Paycheck / Payroll Tax Calculator

Type your gross pay — instantly see what lands in your bank account after every 2026 payroll tax, line by line.

Your pay

Take-home pay per paycheck

$1,690.85 every 2 weeks
Gross pay$2,000.00
Social Security (6.2%)−$124.00
Medicare (1.45%)−$29.00
Federal income tax (est.)−$156.15
Annual take-home$43,962
Total tax rate on gross15.5%

Estimate for tax year 2026 federal taxes only (returns filed in 2027), using official IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 figures. Real returns can include other income, credits and state rules — this tool is educational, not tax advice.

2026 payroll tax rates at a glance

TaxEmployee paysEmployer pays2026 limit
Social Security6.2%6.2%First $184,500 of wages (max $11,439 each)
Medicare1.45%1.45%No limit
Additional Medicare0.9%—Wages over $200,000 (withholding)
Federal income tax10%–37% brackets—Depends on income & filing status

How your paycheck is taxed in 2026

Every US paycheck loses money to three federal deductions before it reaches you: Social Security, Medicare (together called FICA) and federal income tax withholding. This calculator applies the official 2026 rates to your gross pay so you can see exactly where each dollar goes — per paycheck and per year.

Social Security: 6.2% up to $184,500

You pay 6.2% of gross wages, but only on the first $184,500 you earn in 2026 (up from $176,100 in 2025). Hit that cap and Social Security tax stops for the rest of the year — the most any employee pays in 2026 is $11,439. Your employer quietly matches every dollar.

Medicare: 1.45% with no ceiling

Medicare's 1.45% applies to every dollar of wages, no cap. High earners pay an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000 — employers must withhold it once your year-to-date pay crosses that line, and there is no employer match on the extra piece.

Federal income tax: an estimate, not a promise

Actual withholding depends on your W-4 entries, but a solid estimate comes from annualizing your pay, subtracting the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status ($16,100 single / $32,200 married / $24,150 head of household), and running the result through the seven IRS brackets. That's what this tool does — so the federal line here approximates your true tax, which is usually more useful than a withholding guess.

Pre-tax deductions shrink the taxable slice

401(k) contributions, traditional retirement plans, HSA/FSA dollars and most employer health premiums come out before federal income tax is figured, lowering that line. (Note: 401(k) money still pays Social Security and Medicare — only income tax is deferred. This calculator applies FICA to full gross for that reason.)

What about state taxes?

Nine states — including Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee and Nevada — take no income tax at all. The rest range from about 3% to over 13% (California's top rate). If you know your rough state rate, drop it in the state field for a fuller picture.

Employer costs most people never see

Your employer pays its own matching 6.2% + 1.45% on top of your salary, plus federal (FUTA) and state unemployment taxes. A $60,000 employee actually costs roughly $64,600+ before benefits — worth knowing when you negotiate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
$184,500. You pay 6.2% Social Security tax only on wages up to that amount in 2026 — a maximum of $11,439 for the year. Earnings above it are free of Social Security tax (Medicare still applies).
Why is my actual paycheck different from this estimate?
Real withholding follows your W-4 form (dependents, extra withholding, second jobs), plus state/local taxes, health premiums, and benefits this tool can't see. The FICA lines here are exact; the federal line is a close bracket-based estimate.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce payroll taxes?
They reduce federal (and usually state) income tax, but not Social Security or Medicare — FICA is charged on your pay before traditional 401(k) contributions come out. Employer health premiums under a cafeteria plan do escape FICA.
What is the Additional Medicare Tax?
An extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a year ($250,000 combined for joint filers when you file). Employers must start withholding it once your pay at that job passes $200,000, regardless of filing status.
How much does my employer pay in payroll taxes?
An equal match: 6.2% Social Security (up to $184,500) plus 1.45% Medicare on everything — 7.65% on top of your gross, plus unemployment taxes. There's no employer match on the 0.9% additional Medicare tax.
Which pay frequency should I pick?
Whatever matches your pay stub: 52 (weekly), 26 (every two weeks), 24 (1st & 15th type schedules) or 12 (monthly). Getting this right matters because federal tax is figured on your annualized income.
Is overtime or a bonus taxed at a higher rate?
No — it's withheld at a flat 22% initially (supplemental rate), which can look higher, but at filing time all wages are taxed through the same brackets. Any over-withholding comes back as refund.

Related calculators

Mortgage Loan / EMI Compound interest Salary Income Tax Auto loan