Paycheck Tax Calculator
One clear view of every tax on your pay for 2026 — and the two numbers people mix up: your effective rate (your real average) and your marginal bracket (the rate on your next dollar). Results update as you type.
State figures use standard allowances (CA: 1 DE 4 allowance; NY: 1 exemption). For NYC/Yonkers or different allowances, use the New York or California page.
| Gross pay (year) | $0.00 |
| Federal income tax | −$0.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%, up to $184,500) | −$0.00 |
| Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% over $200,000) | −$0.00 |
| Total tax | $0.00 |
| Your effective tax rate (all taxes ÷ gross) | 0% |
| Your federal marginal bracket (next $1 of pay) | 0% |
| Take-home per month | $0.00 |
| Take-home every two weeks | $0.00 |
Effective vs. marginal — the mix-up that costs people money
Your marginal bracket applies only to the slice of income inside that bracket — not to everything you earn. If you're single and in the bracket where the withholding schedule charges 22%, only the dollars above that bracket's floor are taxed at 22%; the dollars below were taxed at 10%, 12%, and so on. That's why a raise never makes your take-home pay go down: the higher rate only touches the new dollars. Your effective rate — total tax divided by gross pay — is the honest average, and it's always lower than your top bracket.
How this calculator works
Federal withholding uses the IRS's official method (Publication 15-T, 2026), annualized from a monthly paycheck and multiplied back; Social Security and Medicare use the statutory FICA rates and the 2026 wage base. State tax uses each state's official 2026 method (California EDD Method B; New York NYS-50-T Method II; Texas and Florida have no state income tax). Full sources: methodology page.
Estimate for general information only — not tax, legal, or financial advice. Withholding-based estimate; your final tax bill is settled when you file your return.