Take-Home Paycheck Calculator
See your net pay after federal tax, FICA, retirement contributions and deductions.
Inputs
Rules and thresholds differ by year. Pick the year you are filing for.
Enter the gross pay for one pay period.
Additional federal income tax withheld per period (from W-4 Step 4c).
Traditional 401(k)/403(b)/457. Reduces both federal income tax and your taxable base.
Employer-sponsored health, dental, vision premiums deducted pre-tax.
FSA, dependent care FSA, commuter benefits, etc.
Effective flat rate for your state. Use 0 for no-income-tax states.
Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments, etc.
Take-Home Pay (per Period)
$2,510.92
Annual Take-Home Pay
$65,284
Federal Income Tax (per Period)
$408.38
Social Security Tax (per Period)
$235.60
Medicare Tax (per Period)
$55.10
State Income Tax (per Period)
$190.00
Total Pre-Tax Deductions (per Period)
$600.00
Effective Total Tax Rate
22.23%
All taxes as a share of gross pay.
Federal Marginal Rate
22%
Tax Year
2026
Step by step
Using 2026 tax year rules
2026 figures from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, reflecting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Gross pay per period
= $4,000.00
Annual gross
$4,000.00 × 26 pay periods
= $104,000
Federal taxable income (after deductions & standard deduction)
$104,000 − pre-tax deductions − $16,100
= $72,300
Annual federal income tax
= $10,618
Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500)
$98,800 × 6.2%
= $6,126
Medicare (1.45%)
$98,800 × 1.45%
= $1,433
State income tax
= $4,940
Take-home per biweekly paycheck
= $2,510.92
How it works
Your paycheck is reduced by several layers of withholding. Federal income tax uses the progressive bracket system for your selected tax year; pre-tax retirement and health insurance reduce this base first. FICA taxes are separate: Social Security applies only up to the annual wage base (which rises each year), while Medicare has no cap. An additional 0.9% surtax applies on wages above the threshold. State taxes vary widely — this calculator uses a flat rate as an approximation. Figures depend on the selected tax year.
Formulas
FICA — Social Security
Social Security Tax = min(FICA wages, wage base) × Social Security rate
- W_FICA
- Gross wages minus FICA-exempt deductions
- WB
- Social Security wage base for the selected year
- r_SS
- Social Security rate (6.2%)
FICA — Medicare
Medicare = FICA wages × 1.45% + max(0, wages above threshold) × 0.9%
- T
- Threshold: $200,000 for single/head; $250,000 for married filing jointly (not indexed by law)
Uses tax brackets and FICA rates for the selected tax year. State tax uses a flat-rate approximation. Actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections and employer payroll system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Social Security capped but Medicare is not?
Social Security benefits are also capped — you receive benefits based on your highest 35 years of earnings, and the maximum benefit is calculated from wages up to the wage base. Medicare has no benefit cap (it covers all qualified medical expenses), so the tax has no wage cap either.
What is the additional Medicare surtax?
The Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% was added by the Affordable Care Act. It applies to earned income above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Unlike the base Medicare tax, this is not split with an employer — you pay the full 0.9% yourself.
Does a 401(k) contribution reduce my FICA taxes?
No. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce federal (and often state) income tax but are still subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. Health insurance premiums paid through a Section 125 cafeteria plan do reduce FICA.
My state uses a progressive bracket, not a flat rate — what should I enter?
Enter your effective state rate (total state tax ÷ gross income) as a reasonable approximation. For exact state tax, use your state's withholding tables or a state-specific calculator.
Which tax year does this use?
You can select 2024, 2025, or 2026 from the Tax Year field at the top. The calculator uses that year's brackets, standard deductions, and Social Security wage base. The wage base rises each year, which can affect your net pay calculation.