US Tax & Paycheck Calculators 2026

Every US paycheck is taxed in layers. Federal income tax runs from 10% to 37% after the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 for single filers). FICA adds 6.2% for Social Security on wages up to $184,500 and 1.45% for Medicare on everything. Then most states add their own income tax, while nine states, including Texas and Florida, don't tax wages at all. The paycheck calculator applies all three layers to your salary.

Bonuses are withheld differently from regular pay, usually at a flat 22% federal rate, which is why they can feel over-taxed. The bonus tax calculator shows what you'll actually receive. Saving in a traditional 401(k) lowers your income tax, so each dollar you save costs less than a dollar of take-home pay; the 401(k) paycheck calculator puts a number on that.

Freelancers and contractors pay both halves of FICA as self-employment tax, 15.3% in total, and make quarterly estimated payments: the 1099 tax calculator handles it. And for everyday purchases, the sales tax calculator covers every state's rate plus local taxes.

State rules differ more than most people expect. California charges State Disability Insurance on every dollar of pay, New York City residents pay a second income tax to the city, and Pennsylvania taxes your 401(k) contributions even though the IRS doesn't. Our state pages for California, New York, Texas and seven more states show the 2026 brackets, payroll contributions and a worked example for each.

Remember that a paycheck shows withholding, not your final tax. Your employer withholds using the W-4 you filed; when you file your return, the IRS compares what was withheld with what you actually owe. Too much withheld becomes a refund, too little becomes a bill. Pre-tax deductions change both: a traditional 401(k) lowers federal (and in most states, state) income tax but not Social Security or Medicare, while health premiums paid through a Section 125 plan lower all of them.