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Estimate a 2026 paycheck in any US state for the federal part: federal income tax withholding under IRS Publication 15-T, Social Security and Medicare. State income tax is not included on this page; use a state calculator below where one is available.
Federal paycheck calculator
Results update as you type and show each deduction separately.
Not included: pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) or health premiums, bonuses and supplemental wages, and Forms W-4 from before 2020.
How the federal calculation works
Enter gross pay per paycheck (or an hourly rate and hours), your pay frequency and your Form W-4 answers: filing status (Step 1c), the Step 2 checkbox for multiple jobs, Step 3 credits, and Step 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c). The calculator follows Worksheet 1A of Pub 15-T for Forms W-4 from 2020 or later, line by line, and shows the adjusted annual wage and the tentative withholding so you can follow the workings.
Social Security stops once your pay for the year reaches the $184,500 wage base, so enter your earlier gross pay for the year if you are close to it. Additional Medicare Tax starts once wages for the year pass $200,000.
Checked against the IRS wage bracket tables
| Pay frequency | Adjusted wage | Filing status | IRS table | This calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| weekly | $900.00 | Single | $66 | $66.08 |
| biweekly | $2,015.00 | Married filing jointly | $78 | $77.65 |
| semimonthly | $2,510.00 | Head of household | $166 | $165.70 |
| monthly | $5,005.00 | Single (Step 2 checked) | $733 | $733.18 |
The IRS tables are rounded to whole dollars at the middle of each wage bracket; the calculator shows cents.
Federal withholding, Social Security and Medicare
Federal income tax withholding follows IRS Pub 15-T (2026) Worksheet 1A, percentage method for automated payroll systems, Form W-4 from 2020 or later. The calculator annualizes your pay, adds Step 4(a) other income, subtracts Step 4(b) deductions and, when the Step 2 box is not checked, $12,900 (married filing jointly) or $8,600 (other statuses). It applies the 2026 annual percentage method table for your filing status, divides by the number of paychecks, subtracts Step 3 credits per paycheck and adds Step 4(c). Sources: IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods (PDF); IRS Publication 15-T (2026), HTML edition.
Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026. Medicare is 1.45% of all wages, plus Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages over $200,000 in the calendar year, whatever your filing status. Sources: IRS Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer’s Tax Guide; IRS Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates.
State paycheck calculators
- Texas paycheck calculator
- Florida paycheck calculator
- Illinois paycheck calculator
- California paycheck calculator
- New York paycheck calculator
Each state page adds that state’s own withholding method from its revenue department, with official worked examples and sources. More states are added once their figures are checked against two official sources.
Sources and last review
Figures last verified on 2026-10-22 against these official publications (tax year 2026):
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods (PDF) (checked 2026-10-22)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), HTML edition (checked 2026-10-22)
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer’s Tax Guide (checked 2026-10-22)
- IRS Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates (checked 2026-10-22)
This calculator gives an estimate for planning. It is not professional tax or legal advice, and your employer’s payroll may differ (for example pre-tax benefits, bonuses or other deductions). To check your own Form W-4, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator.
Last reviewed October 22, 2026 for tax year 2026.