About Solvent

Why I built it

I file as a 1099 taxpayer, and every year I hit the same wall. The free calculators online ran on last year's brackets, skipped deductions I qualified for, and handed me one number with no explanation of where it came from. I wanted a tool that used the current year's figures, showed its work, and didn't make me hand over an email just to see my own estimate. I couldn't find one I trusted, so I built it.

Who I am

I'm Nicolas Straut, a personal and business finance writer and former Forbes contributor. I've spent eight years writing about money and building content for fintech companies including NerdWallet and North One Business Banking. I still file my own taxes as a freelancer, which is honestly the reason I cared enough to get the small details right. I'm not a CPA, and Solvent isn't meant to replace one.

How I keep it accurate

Every rate, bracket, and threshold here is checked against the IRS, the SSA, and state tax agencies, not against other blogs. I update the figures when the IRS publishes new ones each year, and every calculator shows its source and the date I last verified it. Where a calculation involves a simplification or a judgment call, I say so on the page instead of hiding it. If I get something wrong, I want to know.

How Solvent makes money

The tools are free, and they'll stay free. Some guides link to products I think are worth a look, and I may earn a commission if you sign up through one of those links. That doesn't change which tools I recommend or the numbers the calculators produce, and I note it on any page where it applies.

What this is, and what it isn't

Solvent gives you educational estimates to help you plan. It isn't tax, legal, or financial advice, and it doesn't know your full situation the way a CPA or enrolled agent would. Use it to get your bearings, then check anything that matters with a professional.