US Paycheck Tax Calculator
Estimate take-home pay after federal withholding, state withholding, Social Security, Medicare, pre-tax deductions, and post-tax deductions.
Paycheck estimate
Net Pay
Federal + State + FICA
Enter paycheck details
Estimate federal withholding, state withholding, Social Security, Medicare, deductions, and take-home pay for one paycheck.
Paycheck estimate note
This calculator annualizes one paycheck to estimate income tax, then adds employee Social Security and Medicare tax for the period.
Paycheck tax estimate
Estimated take-home pay
$2,324
Per biweekly paycheck
Gross pay
$3,500
Taxable wages
$3,250
Total tax withheld
$926
Effective tax rate
26.46%
Taxes and deductions
Annualized summary
This is a simplified paycheck estimate. Actual payroll withholding can differ because of Form W-4, employer payroll setup, benefit rules, state rules, local taxes, wage limits, and payroll timing.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross payGross pay for the selected pay period. | $3,500 |
| Pre-tax deductionsPre-tax deductions entered by the user. | $250 |
| Taxable wagesGross pay minus pre-tax deductions. | $3,250 |
| Federal income tax withholdingEstimated federal withholding for this paycheck. | $375 |
| State income tax withholdingEstimated state withholding for this paycheck. | $302 |
| Social Security taxEmployee Social Security tax for this paycheck. | $202 |
| Medicare taxEmployee Medicare tax for this paycheck. | $47 |
| Additional Medicare taxApplied only when wages exceed the Additional Medicare threshold. | $0 |
| Post-tax deductionsPost-tax deductions entered by the user. | $0 |
| Total deductions and taxesPre-tax deductions, post-tax deductions, and estimated taxes. | $1,176 |
| Estimated net payEstimated take-home pay for this paycheck. | $2,324 |
Current estimated net pay per paycheck: 2,324 USD.
Paycheck tax estimate includes income tax and employee FICA
This paycheck calculator estimates federal income tax withholding, state income tax withholding, employee Social Security tax, employee Medicare tax, Additional Medicare tax, and deductions. It is designed for planning and paycheck comparison, not official payroll processing.
Key features
- ✓Estimates take-home pay per paycheck.
- ✓Supports weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and annual pay frequencies.
- ✓Includes federal income tax and state income tax estimates.
- ✓Includes employee Social Security, Medicare, and Additional Medicare tax.
- ✓Supports pre-tax deductions and post-tax deductions.
- ✓Useful for salary planning, job comparison, and withholding checks.
How to use this calculator
- 1
Select filing status, state, and pay frequency.
- 2
Enter gross pay for one paycheck.
- 3
Add pre-tax deductions and post-tax deductions if applicable.
- 4
Choose standard deduction or itemized deduction mode for federal tax.
- 5
Enter optional federal credits, state deductions, or custom state rate.
- 6
Review estimated net pay, taxes withheld, and annualized net pay.
US Paycheck Tax Calculator for Take Home Pay, FICA, and Withholding
In simple words
This free calculator estimates your take-home pay after federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare taxes come out of each paycheck.
A paycheck is not just your pay minus income tax. Federal withholding, state withholding, Social Security, and Medicare also come out. Withholding is the tax your employer sends to the IRS from each paycheck. The US Paycheck Tax Calculator estimates your take-home pay.
The calculator works in two steps. First, it turns one paycheck into a full year. A biweekly paycheck is multiplied by 26. A monthly paycheck is multiplied by 12. Then it estimates the taxes for that year.
Pay frequency matters. A $3,500 weekly paycheck is not a $3,500 biweekly paycheck. The weekly pay is about $182,000 a year. The biweekly pay is $91,000. Pick your pay frequency so the estimate is right.
Pre-tax deductions lower your taxable pay. Examples include retirement plans, health insurance, and HSA contributions. The calculator subtracts them before tax. Post-tax deductions come out after tax. Union dues and garnishments are examples.
Social Security and Medicare are called FICA taxes. Employees pay Social Security up to the annual wage base. Medicare has no wage-base limit. High earners may also pay Additional Medicare tax.
Withholding is not your final tax. It is a year-long estimate. You may get a refund or owe more at filing. Your return adds income, deductions, credits, and other jobs.
State withholding varies by state. Some states have no wage tax. Others have flat or progressive rates. You can enter a custom state rate.
Use this tool to compare job offers. The same salary can give different take-home pay. Benefits, state, and W-4 choices all matter. Your W-4 is the form that sets your federal withholding.
It also helps after changes. A raise, a new job, or a move can change your pay. Test the change before it hits your budget.
This is a planning tool, not payroll software. Real paychecks depend on your W-4 and employer setup. Check your pay stub if you are unsure.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate the federal income tax deducted from my US paycheck?
Multiply your paycheck by the number of pay periods in a year, subtract the standard deduction for your filing status, apply the 2026 federal tax brackets, and divide the annual tax by the number of pay periods. A $2,000 biweekly paycheck is about $52,000 a year; after the 2026 single standard deduction of $16,100, taxable income is about $35,900 and federal income tax is roughly $4,060 a year, or about $156 per paycheck. This calculator does the same math automatically.
How does the US paycheck tax calculator work?
It annualizes gross pay based on pay frequency, estimates federal and state income tax, adds Social Security and Medicare taxes, subtracts deductions, and shows estimated take-home pay.
What is gross pay?
Gross pay is the amount earned before taxes, deductions, benefits, and withholding are subtracted.
What is net pay?
Net pay is estimated take-home pay after taxes, withholding, and deductions are subtracted from gross pay.
Does this calculator include Social Security tax?
Yes. It estimates employee Social Security tax and applies the annual Social Security wage-base limit.
Does this calculator include Medicare tax?
Yes. It estimates employee Medicare tax and Additional Medicare tax when wages exceed the applicable threshold.
What are pre-tax deductions?
Pre-tax deductions are amounts taken from pay before some taxes are calculated, such as certain retirement, health, HSA, or benefit contributions.
What are post-tax deductions?
Post-tax deductions are taken after taxes are calculated and reduce take-home pay but do not reduce taxable wages in this simplified estimate.
Can I estimate state withholding?
Yes. Select a state and optionally enter a custom state tax rate for a more controlled estimate.
How does TaxCalculators.tools compare to other US paycheck tax calculators?
TaxCalculators.tools is free with no signup and gives instant take-home pay estimates for weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and annual pay. It includes federal, state, FICA, pre-tax and post-tax deduction logic for the 2026 tax year. It is designed for quick planning and job-offer comparison — it does not file tax returns or process payroll.
Is TaxCalculators.tools better than TurboTax for paycheck tax estimation?
For a fast, free paycheck estimate with no account required, TaxCalculators.tools is the simpler option. TurboTax is a full filing platform that also prepares and files your return, which this site does not do. Use this calculator for quick planning and filing software or a professional for your actual return.
Why can my real paycheck differ from this estimate?
Actual paycheck results can differ because of Form W-4, employer payroll setup, benefit rules, state rules, local taxes, bonus rules, and payroll timing.
Is this an official payroll calculator?
No. This is an independent planning calculator and should not replace employer payroll records, tax forms, or professional payroll advice.
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