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¢CentCalc

About CentCalc

An independent project that compiles personal finance calculators from primary sources — and the honest limits of what that means.

Last reviewed: July 2026 · Data effective: 2026 tax year

CentCalc is an independent project. Every calculator is implemented directly from published tax data and peer-reviewed formulas, then fact-checked against the primary source before publication. The full math is documented on ourmethodology page with citations.

Operating model (honest disclosure)

  • Content is researched and drafted with AI assistance
  • Every data point is fact-checked against primary sources (IRS, SSA, state DOR) before publication
  • Sources are cited inline on the methodology page so you can verify any number yourself
  • Not Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), Certified Financial Planners (CFPs), or tax attorneys

Why trust a calculator without a named expert?

Because the math is verifiable. Every IRS bracket, every SSA bend point, every standard deduction is cited. If a number is wrong, you can check the source link yourself — that's stronger accountability than an unverifiable "expert" byline. Our trade-off is transparent: we can show you exactly how every number is computed and point to the source, but no licensed professional signs off on it.

Our credentials — and our honest limits

We tell you exactly what we are and are not, because pretending otherwise would hurt you:

  • Every formula sourced to a specific IRS publication, SSA document, or peer-reviewed reference
  • Annual Q4 review of federal and state tax tables against primary sources
  • Not Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
  • Not Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) or Enrolled Agents (EAs)
  • Not registered investment advisors or tax attorneys

For binding tax advice, a financial plan, or legal matters affecting your finances, please consult a licensed professional in your jurisdiction. See ourfull disclaimer.

How we work

  1. Source: Identify the authoritative primary source (IRS Revenue Procedure, SSA.gov, state DOR, peer-reviewed study).
  2. Implement: Build the calculator from that source — every formula traces to a cited document.
  3. Fact-check: Verify each data point against the primary source before publication.
  4. Verify: Spot-check outputs against authoritative calculators (IRS Tax Withholding Estimator, investor.gov, SSA Quick Calculator). Tolerance: ±$1 per calculation.
  5. Publish: Calculator ships with full methodology, FAQ, and a feedback widget for error reports.
  6. Maintain: Annual Q4 review of all tax data; ad-hoc updates for law changes. See the methodology changelog.

Spotting an error?

If you believe a calculator is producing an incorrect result, please use the feedback widget (bottom-right of any page) with:

  1. The calculator name and URL
  2. The exact inputs you entered
  3. The result you got vs what you expected
  4. The authoritative source you compared against

We investigate every reported error within 7 business days. Confirmed errors get achangelog entry on the methodology page and, if material, a notice on the homepage.

Contact

Email: editorial@centcalc.com or use ourcontact page.