Taxes
Paycheck Tax Calculator
Calculate your net take-home paycheck for 2026 across all 50 states + DC using official IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 tax brackets, FICA, and standard deductions.
2026 Statutory Rates
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Paycheck / Take-Home Tax Calculator (2026)
See exactly how much you take home after 2026 federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare deductions for hourly or salaried pay.
Quick Answer: Your net take-home paycheck equals Gross Pay minus Federal Income Tax (calculated using IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 progressive brackets and 2026 standard deductions), FICA Taxes (6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 wage base plus 1.45% Medicare, plus 0.9% additional over $200k), State Income Tax (progressive, flat, or $0 for 9 states without wage tax), and elective pre-tax deductions (like 401k or health insurance). For a single filer earning $75,000 annually paid bi-weekly in California with standard deduction ($16,100 federal) and no pre-tax contributions, net take-home pay is approximately $2,254 per bi-weekly check ($58,605.50 annually), reflecting an effective total tax rate of 21.86%.
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Last reviewed: October 2026
Calculation Methodology: Paycheck / Take-Home Tax Calculator (2026)
Mathematical Formula
Net Pay = Gross Pay - Federal Tax - State Tax - FICA (Social Security + Medicare) - Voluntary Deductions
Federal Tax: Calculated progressively using 2026 IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 tax brackets on (Gross - Pre-Tax Deductions - Standard Deduction).
FICA: 6.2% Social Security (capped at $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare (+ 0.9% surtax over $200,000 for single filers).
State Tax: Exact state-specific progressive brackets or flat rates for all 50 states + DC.
Verified Worked Example (Benchmark)
Benchmark Parameters: Gross Salary = $75,000/yr · Pay Frequency = Bi-Weekly (26 pay periods = $2,884.62 gross/check) · Filing Status = Single · State = California (CA) · Pre-Tax Deductions = $0.
- Gross Pay Per Check: $75,000 ÷ 26 = $2,884.62.
- Federal Standard Deduction (2026): $16,100 (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 Section 4.14).
- Federal Taxable Income: $75,000 - $16,100 = $58,900.
- Federal Income Tax (Rev. Proc. 2025-32 Table 3):
- 10% on first $12,400 = $1,240.00
- 12% on next $38,000 ($50,400 - $12,400) = $4,560.00
- 22% on remaining $8,500 ($58,900 - $50,400) = $1,870.00
- Total Annual Federal Tax: $7,670.00 ($295.00/check).
- FICA Taxes:
- Social Security (6.2% on $75k, below $184,500 cap): $4,650.00/yr ($178.85/check).
- Medicare (1.45% on $75k): $1,087.50/yr ($41.83/check).
- Total Annual FICA: $5,737.50 ($220.67/check).
- California State Income Tax (Graduated Brackets): $2,987.00/yr ($114.88/check).
- Total Withholdings & Taxes: $7,670.00 + $5,737.50 + $2,987.00 = $16,394.50/yr ($630.56/check).
- Net Take-Home Pay: $75,000 - $16,394.50 = $58,605.50/yr ($2,254.06 per bi-weekly paycheck).
- Effective Combined Tax Rate: $16,394.50 ÷ $75,000 = 21.86%.
Primary Statutory Sources & Authorities
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 — Official 2026 inflation-adjusted federal tax brackets, standard deductions, and thresholds.
- IRS Publication 15-T (Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods) — Official employer percentage and wage-bracket method withholding formulas.
- Social Security Administration 2026 Announcement — Social Security 6.2% tax rate and 2026 maximum taxable wage base threshold ($184,500).
- Tax Foundation State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets — Comparative 50-state statutory tax rates, flat tax enactments, and local wage ordinances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Primary source guidance on rules, formulas, and regulations.
As of 2026, nine states levy no traditional individual income tax on earned wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (dividend/interest tax repealed), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington (no wage tax, though high-earner capital gains tax exists), and Wyoming. Residents of these states pay $0 in state income tax on their paychecks.
Your marginal tax rate is the highest bracket that applies to your last dollar of income (e.g., 22% for a single filer earning $75,000). Your effective tax rate is the actual percentage of your total income paid in taxes (e.g., approximately 10.2% for federal income tax on $75,000). Because the US uses progressive brackets and standard deductions, your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate.
For 2026, the Social Security wage base is $184,500. Any earnings up to $184,500 are subject to the 6.2% employee Social Security tax ($11,439.00 maximum). Any earnings above $184,500 are completely exempt from further Social Security withholding for the remainder of the calendar year.
Pre-tax deductions are subtracted from your gross wages before federal and state income taxes are calculated. For example, contributing $500 per month to a traditional 401(k) reduces your annual taxable income by $6,000, saving a taxpayer in the 22% federal bracket $1,320 in federal taxes alone.
Supplemental wages like bonuses are typically withheld at a flat federal statutory rate of 22% (or 37% for amounts over $1 million), or the employer payroll system aggregates the bonus into your regular pay period, temporarily projecting you into a higher annualized bracket. However, your actual tax liability reconciles when you file your annual tax return. To see your exact take-home pay on supplemental compensation, use our Bonus Tax Calculator.
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