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Payroll Stack

Paycheck Calculator 2026

Enter your pay and Form W-4 details to estimate federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state withholding for one paycheck, and what you take home.

Last updated

Your pay

How are you paid?

Other states are coming soon.

Check if you have more than one job, or you and your spouse both work, and you ticked Step 2(c).

Traditional (pre-tax). Lowers income tax, not FICA.

Pre-tax (Section 125). Lowers income tax and FICA.

More W-4 and paycheck options

Include any tips or overtime deduction you claim here.

Roth 401(k) and similar.

Optional. Places the Social Security cap and the extra Medicare tax.

Estimated take-home pay per paycheck

$1,690.85

$43,962.10 a year, 26 paychecks in Texas

Paycheck breakdown
ItemPer paycheckPer year
Gross pay$2,000.00$52,000.00
Federal income tax−$156.15−$4,059.90
Social Security (6.2%)−$124.00−$3,224.00
Medicare (1.45%)−$29.00−$754.00
Take-home pay$1,690.85$43,962.10

Total taxes: $309.15 per paycheck, $8,037.90 a year. Amounts are shown in cents; payroll systems may round withholding to whole dollars.

Rates as of: IRS Pub 15-T (2026), rev. Dec 3, 2025 · SSA 2026 · Texas: Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026. Methodology and sources

This is payroll withholding, not your final tax bill. Your actual tax may differ when you file.

How the estimate works

Federal income tax uses the annual percentage method that the IRS gives employers with automated payroll systems (Publication 15-T, Worksheet 1A). Your pay for one period is annualized, adjusted for your Form W-4, run through the 2026 tax table for your filing status, and divided back into one paycheck.

Social Security is 6.2% of your wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, and Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% once your employer has paid you more than $200,000 in the year. State tax follows the state's own withholding formula. Traditional 401(k) contributions lower income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; Section 125 health benefits lower both.

The full method and every source are on the methodology page.

Paycheck calculators by state

15 states are supported so far. More states are being added after their 2026 withholding formulas are checked.

Frequently asked questions

How is my federal withholding calculated?

It uses the IRS percentage method for automated payroll systems in Publication 15-T (2026) and the entries on your Form W-4 (2020 or later): filing status, the Step 2 checkbox, Step 3 credits and Step 4 adjustments. See irs.gov/publications/p15t.

Why is Social Security not taken out of my last paychecks?

The 6.2% Social Security tax stops once your 2026 wages from an employer reach $184,500 (Social Security Administration). Later paychecks in the year are larger.

What is the Additional Medicare Tax?

Employers withhold an extra 0.9% on wages they pay you above $200,000 in the year. The amount you actually owe depends on your filing status ($250,000 for married filing jointly) and is settled on your tax return.

Do 401(k) contributions reduce Social Security tax?

No. Traditional 401(k) and 403(b) contributions lower the wages used for federal income tax, but not for Social Security and Medicare. Section 125 benefits (health, dental and vision premiums, and HSA contributions through a cafeteria plan) lower both. In Pennsylvania, 401(k) contributions are also subject to state income tax.

What about tips and overtime?

For 2025 to 2028, federal law allows a deduction for qualified tips (up to $25,000) and qualified overtime pay (up to $12,500, or $25,000 for married filing jointly). Employees claim them through Step 4(b) of Form W-4 by entering the expected deduction; this calculator applies whatever you enter in Step 4(b).

What is the 2026 standard deduction?

$16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly and $24,150 for head of household (IRS, Rev. Proc. 2025-32). Withholding builds a similar allowance into the IRS tables, which is why the calculator does not subtract it again.

Is this tax advice?

No. It is an estimate of payroll withholding, not your final tax bill and not tax, legal or financial advice. Your actual tax may differ when you file. For your situation, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (irs.gov/w4app) or a tax professional.

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