Paycheck calculator
Enter pay and Form W-4 details to see federal income tax, social security, Medicare and take-home pay for a 2026 paycheck. Worked out from IRS Publications 15 and 15-T.
This calculator opens once its tax rules have been checked by a reviewer. Until then, you can enter the amounts from your payroll in the pay stub generator.
Open the pay stub generatorThe official method, step by step
- Pay is annualized, then reduced by the Form W-4 amount for your filing status ($8,600, or $12,900 if married filing jointly) unless the Step 2 box is checked.
- Federal income tax comes from the IRS 2026 Annual Percentage Method table for that status, divided back to one paycheck.
- Social security is 6.2% of wages until the year's wages reach $184,500.
- Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% on wages over $200,000 in the year.
- A pre-tax 401(k) lowers federal income tax wages, not social security or Medicare wages.
What this leaves out
- State and local income tax (see the state pages for states without one)
- State programs such as disability or paid leave insurance
- Benefits, garnishments and other after-tax deductions
- W-4 Step 3 credits and Step 4 entries (the pay stub generator handles them)
Sources: IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods: Worksheet 1A and the Annual Percentage Method Tables; IRS Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E) Employer's Tax Guide: social security and Medicare tax, Additional Medicare Tax.
Paycheck calculator: common questions
Does this include state tax?
No. State and local income tax aren't included. In states with no personal income tax, such as Texas and Florida, the federal figures are the whole of the tax withheld.
How is federal income tax withholding calculated?
With the IRS percentage method in Publication 15-T: pay is annualized, adjusted for the employee's Form W-4, run through the 2026 table for their filing status and divided back to one paycheck.
How much are social security and Medicare in 2026?
Social security is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 for the year. Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus an extra 0.9% on wages over $200,000 in the year.
Why might a real paycheck differ?
Benefits, retirement contributions, garnishments, W-4 credits or extra withholding, and state or local taxes all change the amount. Your employer's payroll record is the final figure.
Can I make a pay stub from this?
Yes. Turn this into a pay stub opens the pay stub generator with the paycheck filled in, where you add the employer and employee details and pick a layout. It's free to create and preview.
Need a pay stub for this pay?
Free to create and preview. No account or card.