How accurate is this paycheck calculator?

For federal income tax, FICA, and the major state-tax cases (no-tax states, flat-rate states, progressive-bracket states with published 2026 schedules), the math is accurate. We do not include local taxes (city/county) or every state-specific deduction or exemption phase-out. For an exact paycheck calculation, ask your payroll department or use the IRS Withholding Estimator alongside your state DOR’s calculator.

Why does my actual paycheck differ from this estimate?

Payroll systems apply withholding based on the W-4 you filed (filing status, dependents claimed, additional withholding). They also handle benefit deductions (health insurance premiums, dental, vision, FSA) that this calculator does not. Year-end you reconcile via your return, that’s when this calculator’s estimate matches actual liability, not per-paycheck withholding.

Does this include health insurance premiums?

No. Employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision premiums are pre-tax deductions specific to your plan. Subtract them from gross pay before running this calculator if you want a closer match to your actual take-home.

Which states have no income tax?

Nine US states have no broad personal income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. New Hampshire and Washington tax some investment income but not wages.

Paycheck Calculator 2026

Enter your pay period, gross pay, and filing status to estimate take-home pay. For the most accurate result, pick your state below, state tax and SDI vary widely.

Take-home (annual),

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Annual gross

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Federal income tax

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FICA (SS + Medicare)

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State income tax

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SDI

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Total deductions (% of gross)

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Pre-tax 401(k)

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Pre-tax HSA

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Pick your state for accurate take-home

State pages add state income tax, state disability insurance (SDI), and local-tax disclosures specific to your jurisdiction.

Alabama AL Alaska AK Arizona AZ Arkansas AR California CA Colorado CO Connecticut CT Delaware DE Florida FL Georgia GA Hawaii HI Idaho ID Illinois IL Indiana IN Iowa IA Kansas KS Kentucky KY Louisiana LA Maine ME Maryland MD Massachusetts MA Michigan MI Minnesota MN Mississippi MS Missouri MO Montana MT Nebraska NE Nevada NV New Hampshire NH New Jersey NJ New Mexico NM New York NY North Carolina NC North Dakota ND Ohio OH Oklahoma OK Oregon OR Pennsylvania PA Rhode Island RI South Carolina SC South Dakota SD Tennessee TN Texas TX Utah UT Vermont VT Virginia VA Washington WA West Virginia WV Wisconsin WI Wyoming WY

Worked example

Take a single filer paid $4,000 every two weeks. With 26 bi-weekly pay periods in a year, that is $104,000 of annual gross. On this national view we estimate federal tax and FICA only, so pick your state for state income tax and SDI. Subtract the 2026 single standard deduction of $15,750 to reach taxable income of $88,250. Federal income tax stacks across three bands: 10% on the first $11,925 is $1,192.50, 12% on the next $36,550 is $4,386, and 22% on the remaining $39,775 is $8,750.50, totaling $14,329. FICA is charged on the full $104,000: Social Security at 6.2% is $6,448 and Medicare at 1.45% is $1,508, for $7,956. Annual take-home is $104,000 minus $14,329 minus $7,956, which is $81,715. That works out to $3,142.88 in each bi-weekly paycheck, or about $6,810 per month.

Step	Amount
Annual gross ($4,000 x 26)	$104,000
Standard deduction (single)	-$15,750
Taxable income	$88,250
Federal income tax	$14,329
FICA (SS $6,448 + Medicare $1,508)	$7,956
Annual take-home	$81,715
Per bi-weekly paycheck	$3,142.88

How it is calculated

Your paycheck is your gross pay per period minus federal income tax, FICA, and, on a state page, state income tax and any state disability insurance. The tool annualizes your pay by multiplying gross per period by the number of periods in the year, 26 for bi-weekly, 24 for semi-monthly, 12 for monthly, and so on. It applies pre-tax 401(k) and HSA amounts first, then the standard deduction, then the 2026 federal brackets to taxable income. FICA is computed on gross wages, not taxable income, with Social Security capped at the $176,100 wage base and Medicare uncapped. Because the brackets are progressive, only the slice of income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate, so a raise never lowers your net pay. Withholding on your real paycheck can differ because it follows your W-4 and benefit elections rather than your final return.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is this paycheck calculator?: For federal income tax, FICA, and the major state-tax cases (no-tax states, flat-rate states, progressive-bracket states with published 2026 schedules), the math is accurate. We do not include local taxes (city/county) or every state-specific deduction or exemption phase-out. For an exact paycheck calculation, ask your payroll department or use the IRS Withholding Estimator alongside your state DOR’s calculator.
Why does my actual paycheck differ from this estimate?: Payroll systems apply withholding based on the W-4 you filed (filing status, dependents claimed, additional withholding). They also handle benefit deductions (health insurance premiums, dental, vision, FSA) that this calculator does not. Year-end you reconcile via your return, that’s when this calculator’s estimate matches actual liability, not per-paycheck withholding.
Does this include health insurance premiums?: No. Employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision premiums are pre-tax deductions specific to your plan. Subtract them from gross pay before running this calculator if you want a closer match to your actual take-home.
Which states have no income tax?: Nine US states have no broad personal income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. New Hampshire and Washington tax some investment income but not wages.

Related calculators

Federal Income Tax Calculator

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Roth IRA Calculator

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Self-Employment Tax Calculator

For 1099 contractors and freelancers.

Sources

IRS Publication 15-T (2026) — Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods, Internal Revenue Service
Social Security Administration — Contribution and Benefit Base 2026, Social Security Administration

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US Paycheck Calculator 2026