Course

Taxes Made Simple

The rules every investor should know.

Capital gains, marginal vs. effective rates, tax-advantaged accounts, tax-loss harvesting, the wash-sale rule, and what to do if you have side income. Educational, not legal advice.

5 lessons·~23 min total

Lessons in this course

1
Marginal vs. effective tax rate
The difference everyone confuses. Knowing this is the difference between making smart tax decisions and making panicked ones.
4 min
→
2
Capital gains: short-term vs. long-term
Selling an investment for more than you paid creates a capital gain. How long you held it determines how heavily it is taxed — sometimes by a huge margin.
5 min
→
3
Tax-advantaged accounts at a glance
Different account types in the U.S. get different tax treatment. Knowing the menu is half the battle in personal finance.
4 min
→
4
Tax-loss harvesting in detail
Beyond the basics: when it's worth doing, how to avoid the wash-sale trap, and why it works best in years you don't expect.
6 min
→
5
Quarterly estimated taxes for self-employed people
If you have freelance income, side gig revenue, or investment gains, you may need to pay taxes four times a year — not once. Here's the basic structure.
4 min
→

PREMIUM

Final exam + certificate

When you finish this course, take a 15-25 question final exam to test what you've learned. Pass and earn a verified ClearMoneySchool certificate you can share on LinkedIn.

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