Wage Base
The annual earnings ceiling above which Social Security tax stops applying.
Why it matters: It is why high earners see take-home pay rise partway through the year.
Run the paycheck take-home →7 terms
Dictionary — W
Wage Base, Workers Compensation, Wrongful Death, Waiting Period and more. Each definition explains what the term means and why it changes a number.
Workers Compensation
A no-fault system paying medical costs and partial wages for workplace injuries.
Why it matters: It pays quickly and regardless of fault, but pays nothing for pain and suffering.
Run the work injury & comp →Wrongful Death
A claim brought by survivors for losses caused by a death resulting from another's conduct.
Why it matters: Who may sue and which damages are recoverable are set entirely by state statute.
Run the wrongful death claim →Waiting Period
The delay between buying a policy and cover taking effect.
Why it matters: Flood policies commonly carry one, so buying as a storm approaches achieves nothing.
Run the flood insurance cost & coverage →Waiver of Subrogation
An agreement giving up the right to recover from a third party who caused a loss.
Why it matters: Signing one can quietly remove a claim you did not know you had.
Run the attorney fee & net recovery →Wash Sale
Repurchasing a substantially identical security shortly after selling it at a loss.
Why it matters: It disallows the loss for tax purposes, which defeats the point of harvesting it.
Run the capital gains tax →Withholding Allowance
The figures on a W-4 determining how much tax an employer deducts from pay.
Why it matters: Adjusting it moves money from an annual refund into your monthly budget.
Run the paycheck take-home →Estimates, not advice. Every figure here is produced from the inputs you enter and the formula printed on the page. Rules differ by state, carrier, lender and contract, so use these numbers to prepare for a conversation with a qualified professional rather than to replace one. See our full disclaimer.