How it works
The calculator takes your gross pay for one pay period, subtracts the pre-tax deductions you entered, and works out each tax on its own line. Federal income tax follows the percentage method in IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, for a 2020-or-later Form W-4: your pay is turned into a yearly figure, adjusted for Steps 3 and 4, run through the annual table for your filing status, and divided back into one paycheck.
Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 for the year (SSA; IRS Publication 15 (2026)). Once your year-to-date wages pass that amount, Social Security stops for the rest of the year. Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, and Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% is withheld on wages over $200,000 in the year, whatever your filing status (IRS Publication 15 (2026)). A 401(k) contribution lowers federal income tax wages but not Social Security or Medicare wages; cafeteria-plan deductions such as HSA contributions and health premiums lower both.
State income tax follows the withholding tables or formula published by the state's revenue department for 2026, named under each result. Some states add employee payroll programs, such as disability or paid family leave, and some let cities or counties withhold a local income tax; the calculator adds those lines only for states that have them.
Not included: employer-paid taxes (the employer's share of FICA, federal and state unemployment tax), after-tax deductions such as Roth 401(k) or union dues, garnishments, bonuses and other supplemental wages, tips, and any refund or balance due when you file your return. Your employer's payroll may round differently.
Worked example
Take a $60,000 salary paid biweekly, filing single, with no other W-4 entries and no deductions, before a state is chosen. Gross pay is $60,000 divided by 26 paychecks, which is $2,307.69. The Pub 15-T percentage method treats that paycheck as a yearly wage of $60,000, applies the single-filer annual table, and divides the result by 26: federal withholding is $193.08. Social Security is $143.08 and Medicare is $33.46. With no state picked, state tax shows as $0.00, and take-home pay is $1,938.07 per paycheck. Picking a state adds its income tax and any state payroll programs to the same result.
Frequently asked questions
How much is taken out of a paycheck for federal taxes?
Three federal amounts come out: income tax withholding from IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%. The income tax part depends on your pay, pay frequency and W-4 entries, so it differs from person to person.
What is the difference between a paycheck calculator and a payroll calculator?
They do the same arithmetic from different sides. This calculator shows the employee's paycheck; a payroll run also records employer-paid taxes, which are not taken from your pay and are not shown here.
Why does my paycheck show no Social Security late in the year?
Social Security applies only to wages up to $184,500 in 2026 (SSA). After your year-to-date wages pass that amount, it stops until January.
Does the calculator use the new W-4?
Yes. It follows the 2020-or-later Form W-4, with filing status, Step 3 dependents and Step 4 adjustments, as described in IRS Publication 15-T (2026).
Which states have no state income tax on wages?
Pick a state and the first result line says whether it taxes wages. Texas and Florida, for example, have no state income tax, so only federal tax, Social Security and Medicare come out.
Is my take-home pay the same as my net pay?
Yes. Both mean gross pay minus taxes and deductions, the amount that reaches your bank account.