Alabama · 2026
Alabama paycheck calculator
| Item | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $59,999.94 |
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 | −$5,020.08 |
| Social security | −$143.08 | −$3,720.08 |
| Medicare | −$33.46 | −$869.96 |
| Alabama income tax | −$96.50 | −$2,509.00 |
| Take-home pay | $1,841.57 | $47,880.82 |
The official method, step by step
For 2026, the Alabama lines are worked out as follows (rule set us-al-2026.1): Alabama income tax by the state formula: annual pay less the standard deduction, federal income tax withheld, the A-4 personal exemption and dependents, taxed at 2%, 4% and 5%.
- 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.
- Alabama income tax follows the state's withholding formula: annual pay less the standard deduction for the A-4 exemption and income level, the federal income tax withheld for the year, the personal exemption ($1,500 single, $3,000 married or head of family) and $300 to $1,000 per dependent. The rest is taxed at 2%, 4% and 5%, then divided over the pay periods.
- Alabama is one of the few states that subtracts federal income tax, so the Alabama line depends on the federal line above it.
What this leaves out
The calculator works out federal income tax, social security, Medicare and the Alabama lines for 2026, and leaves out the items below.
- City and county occupational taxes, such as Birmingham's
- Benefits, garnishments and other after-tax deductions
- W-4 Step 3 credits and Step 4 entries (the pay stub generator handles them)
Sources: Alabama Department of Revenue, Withholding Tax Tables and Instructions for Employers and Withholding Agents (rev. January 2026): Formula For Computing Alabama Withholding Tax; 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.
Alabama paycheck calculator: common questions
Common questions about Alabama paychecks and take-home pay in 2026, answered from the official sources listed above.
Why does Alabama subtract federal income tax?
Alabama allows a deduction for federal income tax, so the withholding formula takes the year's federal withholding off before working out Alabama tax.
What do S, M, MS and H mean on the Alabama A-4?
S is single, M married filing jointly, MS married filing separately and H head of family. They set the standard deduction and personal exemption.
What are the Alabama tax brackets for withholding?
2% on the first $500 of taxable income, 4% on the next $2,500 and 5% above $3,000; for married filing jointly the bands are $1,000 and $5,000.
Can I make a pay stub from this?
Yes. “Make a Alabama pay stub with these numbers” opens the pay stub generator with this paycheck, Alabama as the work state and these deductions filled in. Once you add the pay date, it can recalculate the same Alabama line.
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