US Paycheck Estimator (Federal, 2026) Widget

Turn an annual salary into a federal take-home figure per weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly paycheck using the IRS's 2026 brackets, standard deduction and FICA limits - with a clear warning that state and local income taxes are left out.

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<iframe src="https://a2z.tools/embed/w/us-paycheck-estimator" title="US Paycheck Estimator (Federal, 2026) by A2Z Tools" width="100%" height="1206" style="border:0;width:100%" loading="lazy" allow="clipboard-write"></iframe>

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How it works

The estimator works on the whole year and then divides by the number of paychecks. Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals (a percentage of gross) and cafeteria-plan HSA contributions are subtracted, then the 2026 standard deduction from Rev. Proc. 2025-32 - $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, $24,150 head of household - and the remainder is taxed bracket by bracket at 10% up to 37%. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to the $184,500 base and Medicare 1.45% of all wages; the 401(k) stays in both of those wage figures while the HSA does not, as IRS Publication 15 states. Above $200,000 the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax the employer must withhold is added. A $75,000 single earner paid every two weeks with 5% to a 401(k) keeps about $2,256.44 per paycheck. The result is an annual-liability estimate; real W-4 withholding uses Publication 15-T and settles on the return.

Calculation method

  • Federal taxable income = gross - 401(k) - HSA - standard deduction (not below 0)
  • Federal income tax = sum over brackets of (portion of taxable income in the bracket x bracket rate)
  • Social Security = 6.2% x min(gross - HSA, $184,500)
  • Medicare = 1.45% x (gross - HSA) + 0.9% x max(0, gross - HSA - $200,000)
  • Take-home = gross - 401(k) - HSA - federal tax - Social Security - Medicare; per paycheck = annual / 52, 26, 24 or 12

Worked examples

Single, biweekly

Inputs: Salary $75,000; every two weeks; single; 401(k) 5%; HSA $0

Result: Take-home $2,256.44 per paycheck (federal tax $263.27, Social Security $178.85, Medicare $41.83)

Taxable 75,000 - 3,750 - 16,100 = 55,150; tax 5,800 + 22% x 4,750 = 6,845 a year.

Married filing jointly, monthly

Inputs: Salary $150,000; monthly; married filing jointly; 401(k) 6%; HSA $4,000

Result: Take-home $9,445.92 per month (federal tax $1,040.00)

Taxable 150,000 - 9,000 - 4,000 - 32,200 = 104,800; tax 11,600 + 22% x 4,000 = 12,480.

Above the wage base

Inputs: Salary $250,000; every two weeks; single; no 401(k) or HSA

Result: Take-home $7,045.46 per paycheck

Social Security stops at $184,500 ($11,439); Medicare 3,625 + 0.9% x 50,000 = 4,075; tax 41,024 + 32% x 32,125 = 51,304.

An estimate of federal taxes for illustration, not tax or financial advice. State and local income taxes are not included, and actual withholding depends on your W-4.

Limitations

  • Federal taxes only - no state, city or local income tax and no state disability or paid-leave contributions.
  • Standard deduction only: no itemised deductions, tax credits (such as the child tax credit), other income, or the 2025 law's new deductions for tips, overtime or seniors.
  • Roth 401(k), dependent-care FSA, health premiums and catch-up contributions are not modelled.
  • Married filing separately and qualifying surviving spouse statuses are not offered.

Where publishers use it

  • A job board showing the federal take-home of an advertised $85,000 salary per biweekly paycheck
  • A recruiter's offer page comparing single and married-filing-jointly take-home for a relocation package
  • A benefits portal illustrating how raising the 401(k) from 4% to 8% changes each paycheck
  • A personal-finance course module on how FICA stops at the Social Security wage base
  • A freelancer-to-employee guide showing what withholding a first W-2 job brings

Questions

Does this include state income tax?

No. Only federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare are calculated. Most states, DC and some cities tax wages too, so the real paycheck in those places is lower than shown; Texas, Florida and a few other states have no tax on wages.

Why is my actual withholding different?

Employers withhold from the W-4 and the Publication 15-T tables, which work per paycheck and include your W-4 adjustments. This widget estimates the year's tax liability and spreads it evenly, so the two usually differ by a little; the tax return settles the difference.

Why does a 401(k) lower income tax but not Social Security?

Elective 401(k) deferrals are excluded from income-tax wages but remain wages for Social Security and Medicare, per IRS Publication 15. HSA contributions made through a section 125 cafeteria plan are excluded from all three.

What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?

$184,500. Wages above it owe no 6.2% Social Security tax, so the maximum for 2026 is $11,439; Medicare has no cap.

When does the extra 0.9% Medicare tax start?

Employers must withhold it once an employee's wages pass $200,000 in the year, whatever the filing status. The final liability threshold on the return is $250,000 for married filing jointly, so couples may get some back.

Sources

  1. Revenue Procedure 2025-32 - Internal Revenue Service . Section 4.01 tax rate tables and section 4.14 standard deduction for taxable years beginning in 2026. Checked 2026-10-01.
  2. Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide - Internal Revenue Service . Social Security 6.2% to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare 1.45%, $200,000 Additional Medicare withholding point; 401(k) and HSA wage treatment. Checked 2026-10-01.
  3. Topic no. 560, Additional Medicare Tax - Internal Revenue Service . 0.9% rate; thresholds $250,000 joint, $125,000 separate, $200,000 others. Checked 2026-10-01.
  4. Retirement topics - 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits - Internal Revenue Service . $24,500 elective-deferral limit for 2026. Checked 2026-10-01.
  5. Revenue Procedure 2025-19 - Internal Revenue Service . 2026 HSA limits: $4,400 self-only, $8,750 family. Checked 2026-10-01.

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A2Z Tools US Paycheck Estimator (Federal, 2026)
https://a2z.tools/embed/us-paycheck-estimator

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