Plain-English guides to the forms and taxes that confuse everyone
Easy Guides turns confusing government forms into clear guides, each one paired with an interactive tool that does the part you would otherwise dread.
We are an independent publisher, founded in 2025. We are not affiliated with the IRS, the Department of Education, or USCIS, and we do not sell tax preparation, LLC formation, or financial products.
Every official form we write about is available at no cost from the government, and we say so on every page where it is true. Where we link to a paid service we mark it clearly and tell you we may be paid. If a guide concludes that you do not need the thing it describes, it says that instead.
Start here
- Paycheck Easy Guide See where every dollar of your paycheck goes, from gross pay to take-home.
- Best Life Index What it actually costs to live in any American city, and whether the move is worth it.
Start with your situation
Not sure which forms you need? Take the 10-second quiz, or pick what is happening in your life.
- Starting your first job? The forms you'll fill out
- Starting a side hustle? The tax paperwork, explained
- Going full-time freelance? What changes, and when
- Hiring your first contractor? Do the tax part right
- Filing your taxes? Here is what you need
- Which form is which?
Our guides
Twelve focused sites, one for each form or topic. Pick the one you need.
See where every dollar of your paycheck goes, from gross pay to take-home.
Tool: Take-home paycheck calculator
What it actually costs to live in any American city, and whether the move is worth it.
Tool: Cost of living calculator
Fill out your W-4 and set your tax withholding so you are not surprised in April.
Tool: Extra-withholding helper
Understand every box on your W-2, from wages to Box 12 codes.
Tool: W-2 box decoder
Taxes for freelancers, contractors, and gig workers, without the jargon.
Tool: Self-employment tax calculator
Quarterly estimated taxes made simple, with the safe-harbor rule that avoids penalties.
Tool: Safe-harbor calculator
Fill out a W-9 correctly, and know who actually needs to send one.
Tool: Step-by-step guide
Get your EIN from the IRS at no cost, and steer clear of the look-alike paid sites.
Tool: Official versus paid comparison
Whether you need an LLC, what it costs in your state, and if an S corp would really save you money.
Tool: S corp tax calculator
When to claim Social Security, what waiting is worth, and the spousal and survivor rules that decide it.
Tool: Claiming age calculator
Apply for federal student aid with confidence, and never miss your state deadline.
Tool: State deadline lookup
Employment eligibility verification, explained for both employees and employers.
Tool: Acceptable documents picker
When this is not worth it
If your taxes are a single W-2 and nothing else, you probably do not need any of this. Read the W-2 guide, file, and get on with your year.
Easy Guides is an independent publisher of educational content. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any other government agency. What you read here is general educational content, not legal, tax, or financial advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. Official government resources are available at no cost at IRS.gov, StudentAid.gov, and USCIS.gov.