Free paycheck calculator: take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare. Enter an hourly rate or annual salary for instant results.
Your net pay (take-home pay) is your gross pay minus federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, state income tax, and any pre-tax deductions (health insurance, 401k contributions). This calculator focuses on federal taxes for 2026.
Federal Income Tax (2026 brackets, Single filer):
FICA taxes: Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 (2026 wage base). Medicare: 1.45% on all wages (additional 0.9% over $200,000).
The standard deduction for 2026 is $16,100 (single) or $32,200 (married filing jointly). This reduces your taxable income before applying brackets. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums also reduce taxable income.
Your paycheck starts with gross pay, then subtracts pre-tax deductions (retirement contributions, many health premiums), payroll taxes (in the US, 6.2% Social Security up to the annual cap and 1.45% Medicare), federal income tax withheld per your W-4 using progressive brackets, and any state and local taxes.
On a $5,000 monthly gross with 5% going to a 401(k): $250 pre-tax leaves $4,750 taxable; FICA takes about $382, and federal withholding of roughly $450 (single filer) leaves around $3,900 before state tax and benefits premiums.
Why did my refund disappear when I raised allowances? Withholding is a prepayment of the same tax bill — changing it shifts money between paychecks and refund, not your total tax.
Marginal vs effective rate? Only income inside each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate; a raise never lowers your net pay.
The formulas and figures used by this calculator come from these published sources. Where a figure changes from year to year, the year it applies to is stated on the page.
Results are estimates for planning, not financial advice. Tax rules and rates vary by country and by personal circumstances.