Paycheck tax calculator

How take-home pay is figured

• Federal income tax. Salary minus pre-tax retirement and Section 125 deductions and the $16,100 single ($32,200 joint) standard deduction, then the 2026 brackets.
• Social Security and Medicare (FICA). 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500, and 1.45% Medicare on all wages, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare on wages over $200,000. Your employer pays a matching amount that is not shown here.
• New Jersey. Rate schedule on wages less 401(k) and Section 125 health deductions, with no standard deduction. New Jersey excludes 401(k) deferrals but taxes 403(b) and 457 deferrals (NJ Division of Taxation). This estimate treats the amount entered as a 401(k).
• New York. Rate schedule on income after the NY standard deduction, with New York City tax added for city residents. New York figures are an estimate. This uses a simplified estimating schedule: the full return also adds an extra charge for higher incomes (the tax-benefit recapture).

What this estimate leaves out

• State payroll deductions such as NJ and NY disability and family leave contributions, and local taxes other than New York City.
• Tax credits (such as child credits), itemized deductions, other income, and a second job or a working spouse.
• Your actual W-4 withholding. Employers withhold using the IRS tables and your W-4, which can differ from the full-year tax shown here. Adjust your W-4 if you want a refund or balance due closer to zero.

Also useful

• CalculatorS corp tax savings calculatorSee whether an S corp election could save tax once payroll taxes and extra costs are counted.
• Calculator1099 tax calculatorEstimate self-employment tax, federal income tax and NJ/NY tax on freelance income, and how much of each payment to set aside.
• Calendar2027 business tax deadlines by entityEvery 2027 federal, NJ and NY deadline for your entity type, with add-to-calendar files.