How to use this calculator
- Choose the tax year and your filing status. 2026 is for pay received in 2026; 2027 uses the official 2027 brackets.
- Enter your gross pay per paycheck and how often you are paid. The calculator annualises it to work out the tax.
- Add pre-tax deductions per paycheck, split into 401(k) contributions and health premiums or HSA (they are taxed differently), and a state tax rate if you want one included.
Nothing you enter leaves your browser. For your refund at the end of the year, use the tax refund calculator; for the full bracket tables, see tax brackets.
Worked example
A single filer in 2026, paid $2,000 every two weeks ($52,000 a year), with no pre-tax deductions and no state tax:
- Standard deduction $16,100; taxable income $35,900.
- Federal tax $4,060 a year — $156 per check.
- Social Security $3,224 a year ($124 per check) and Medicare $754 a year ($29 per check).
- Take-home pay $1,691 per check, $43,962 a year — 84.5% of gross pay.
A married couple filing jointly on $4,000 every two weeks takes home $3,382 per check in 2026, with $312 federal tax per check.
What is taken out of a paycheck
- Federal income tax: worked out on your annual pay minus the standard deduction ($16,100 single in 2026, $16,600 in 2027), using the seven brackets from 10% to 37%. No credits are included here.
- Social Security (FICA): 6.2% of wages up to the wage base — $184,500 in 2026, $192,300 in 2027. Your employer pays another 6.2% on top; it is not taken from your check.
- Medicare: 1.45% of all wages, with no cap, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 single ($250,000 joint, $125,000 married filing separately).
- State tax: only the flat rate you enter. Your employer’s withholding for state tax follows your state’s own tables.
Pre-tax deductions lower the income your federal tax is worked out on, but a 401(k) does not lower Social Security or Medicare tax. Learn the term in our glossary.
Why your real paycheck may differ
- Credits: the child tax credit, earned income credit and others lower your withholding but are not in this calculator.
- Your W-4: extra withholding, a second job or a spouse’s income change what your employer withholds.
- Itemised deductions: if you itemise instead of taking the standard deduction, your federal tax is lower than shown here.
- Other deductions: health insurance premiums after tax, retirement loans, garnishments and union dues are not modelled.
If the difference is large, check your W-4 and your last pay stub, and use the tax refund calculator to see whether you are heading for a refund or a bill in April.
Formulas used
Annual gross = gross per paycheck × paychecks per year
Taxable income = annual gross − pre-tax deductions − standard deduction
Federal tax = bracket tax on taxable income (10% to 37%)
Social Security = 6.2% × (gross − health premiums and HSA), up to the wage base ($184,500 in 2026, $192,300 in 2027)
Medicare = 1.45% × the same wages + 0.9% × those wages over $200,000 single / $250,000 joint
State tax = state rate × (annual gross − pre-tax deductions)
Take-home pay = annual gross − federal tax − Social Security − Medicare − state tax − pre-tax deductions
Paychecks per year: weekly 52, every two weeks 26, twice a month 24, monthly 12. The calculator does not model the IRS withholding tables, which is why your employer’s numbers can differ by a few dollars per check.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax is taken out of my paycheck?
It depends on your pay, how often you are paid, your filing status and your W-4. Federal income tax is worked out from your annual pay minus the standard deduction ($16,100 single in 2026, $16,600 in 2027), Social Security takes 6.2% up to the wage base, and Medicare takes 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% over $200,000 single ($250,000 joint). Enter your numbers above for your own split.
Does a 401(k) contribution lower my Social Security and Medicare tax?
No. Pre-tax 401(k) money lowers your federal income tax, but it still counts as wages for Social Security and Medicare, so FICA is charged on your gross pay. HSA contributions and health premiums through a cafeteria plan are different: they are excluded from FICA wages as well, so enter them in the second field and the calculator takes them out before Social Security and Medicare tax.
What is the Social Security wage base?
The most pay Social Security tax applies to: $184,500 in 2026 and $192,300 in 2027. Earnings above it are not taxed for Social Security (6.2%), but Medicare tax (1.45%, plus 0.9% over the threshold) has no cap.
Why is my actual paycheck different from this calculator?
Your employer uses the IRS withholding tables and your W-4, which account for credits such as the child tax credit, extra withholding you asked for, and any state and local tax — this calculator uses the standard deduction and no credits, and a flat state rate you enter. If your employer withholds too much, you get the difference back as a refund; too little, and you owe it in April.
Which year should I choose, 2026 or 2027?
Choose 2026 for pay you receive in 2026 — that is the return you file in early 2027. Choose 2027 for pay in 2027, which uses the official 2027 brackets and standard deduction released by the IRS on November 5, 2026 (Revenue Procedure 2026-35).
Does this include state tax?
Only if you enter a rate. States vary too much for one built-in rate: some have no income tax, some have flat rates and some have their own brackets. Enter your state’s marginal rate as a rough estimate, or 0 to see the federal-only result.
Sources
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2027 — Internal Revenue Service
- Rev. Proc. 2026-35 (2027 tax rate tables) — Internal Revenue Service
- Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 tax rate tables) — Internal Revenue Service
- 2027 cost-of-living adjustment fact sheet (Social Security wage base) — Social Security Administration
- Additional Medicare tax — Internal Revenue Service