Editorial Standards

1. Calculator accuracy

Every calculator on The Simple Toolbox is built from a documented formula. Before a tool is published, the formula is cross-checked against a primary source — a government agency, peer-reviewed journal, or the official documentation of the platform it models (e.g. Etsy's fee schedule, IRS Publication 15-T, NSCA strength standards).

Each calculator page links to its methodology note, which shows:

• The exact mathematical formula (plain text or MathJax).
• Every input field with its valid range and unit.
• Every constant used, plus the date the constant was last verified against the primary source.
• A worked example with real numbers, showing intermediate steps.
• Known edge cases and assumptions (e.g. "assumes single filing status; for married filing jointly see [other tool]").
• A validation section describing how the output was tested (e.g. "cross-checked against ADP's official calculator on 5 test inputs; max delta $0.04").

If you find a calculation error, email [email protected]. Corrections are logged publicly on the affected tool's methodology page.

2. Source policy

We cite primary sources only. That means:

• Government agencies: IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, USDA, NIST, CDC, Federal Reserve, HUD, USCIS.
• Peer-reviewed journals: for health, fitness, and scientific tools.
• Official platform documentation: Etsy, Stripe, PayPal, Amazon Seller Central, YouTube Partner Program, TikTok Creator Fund.
• Standards bodies: NSCA for strength, American Diabetes Association for glycemic index, NIST for unit conversions, ISO for technical standards.

We do not cite content mills, SEO-optimized "ultimate guides" from competitors, or Reddit threads as authoritative. Secondary sources (reputable news coverage, educational explainers) may be linked for context but never as the source of record for a calculation.

3. Update cadence

Calculators that depend on changing constants — tax brackets, contribution limits, fee schedules, benefit thresholds — are reviewed every calendar quarter. When the underlying constant changes (e.g. IRS publishes 2027 federal tax brackets), the calculator is updated in the same week and the "last verified" date on the methodology page is bumped.

Tools with static formulas (BMI, compound interest, unit conversions) are reviewed on user report only — if nobody has reported an issue in a year, we assume the formula is still correct. If you spot one that isn't, please write in.

Blog posts carry both a published and updated date. A post with a recent updated date has been re-read and confirmed current.

4. Disclaimer policy

A disclaimer that does not match the tool is a disclaimer nobody reads. We match disclaimers to the category of the tool:

5. AI usage disclosure

We use AI tools (large language models) to accelerate the first draft of blog posts and parts of tool content. We do not publish unedited AI output. Every page on this site that contains AI-assisted text has been:

• Read end-to-end by Alamzeb Khan.
• Fact-checked against the primary sources listed in the source policy above.
• Edited for accuracy, tone, and removal of generic "AI voice" phrasing.
• Compared against the site's existing content to avoid duplication.

Calculator formulas and numeric constants are never written by AI. They are written and verified by hand against the primary source. AI is a drafting tool, not an authority.

6. Corrections

If you find an error — a wrong number, a broken link, a disclaimer that doesn't fit the tool, a blog fact that's out of date — email [email protected]. Include:

• The URL of the page.
• What you believe is wrong.
• A source for the correct value, if you have one.

Corrections are acknowledged within two business days and fixed as soon as possible. Once fixed, the change is noted on the page's methodology note or, for blog posts, in the post's update log.