Federal Withholding
Estimates federal income-tax withholding using the IRS 2026 percentage method for automated payroll systems for 2020+ Form W-4.
Calculator
2026 Take-Home Pay & Salary After Tax Calculator
Use this take-home pay calculator to estimate your 2026 net pay per paycheck in the United States. Enter your annual salary, hourly wage or gross pay per paycheck, choose how often you are paid and your filing status, and the paycheck calculator estimates federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare and your take-home pay.
This calculator covers federal payroll taxes only. State and local income taxes are not included, so your actual net pay may be lower if your state has an income tax.
Trust and methodology
How This Calculator Is Reviewed
- Calculation type
- Federal payroll withholding estimate
- Jurisdiction
- United States federal payroll only
- Applicable rule year
- 2026
- Last reviewed
- 2026-07-22
This is a payroll withholding estimate based on entered information, not tax, payroll, legal, or financial advice.
Primary Sources
- Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding MethodsInternal Revenue Service - United States - 2026
- Publication 15 (2026), Circular E, Employer's Tax GuideInternal Revenue Service - United States - 2026
- About Form W-4, Employee's Withholding CertificateInternal Revenue Service - United States - 2026
- Contribution and Benefit BaseSocial Security Administration - United States - 2026
Known Limitations
- State income tax and local or city income tax are not included.
- Canada payroll calculations are not implemented.
- Employer payroll taxes, self-employment tax, and final annual tax-return liability are not included.
- Bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime-law calculations, nonresident alien adjustments, and pre-2020 W-4 forms are not supported.
Found a calculation issue, outdated source, accessibility problem, or unclear assumption? Contact us.
Enter Pay Details
Start with income, pay frequency, and filing status. Advanced W-4, deduction, and year-to-date fields are optional.
United States 2026
What This Calculator Includes
Payroll Taxes
Includes employee Social Security, Medicare, and Additional Medicare withholding when applicable.
Not Included
State income tax, local tax, employer payroll taxes, self-employment tax, Canada payroll rules, and final tax-return liability are outside this calculator.
How Your Take-Home Pay Is Estimated
The calculator starts with gross pay for the selected pay period, applies any user-entered deduction tax-base effects, then estimates federal payroll withholding and employee payroll taxes. The final result is gross pay minus federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare, and user-entered deductions.
This is a payroll withholding estimate. It is not a final annual income-tax return calculation, and it does not include state or local taxes.
Payroll withholding flow
Federal withholding uses the IRS automated percentage-method tables for 2020+ Form W-4. Gross pay is annualized by pay frequency, adjusted by W-4 Step 4(a) and Step 4(b), matched to the filing-status table, converted back to the pay period, reduced by Step 3 credits, and then increased by any Step 4(c) extra withholding.
Social Security, Medicare, and Additional Medicare are calculated as separate payroll withholding components. This is why the calculator does not show a single tax-rate formula.
What Is Deducted from a Paycheck?
Common paycheck deductions may include federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare, benefit deductions, retirement contributions, and other employer-administered items. This calculator only applies custom deductions according to the tax-base flags you select.
Federal Income-Tax Withholding
Federal withholding depends on gross wages, pay frequency, filing status, and Form W-4 entries. Step 2 can increase withholding for multiple-job situations, Step 3 credits can reduce withholding, and Step 4 fields can account for other income, deductions, or extra withholding.
Social Security and Medicare
Employee Social Security withholding applies up to the annual wage base. Medicare withholding generally applies without a normal wage cap, and Additional Medicare withholding can apply after the payroll withholding threshold is crossed. Year-to-date wage inputs help model those thresholds more precisely.
For 2026, Social Security is withheld at 6.2% of wages up to the $184,500 wage base, and Medicare at 1.45% of all wages. Employers also withhold an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000 in a calendar year.
Gross Pay vs Net Pay
Gross pay is pay before deductions and withholding. Net pay, or take-home pay, is the estimated amount remaining after the deductions included in this calculator. Read our gross pay vs net pay guide.
Worked Example
Example: Single filing status, biweekly gross pay of $2,000, no W-4 adjustments, and no custom deductions.
- Gross pay
- $2,000.00
- Federal withholding
- $156.15
- Social Security
- $124.00
- Medicare
- $29.00
- Estimated take-home pay
- $1,690.85
State and local taxes are not included in this example or calculator.
How to Use the Calculator
1. Choose Income Type
Use annual salary, per-pay gross, or hourly pay based on the information you have.
2. Add W-4 Details
Start simple, or open advanced W-4 settings if your form includes Step 2, Step 3, or Step 4 entries.
3. Review the Estimate
Compare gross pay, deductions, payroll taxes, and take-home pay. Use YTD fields when annual payroll caps matter.
Limitations
This calculator is US federal-only for 2026. It does not calculate Canada payroll rules, state income taxes, local taxes, bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime-law calculations, pre-2020 W-4 forms, nonresident alien adjustments, employer payroll taxes, or self-employment taxes.
Salary Calculator FAQ
What is take-home pay?
Take-home pay is the amount left from gross pay after payroll withholding, employee payroll taxes, and any user-entered deductions included in the estimate.
Does this calculator include state income tax?
No. This calculator estimates United States federal payroll withholding, Social Security, Medicare, and Additional Medicare when applicable. State and local taxes are not included.
Is this the same as my final annual tax return?
No. Payroll withholding is an estimate collected through paychecks. Your final annual tax liability can differ based on credits, deductions, other income, filing details, and state or local rules.
How does Form W-4 affect take-home pay?
The W-4 settings change federal income-tax withholding. Step 2 uses a higher withholding table, Step 3 reduces withholding for credits, Step 4(a) adds other income, Step 4(b) accounts for deductions, and Step 4(c) adds extra withholding per paycheck.
What is the difference between biweekly and semimonthly pay?
Biweekly pay usually means 26 paychecks per year. Semimonthly pay usually means 24 paychecks per year, often two each month.
Does Social Security tax stop after a wage limit?
Yes. For 2026, employee Social Security withholding applies up to the annual wage base. Use the year-to-date wage fields when you are approaching that limit.
What is Additional Medicare withholding?
Employers withhold Additional Medicare tax when Medicare wages paid to an employee exceed the payroll withholding threshold. This is separate from regular Medicare withholding.
Can I calculate hourly take-home pay?
Yes. Enter hourly rate, hours per week, and weeks per year. Overtime-law calculations, tips, commissions, and bonuses are not included in this calculator.
How much is taken out of a $60,000 salary for Social Security and Medicare?
In 2026, Social Security is 6.2% and Medicare is 1.45%, so on a $60,000 salary that is $3,720 for Social Security and $870 for Medicare for the year. Federal income tax withholding is extra and depends on your W-4; enter your details to see the full estimate.
What is the difference between gross pay and net pay?
Gross pay is what you earn before anything is taken out. Net pay, or take-home pay, is what is left after federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare and any deductions such as retirement contributions.
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This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Actual paychecks may differ based on employer payroll settings, benefit treatment, tax forms, timing, state or local taxes, and other payroll details. It is not tax, payroll, legal, or financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.