Free Payroll Tax Calculator

Payroll Tax Calculator —
Estimate Your Take-Home Pay

Estimate federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and net take-home pay for US employees. Supports all pay periods.

✓ Federal & FICA Taxes ✓ Multiple Pay Periods ✓ Annual Projection ✓ Free

Payroll Tax Estimator

Enter your pay details to estimate take-home pay

Pay Information
$

Your gross (before tax) pay for the period.

Tax Filing Details
$

Extra amount to withhold beyond the standard calculation.

Disclaimer: This is an estimate only. Actual taxes may vary based on deductions, credits, local taxes, and other factors. Consult a tax professional for precise calculations.

Payroll Estimate
Estimate

Ready to Estimate

Enter your gross pay and filing details to estimate your take-home pay

Estimated Net Take-Home Pay
—
per pay period
Gross Pay —
Federal Income Tax
—
est. rate
Social Security (6.2%)
—
Medicare (1.45%)
—
State Income Tax
—
est. rate
Total Deductions
—
Pay Distribution
—
Take Home
Annual Projection
Annual Gross —
Annual Federal Tax —
Annual FICA —
Annual State Tax —
Annual Take-Home —

⚠ This is an estimate based on simplified 2024 federal tax brackets and approximate state rates. Actual withholding depends on W-4 elections, deductions, and local taxes.

Federal & FICA Taxes

Estimates federal income tax using 2024 brackets plus Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) FICA taxes.

All Pay Periods

Supports weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and annual pay periods with automatic annualization.

50 States + DC

Approximate state income tax rates for all 50 states and Washington DC included, including the 9 states with no income tax.

Annual Projection

Automatically projects your per-period estimates to annual gross, total deductions, and take-home pay.

How It Works

Estimate Your Take-Home Pay in 3 Steps

Fast payroll tax estimates for budgeting and financial planning.

1
Step 01

Enter Your Gross Pay

Input your gross (pre-tax) pay for the period and select whether it's weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, or annual.

2
Step 02

Select Filing Status & State

Choose your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.) and your state for an approximate state income tax estimate.

3
Step 03

See Full Breakdown

Get a detailed breakdown of federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state tax, and your estimated net take-home pay — per period and annually.

About This Calculator

Understanding Payroll Taxes in the US

Know exactly what comes out of your paycheck and why.

What Are FICA Taxes?

FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It funds Social Security and Medicare. Employees pay 6.2% of gross wages for Social Security (on wages up to $168,600 in 2024) and 1.45% for Medicare — a combined 7.65% FICA tax. Employers match this amount. High earners pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages above $200,000 ($250,000 MFJ).

How Federal Income Tax Withholding Works

Federal income tax is progressive — higher income is taxed at higher rates. Employers withhold tax each pay period based on your W-4 form (filing status, dependents, additional withholding). This calculator uses 2024 tax brackets with the standard deduction to estimate your annual federal income tax, then divides by your pay periods.

Standard deductions for 2024: Single/$14,600; MFJ/$29,200; HoH/$21,900; MFS/$14,600.

State Income Tax

State income tax rates and structures vary widely. Nine states have no income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. States like California (up to 13.3%) and Hawaii (up to 11%) have high top rates. This calculator uses approximate marginal rates — actual withholding depends on your state's specific tax tables and W-4 equivalent.

Why Estimate Your Payroll Taxes?

Understanding your take-home pay helps you budget, negotiate salaries, and plan for major purchases.

Budget with Confidence

Know your actual take-home before accepting a job offer or planning major expenses like rent, mortgage, or car payments.

Salary Negotiation

Compare offers in different states or pay structures. A $100K offer in Texas is worth more than $100K in California after state taxes.

Tax Planning

Estimate your tax liability early to decide whether to increase withholding or make quarterly estimated tax payments.

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Use Agency Handy to track billable hours, generate invoices, and manage your team — built for growing agencies.

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FAQ

Payroll Tax Questions Answered

Common questions about paycheck deductions and take-home pay.

What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes?

For most US workers, 20–35% of gross pay goes to federal and state taxes. The breakdown for a typical middle-income earner: Federal income tax 10–22%, Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45%, and state income tax 0–10%+. FICA taxes (Social Security + Medicare) are a flat 7.65% for everyone below the Social Security wage base. Federal income tax depends on your bracket and deductions. High earners in high-tax states may see 35–40% total withholding.

What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?

Gross pay is your total compensation before any deductions — your salary or hourly rate times hours worked. Net pay (take-home pay) is what you actually receive after all deductions including federal and state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, health insurance premiums, 401(k) contributions, and any other withholdings. Net pay is always less than gross pay unless you have zero taxable income.

What is the Social Security wage base?

The Social Security wage base is the maximum amount of earnings subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax. For 2024, that limit is $168,600. Earnings above this threshold are NOT subject to Social Security tax, though they remain subject to Medicare tax (1.45%) with no cap. High earners also pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 for married filing jointly).

How do I reduce how much tax is withheld from my paycheck?

The main ways to reduce withholding: (1) Update your W-4 to claim additional allowances or tax credits; (2) Increase pre-tax contributions to a 401(k), HSA, or FSA — these reduce your taxable income; (3) If you have significant deductions (mortgage interest, charitable giving), consider itemizing instead of taking the standard deduction; (4) Claim eligible tax credits. Note: reducing withholding doesn't reduce your actual tax liability — it just changes when you pay it. Under-withholding can result in a tax bill and possible penalties.

Does this calculator include 401(k) or health insurance deductions?

No. This calculator estimates federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and approximate state income tax only. It does not account for 401(k) or 403(b) pre-tax contributions, health insurance premiums, FSA/HSA deductions, garnishments, or local income taxes. Pre-tax retirement and health contributions would reduce your taxable income and therefore your actual federal/state withholding. For a complete picture, use your employer's payroll system or consult a tax professional.