FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act — the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. As a W-2 employee, you pay 6.2% of gross wages toward Social Security (up to the annual wage base, which is approximately $180,000 for 2026) and 1.45% toward Medicare with no cap. Combined, that's 7.65% withheld from your check. Your employer matches this 7.65% from their own funds — a cost you never see but that effectively represents part of your total compensation. High earners above $200,000 (single) also pay an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above that threshold.

What are pre-tax deductions?

Pre-tax deductions are amounts subtracted from your gross pay before federal and state income taxes are calculated. The most common ones are traditional 401(k) contributions, Health Savings Account (HSA) deposits, Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions, and employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance premiums under a Section 125 plan. These reduce your taxable wages dollar-for-dollar — so a $500/month 401(k) contribution in the 22% bracket saves approximately $110/month in federal income tax alone, plus state taxes. Importantly, most pre-tax deductions do NOT reduce Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) — HSA and Section 125 plan benefits are exceptions that do reduce FICA.

What is the difference between effective and marginal tax rate?

Your marginal tax rate is the rate applied to the last (highest) dollar of your income — the bracket you're "in." Your effective tax rate is your total federal income tax divided by your total gross income — the real average percentage you pay overall. In a progressive tax system, the effective rate is always lower than the marginal rate because only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate, not your entire salary. For example, a single filer earning $80,000 in 2026 has a 22% marginal rate but an effective federal rate of approximately 13.8%. Our calculator shows both figures in the results breakdown.

Does this calculator handle self-employed income?

Currently, our calculator is optimized for W-2 employees. Self-employed individuals (sole proprietors, freelancers, independent contractors, LLC single members) pay Self-Employment Tax (SE Tax) of 15.3% — both the employee and employer halves of FICA — on 92.35% of net self-employment income. They can then deduct half of SE Tax as an above-the-line deduction, reducing federal income tax. For self-employed scenarios, the federal income tax bracket logic still applies, but the SE Tax calculation is separate and not reflected in this tool. A dedicated self-employment calculator is on our roadmap.

Why does my paycheck not match the calculator?

A few common reasons: (1) Pre-tax deductions — if you contribute to a 401(k), pay health insurance premiums, or fund an HSA, those reduce net pay and must be entered as deductions in the calculator. (2) Local city/county taxes — if you live or work in New York City, Philadelphia, Columbus, or a similar locality with local income tax, those aren't reflected in the base calculation. (3) Additional W-4 withholding — if you entered a dollar amount in Step 4(c) of your W-4, your employer withholds extra beyond the standard tables. (4) State-specific employer withholding tables may differ slightly from our published rates.

Which states have no income tax in 2026?

Nine states collect no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Workers in these states only have federal income tax and FICA withheld from their paychecks — no state income tax line at all. This can mean $3,000–$12,000+ in annual savings compared to high-tax states like California (9.3% effective) or New York (up to 10.9% state + NYC surcharge). Washington State has no income tax but does deduct 0.58% for the WA Cares Fund (long-term care insurance). New Hampshire fully eliminated its tax on investment income as of January 1, 2025.

How does filing status affect my take-home pay?

Filing status is one of the most impactful variables in your paycheck calculation. It determines both your standard deduction and the width of your tax brackets. For 2026: Single filers get a $15,000 standard deduction; Married Filing Jointly gets $30,000; Head of Household gets $22,500. Wider brackets and larger deductions mean lower withholding per paycheck. A married couple filing jointly with $120,000 combined income typically keeps $4,000–$6,000 more per year than two single filers at the same income — purely because of how the MFJ brackets absorb income at lower rates. Always use the status that matches your W-4 for accurate results.

What is the 2026 Social Security wage base?

The Social Security wage base for 2026 is the income threshold above which the 6.2% Social Security tax stops being withheld for the rest of the year. For 2025 it was $176,100; the 2026 amount typically increases by $4,000–$8,000 (the IRS announces it each October). Once your wages exceed this base, your Social Security withholding stops for the remainder of the year — creating a noticeable increase in take-home pay, typically in Q4. Medicare (1.45%) continues on all wages with no cap. High earners above $200,000 (single) also pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surcharge on wages above that threshold. Our calculator applies the current 2026 limit automatically.

Can I use this for annual tax planning, not just paycheck math?

Yes — run the calculator with your expected annual salary and switch to annual output to see your projected total federal tax, state tax, and FICA for the year. This is useful for: estimating whether you'll owe or receive a refund at filing (compare to your expected W-2 withholding), evaluating the tax impact of a raise or new job offer, modeling the effect of 401(k) or HSA contribution changes on your annual tax bill, and comparing take-home pay between states if you're considering relocating. For actual tax filing or estimated tax payment calculations, consult a CPA or use IRS Free File — our tool is an estimation resource, not a tax filing system.

$4,234

22.4%

$892

7.65%

$1,108

13.3%

$2,836

0.0%

Know exactly what you take home.

Federal, state & FICA taxes. Pre-tax deductions. All 50 states. 2026 tax brackets. Accurate in under a second.

Accurate to the penny

IRS 2026 tax tables

Results in < 100ms

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States

2026

Tax Year

<100ms

Calc Speed

2026 Tax EstimateCalifornia · Single

Take-Home (bi-weekly)

$2,836.80

Gross Pay$3,846

Federal Tax−$507

State Tax−$209

FICA−$294

NET TAKE-HOME$2,836.80

Effective Tax Rate

26.2%

50 states supported

Payroll Calculators

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Free paycheck calculators for every pay type. Covers all 50 states, 2026 tax rates, and instant results.

Updated Jan 2026 · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-28

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All calculators use 2026 IRS brackets, FICA rules, and state-level withholding tables. Results are estimates, not tax advice.

Paycheck Calculators by State

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Pre-configured calculators with accurate state income tax rates for all 50 states + DC.

No state income tax

9 states have no state income tax: AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY

Tax & Paycheck Guides

Resources to Help You Keep More

In-depth guides on taxes, deductions, and paycheck planning — updated for 2026.

All articles

01Federal Guide

2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets & Rates — Complete Guide

All 2026 federal income tax brackets for every filing status. Includes standard deductions, marginal vs. effective rate explained, and worked examples.

12 min read

02Federal Guide

FICA Tax Explained: Social Security & Medicare in 2026

Everything you need to know about FICA taxes — Social Security, Medicare, wage base limits, Additional Medicare Tax, and self-employed SECA.

10 min read

03Federal Guide

How to Fill Out Form W-4 in 2026 — Step-by-Step Guide

A complete walkthrough of the 2026 Form W-4. Learn how filing status, dependents, and the multiple jobs worksheet affect your withholding.

11 min read

01Federal Guide

2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets & Rates — Complete Guide

All 2026 federal income tax brackets for every filing status. Includes standard deductions, marginal vs. effective rate explained, and worked examples.

12 min read

View all 11 tax guides

From the Blog

Latest Tax & Paycheck Articles

25 articles — updated for 2026 IRS tax year

View All Blogs

01Paycheck Guides

What Is a Paycheck Calculator?

A paycheck calculator shows you exactly how much you take home after federal, state, and FICA taxes are withheld from your gross salary.

4 min

02Federal Taxes

How Federal Income Tax Is Calculated

Federal income tax uses progressive brackets — you only pay each bracket's rate on the income that falls within it, not your entire salary.

6 min

03Federal Taxes

What Is FICA Tax? Social Security and Medicare Explained

FICA taxes fund Social Security and Medicare. At 7.65% flat (matched by your employer), they apply to almost all earned income.

5 min

01Paycheck Guides

What Is a Paycheck Calculator?

A paycheck calculator shows you exactly how much you take home after federal, state, and FICA taxes are withheld from your gross salary.

4 min

View All 25 Articles

How It Works

3 Steps to Your Exact Take-Home

Enter Your Salary

Input your annual salary or hourly wage. Select pay frequency and filing status. Advanced deductions like 401(k) and HSA are optional.

Select Your State

We dynamically load the correct 2026 state tax tables — whether your state uses flat, progressive, or no income tax.

Get Instant Breakdown

Federal, state, and FICA taxes calculated in < 100ms. See your exact take-home per paycheck, monthly, and annually.

2026 Tax Tables

2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets

Single filers. The US uses a progressive system — only income within each bracket is taxed at that rate.

Tax Rate

Income Range

Max Tax in Bracket

Cumulative Effective Rate

10%

$0 — $11,925

$1,193

10.0%

12%

$11,925 — $48,475

$4,386

9.0%

22%

$48,475 — $103,350

$12,075

11.7%

24%

$103,350 — $197,300

$22,534

11.4%

32%

$197,300 — $250,525

$17,031

6.8%

35%

$250,525 — $626,350

$131,505

21.0%

37%

$626,350 — ∞

Unlimited

37%

State Taxes

State Income Tax Comparison 2026

9 states have no income tax. 18 use a flat rate. 23 use progressive brackets. Scroll to see all 50.

State	Tax Type	Top Rate	Notes
Alabama	Flat	5.0%	Single bracket
Alaska	None	0%	No income tax
Arizona	Flat	2.5%	Reduced 2023
Arkansas	Progressive	4.7%	4 brackets
California	Progressive	13.3%	Highest in US
Colorado	Flat	4.4%	Flat rate
Connecticut	Progressive	6.99%	7 brackets
Delaware	Progressive	6.6%	6 brackets
Florida	None	0%	No income tax
Georgia	Flat	5.39%	Phasing down
Hawaii	Progressive	11.0%	2nd highest
Idaho	Flat	5.8%	Flat rate
Illinois	Flat	4.95%	Flat for all income
Indiana	Flat	3.05%	County taxes extra
Iowa	Flat	3.8%	Reduced 2024
Kansas	Progressive	5.7%	3 brackets
Kentucky	Flat	4.0%	Reduced from 4.5%
Louisiana	Progressive	4.25%	3 brackets
Maine	Progressive	7.15%	3 brackets
Maryland	Progressive	5.75%	Plus local tax
Massachusetts	Flat	5.0%	+4% millionaire tax
Michigan	Flat	4.25%	Flat rate
Minnesota	Progressive	9.85%	4 brackets
Mississippi	Flat	5.0%	Phasing down
Missouri	Progressive	4.8%	10 brackets
Montana	Progressive	6.75%	2 brackets
Nebraska	Progressive	5.84%	4 brackets
Nevada	None	0%	No income tax
New Hampshire	None	0%	No income tax
New Jersey	Progressive	10.75%	High earner surcharge
New Mexico	Progressive	5.9%	5 brackets
New York	Progressive	10.9%	Plus NYC local tax
North Carolina	Flat	4.5%	Phasing down
North Dakota	Progressive	2.5%	Lowest progressive
Ohio	Progressive	3.5%	3 brackets
Oklahoma	Progressive	4.75%	6 brackets
Oregon	Progressive	9.9%	Deductions apply
Pennsylvania	Flat	3.07%	Lowest flat rate
Rhode Island	Progressive	5.99%	3 brackets
South Carolina	Progressive	6.4%	Phasing down
South Dakota	None	0%	No income tax
Tennessee	None	0%	No income tax
Texas	None	0%	No income tax
Utah	Flat	4.65%	Flat rate
Vermont	Progressive	8.75%	5 brackets
Virginia	Progressive	5.75%	4 brackets
Washington	None	0%	No income tax
Washington DC	Progressive	10.75%	8 brackets
West Virginia	Progressive	5.12%	5 brackets
Wisconsin	Progressive	7.65%	4 brackets
Wyoming	None	0%	No income tax

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Our tax calculations are sourced directly from IRS Publication 15-T (Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods) and each state's Department of Revenue withholding tables — the same source material your employer's payroll software uses. We run a full update every December–January before the new tax year and audit mid-year when states change rates. For most W-2 employees with straightforward situations, federal accuracy is within ±1% of actual withholding. Local city taxes (NYC, Philadelphia, Columbus) and employer-specific benefit deductions may cause differences. Always cross-reference with your actual pay stub for payroll-specific questions, and consult a CPA for tax planning.