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 2025.
Federal Income Tax (2025 brackets, Single filer):
FICA taxes: Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to $176,100 (2025 wage base). Medicare: 1.45% on all wages (additional 0.9% over $200,000).
The standard deduction for 2025 is $15,000 (single) or $30,000 (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.