How to Use
- 1.
Choose salary or hourly pay and enter your gross earnings.
- 2.
Select pay frequency, tax year, filing status, dependents, and W-4 adjustments.
- 3.
Enter pre-tax and post-tax deductions per paycheck.
- 4.
Select a state, review the editable planning rate, and enter local tax if applicable.
- 5.
Review annual and paycheck results, charts, W-2 planning figures, state comparison, and employer costs.
- 6.
Copy, save, share, or print the estimate and verify it with official payroll guidance.
Features
2025 and 2026 federal brackets
Salary and hourly modes
Federal, FICA, state, local, SDI, and deduction estimates
All states plus DC comparison
Traditional and Roth 401(k), HSA, FSA, and health inputs
Bonus, multiple-jobs, and self-employment options
Employer FICA, FUTA, SUTA, and total cost
Charts, W-2 summary, save, share, copy, and print
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this calculator use 2026 federal tax brackets?+
Yes. Select 2026 to use the published 2026 federal bracket and standard deduction amounts. A 2025 option is also available.
How are Social Security and Medicare estimated?+
The tool applies the selected year's Social Security wage base, employee rate, Medicare rate, and additional Medicare withholding threshold.
Is state withholding exact?+
No. State and local systems vary. The tool provides a visible editable planning rate and directs users to verify official state withholding rules.
Can I compare take-home pay by state?+
Yes. The comparison keeps pay and federal assumptions constant while changing the simplified state rate.
Can I print a pay stub?+
You can print or save a planning summary as PDF, but it is not an official pay stub or W-2.
Is this tax advice?+
No. It is an educational estimate. Verify actual withholding with official agencies, your employer, payroll provider, or a qualified professional.
About this tool
Free Payroll Tax Calculator (US)
Use the WebToolsEdge US Payroll Tax Calculator to estimate take-home pay from an annual salary or hourly wage. Select the 2025 or 2026 tax year, pay frequency, filing status, state, W-4 planning inputs, pre-tax benefits, and post-tax deductions. The result separates estimated federal tax, state and local tax, Social Security, Medicare, deductions, and net pay per paycheck and per year. The 2026 option uses published federal brackets, standard deduction amounts, and the Social Security wage base. Federal income tax is progressive, so the bracket chart shows how taxable income is allocated. FICA is calculated separately because Social Security and Medicare follow payroll-specific rates and limits. State withholding is a clearly labeled planning estimate. States use different brackets, deductions, credits, disability programs, local taxes, and payroll tables, so the selected rate remains visible and editable. The state-by-state comparison is useful for initial relocation planning but is not a complete tax return or cost-of-living comparison. Traditional 401(k), HSA, FSA, health premium, Roth 401(k), bonus, extra withholding, multiple-jobs, and self-employment planning controls are included. An optional employer section estimates the FICA match, FUTA, SUTA, and total employer cost. Copy, save, share, or print the result, but verify actual payroll with official IRS, state, local, employer-plan, and payroll-provider guidance.
For a simpler annual liability estimate, compare the result with the Income Tax Calculator. Review monthly debt pressure with the Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator, plan payroll retirement deductions with the Retirement Savings Calculator, or browse all Calculators. Always verify withholding with official IRS, state, local, employer, or payroll-provider guidance.