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US Income Tax & Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Estimate your net take-home pay, federal tax, FICA and state tax for 2026, calculated instantly in your browser.

Quick Scenarios:

Financial Parameters

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$10k $150k $300k $500k+
Relocation Arbitrage
Compare net take-home against another state
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Reduces Federal & State income tax. Max $24,500 for 2026 (employee deferral limit).
$
$
Pre-tax healthcare is exempt from both Income Tax and FICA.
Relocation Arbitrage Advantage +$5,421 / yr
Take-home difference by moving state.
California
$73,759
Texas
$79,180
Net Take-Home
$73,759
Total Taxes
$26,241
Effective Rate Total taxes divided by gross income. The true blended percentage of your total compensation paid in taxes.
26.2%
Marginal Rate The combined rate on your next dollar earned (Federal + State + Social Security + Medicare). Social Security stops at the annual wage base.
39.0%
Take-Home $73,759 (73.8%)
Federal Tax $13,170 (13.2%)
State / Local $5,421 (5.4%)
FICA (SS & Med) $7,650 (7.7%)

Federal Progressive Tax Ladder

Hover segment for tier breakdown
10% 12% 22% 24% 32% 35% 37%
Gross Compensation $100,000
Pre-Tax Deductions (401k, Health) $0
Federal Standard Deduction -$16,100
Taxable Income Base $83,900
Federal Income Tax $13,170
State Income Tax $5,421
FICA (Social Security & Medicare) $7,650
Net Take-Home Pay $73,759

Estimates for W-2 wages only. Excludes credits, itemized deductions, state payroll taxes (such as SDI) and local taxes other than those listed. Not tax advice. Read the full disclaimer.

Tax Guide

How US Income Taxes Actually Work

Understand how the standard deduction, progressive buckets, and FICA wage caps combine to calculate your real take-home paycheck.

1. The Standard Deduction Shield

Before a single federal income tax bracket applies, the IRS exempts your first dollars entirely. For 2026, single filers deduct $16,100, married filing jointly $32,200 and heads of household $24,150. (2025: $15,750 / $31,500 / $23,625.)

2. Progressive Buckets (Not a Flat Cliff)

Crossing into the 24% or 32% bracket does not mean all your income is taxed at that rate. Your income fills lower buckets first (10%, 12%, 22%) and only the dollars spilling into the higher tier are taxed at the higher rate.

3. FICA Statutory Wage Caps

Social Security tax (6.2%) stops once earnings reach the statutory wage base limit of $184,500 for 2026 ($176,100 for 2025). Medicare (1.45%) continues across all wages, with an extra 0.9% surtax on high earners exceeding $200k.

State Comparison

Popular State Tax Rates at a Glance

Estimated 2026 net take-home pay and blended effective tax rates for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions, across high-volume states.

State Tax Structure Effective Rate ($100k) Effective Rate ($200k) Take-Home on $150k
Texas (TX) 0.00% Income Tax 20.8% 25.5% $113,791 / yr
Florida (FL) 0.00% Income Tax 20.8% 25.5% $113,791 / yr
Washington (WA) 0.00% Income Tax 20.8% 25.5% $113,791 / yr
Colorado (CO) Flat 4.40% 24.5% 29.6% $107,899 / yr
Illinois (IL) Flat 4.95% 25.6% 30.4% $106,503 / yr
New York (NY - State) Progressive (4%–10.9%) 25.7% 31.0% $106,073 / yr
California (CA) Progressive (1%–13.3%) 26.2% 32.8% $103,721 / yr
State Directory

All 50 States & DC Tax Calculators

Explore dedicated 2026 paycheck calculators, local surcharges, and progressive tax bracket schedules for every US jurisdiction.

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Knowledge Base

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about US paycheck withholdings, deductions, and state tax rules.

No. While employers frequently withhold bonuses at the IRS supplemental flat rate of 22%, all earnings are ultimately pooled together at year-end. Your regular salary is taxed under standard progressive tiers. If too much was withheld on your bonus, you receive the difference back as an IRS tax refund.
Your effective tax rate is the actual percentage of your total income paid in taxes (Total Taxes ÷ Gross Income). Your marginal tax rate is the highest tax rate applied to your last dollar earned. When negotiating a raise or promotion, extra dollars are taxed at your marginal rate, not your effective rate.
Traditional 401(k) and 403(b) contributions reduce your Federal and State taxable income, but they do not reduce FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes. Conversely, pre-tax health insurance premiums and HSA contributions reduce both Income Tax and FICA taxes.
No. All calculations run in your browser and the income and deduction figures you enter are never sent to our servers. Like most free sites, we may show advertising, and ad providers can use cookies as described in our Privacy Policy.
WhatITakeHome uses figures published by the IRS and Social Security Administration:
  • 2026: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (brackets and standard deductions: $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household), SSA Social Security wage base of $184,500, and a $24,500 401(k) deferral limit.
  • 2025: IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-40, with the standard deduction as amended by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; Social Security wage base $176,100; 401(k) limit $23,500.
  • 2024: IRS Revenue Procedure 2023-34; Social Security wage base $168,600; 401(k) limit $23,000.

State and local rules are approximations and are reviewed for 2026. Results are estimates, not tax advice.