it works

1. Pay once ($12).
2. Download the 12-page PDF right away.
3. Read it with your first pay stub next to you.
4. Do the checklist for your first week.

PDF2026 IRS numbersOfficial sources cited

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Questions you're probably asking

Is this tax advice?

No. It's education with official numbers (IRS, SSA) and simplified examples. For your situation, check irs.gov or a tax professional.

Which tax year does it cover?

2026 (the return you file in early 2027), with notes on what's new for 2027. Every number cites its official source and the date we checked it.

I'm not in my first job anymore. Is it useful?

If you've never really read your pay stub, W-4 or benefits guide, yes: most people learn this by trial and error.

What if I don't like it?

Email ninetomoney@gmail.com within 30 days of purchase and we'll refund you. No questions asked.

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