How Paycheck Taxes Are Calculated in 2026
Your take-home pay is your gross earnings minus mandatory taxes (federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any state or local tax) and your deductions. This paycheck tax calculator runs those steps for you so you can see how much tax is taken out of your paycheck and what actually lands in your bank account.
How to calculate your paycheck after taxes
- Find gross pay for the period. Annual salary divided by the number of pay periods, or hourly rate times hours (with overtime at 1.5x or your own multiplier).
- Subtract pre-tax deductions. Traditional 401(k), HSA, FSA and health insurance reduce the wages used for income tax.
- Calculate federal income tax. Annualize taxable wages, subtract the standard deduction, apply the tax brackets, then divide by pay periods.
- Add FICA. Social Security 6.2% plus Medicare 1.45% of gross wages.
- Add state and local tax where they apply.
- Subtract post-tax deductions such as Roth 401(k) to reach net pay.
2026 federal withholding numbers used in this calculator
| Item | Single | Married filing jointly | Head of household |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $16,100 | $32,200 | $24,150 |
| Top of 10% bracket | $12,400 | $24,800 | $17,700 |
| Top of 12% bracket | $50,400 | $100,800 | $67,450 |
| Top of 22% bracket | $105,700 | $211,400 | $105,700 |
| 37% bracket starts above | $640,600 | $768,700 | $640,600 |
Brackets are marginal: each rate applies only to the slice of taxable income inside that bracket, not to your whole paycheck. That is why moving into a higher bracket never reduces your take-home pay on the income you already earned.
FICA taxes on your paycheck: Social Security and Medicare
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes consist of two components assessed on earnings:
- Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500.
- Medicare: 1.45% on all gross earnings, plus an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 ($250,000 for married filing jointly).
Together that is 7.65% of gross pay for most workers. For example, a $2,000 gross paycheck has $124.00 of Social Security tax and $29.00 of Medicare tax, a total of $153.00 in FICA, before any income tax.
State and local taxes on your paycheck
Nine states have no wage income tax, and others charge anything from a flat rate to a graduated scale. Some cities and counties add a local income tax on top. This calculator uses simplified illustrative state rates for the states in the dropdown, and a separate local tax rate field so you can enter your own city or county percentage for a closer estimate.
Pre-tax vs post-tax deductions
- Pre-tax: traditional 401(k) or IRA, HSA, FSA, and health insurance premiums. These lower your taxable income, so they lower your income tax withholding.
- Post-tax: Roth 401(k) and similar deductions. They are taken after tax, so they do not reduce your income tax now.
The 2026 employee contribution limit for a 401(k) is $24,500. Raising your pre-tax contribution lowers each paycheck by less than the full amount, because part of it is offset by lower income tax. Try different 401(k) amounts in the calculator to see the exact effect.
How pay frequency changes your paycheck
Your annual taxes are the same whether you are paid weekly, biweekly (26 checks), semimonthly (24 checks) or monthly, but each paycheck is a different size. Biweekly workers also get three paychecks in two months of the year. Use the pay frequency selector to compare, or open a dedicated tool: biweekly paycheck calculator, weekly paycheck calculator or monthly paycheck calculator.
Hourly workers and overtime
Switch the calculator to Hourly pay to include regular hours and overtime. Overtime is taxed like other wages, but the extra income is withheld at a higher rate because payroll annualizes each check. That can make an overtime paycheck look heavily taxed even though the true tax is settled when you file. For more detail, see the hourly paycheck calculator and the overtime pay calculator.
Why your actual paycheck can differ from the estimate
- Your Form W-4 (filing status, dependents, extra withholding) changes federal withholding.
- Employer benefits, garnishments and bonuses are not always the same as standard inputs.
- State and local rules vary, and this tool uses simplified state rates.
Compare the breakdown to your latest pay stub, and adjust the extra withholding field if you want a larger or smaller refund. For a simpler view of just the final number, try the take-home pay calculator or the salary paycheck calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tax is taken out of a paycheck?
It depends on your pay, filing status, state and deductions. Every US employee pays 7.65% FICA (6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare) on gross wages, then federal income tax is withheld based on your Form W-4, and many states and some cities add their own tax. Enter your numbers in the calculator above to see your own estimate.
How do I calculate my paycheck after taxes?
Start with gross pay for the period, subtract pre-tax deductions such as traditional 401(k), HSA, FSA and health insurance, then subtract federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and any state or local tax. Subtract post-tax deductions such as Roth 401(k) to get net pay.
How is federal income tax calculated on my paycheck?
Federal income tax is calculated by annualizing your taxable wages after pre-tax deductions, subtracting the standard or itemized deduction, applying the progressive IRS tax brackets, and dividing the result by the number of pay periods in the year.
What is FICA tax on my paycheck?
FICA taxes consist of Social Security tax (6.2% on wages up to the annual wage base, $184,500 for 2026) and Medicare tax (1.45% on all wages) withheld from your gross pay. Employees also owe an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages above $200,000 ($250,000 for married filing jointly).
Why is my paycheck smaller than I expected?
Common reasons are pre-tax and post-tax deductions you forgot to count, state or local income tax, higher federal withholding from your W-4, and FICA taxes that apply from the first dollar. Comparing the calculator's line-by-line breakdown to your pay stub usually shows where the difference is.
How are pre-tax deductions handled?
Pre-tax deductions like traditional 401(k)s, HSAs, FSAs and health insurance premiums reduce your taxable wage base before federal and state income tax are calculated. Some, such as 401(k) contributions, do not reduce Social Security and Medicare wages.
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rates?
Your marginal rate is the tax rate applied to your last dollar of income, while your effective tax rate is the total tax paid divided by total gross pay. Because brackets are progressive, your effective rate is always lower than your top marginal rate.
Does this paycheck tax calculator work for hourly pay and overtime?
Yes. Switch to Hourly pay, enter your hourly rate, regular hours, overtime hours and overtime multiplier, and the calculator converts it into gross pay for your pay frequency before applying taxes.
Is this calculator the same as my employer's payroll?
No. It is an estimate for planning. Actual withholding depends on your employer's payroll setup, your Form W-4 elections, benefit plans, and exact state and local rules. State tax in this tool uses simplified illustrative rates, so use the local tax field to adjust for your area.