How it works
The calculator starts with your gross pay for one pay period, subtracts the pre-tax deductions you entered, and then works out each tax separately. Federal income tax follows the percentage method in IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, using your W-4 entries. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 for the year (SSA; IRS Publication 15 (2026)). Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages over $200,000 (IRS Publication 15 (2026)).
Georgia income tax follows the withholding method in the Georgia Department of Revenue, Employer's Tax Guide (2026). Annual wages are reduced by the Georgia standard deduction for your G-4 status ($15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married filing jointly) and by $5,000 for each dependent allowance, and the rest is taxed at 4.99%. Georgia has no city or county income tax and no state disability or family leave deduction from employee pay.
Not included: garnishments, union dues, after-tax Roth contributions, tips, bonuses taxed as supplemental wages, retirement income exclusions, and year-end credits or refunds. Your employer's payroll may round differently.
Worked example
Take a $60,000 salary paid biweekly, filing single on both the W-4 and the G-4 with no dependents and no other deductions. Gross pay is $2,307.69 per paycheck. Federal income tax withholding comes to $193.08, Social Security to $143.08 and Medicare to $33.46. Georgia income tax withholding is $86.37. Take-home pay is $1,851.70 per paycheck, or $48,144.20 over the year's 26 paychecks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Georgia income tax rate in 2026?
The rate used in 2026 withholding is 4.99%, applied to taxable wages after the standard deduction and allowances (Georgia Department of Revenue, 2026).
Do Atlanta or other Georgia cities have a local income tax?
No. Atlanta, Savannah and other Georgia localities do not levy an income tax on wages, so a Georgia paycheck has no local income tax line.
What is Form G-4?
Form G-4 is Georgia's employee withholding allowance certificate. It sets your Georgia marital status and allowances for state withholding, separately from the federal W-4.
What happens if I do not file a G-4 with my employer?
Georgia withholding instructions direct the employer to withhold as if you were single with zero allowances (Georgia Department of Revenue, Employer's Tax Guide (2026)).
How much is the Georgia standard deduction in 2026?
It is $15,000 for a single filer and $30,000 for married filing jointly, and each dependent adds $5,000 (Georgia Department of Revenue, 2026).