Estimate whether your current withholding is on track, too high, or leaving you with a bill in April.
The method behind this calculator
Withholding that is set too high hands the government an interest-free loan; set too low and you face a bill. Compare the federal tax this calculator projects against what your employer is actually taking out.
The calculator applies pre-tax deductions before income tax, then adds Social Security and Medicare on the full wage, which is how a real payroll run sequences things.
Step by step
- Enter your pay amount and how often you are paid.
- Set your filing status, state and tax year.
- Add pre-tax deductions to see how they change the net figure.
How the number is calculated
net = gross − pre-tax − federal income tax − FICA − state tax
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to the wage base) + 1.45% Medicare
A worked example
The calculator opens with a pay basis of Annual salary. On those figures the take-home pay is $1,977.15. Underneath, Gross per period comes out at $2,500 and Federal income tax at $206.6. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.
Common questions
Is this the same as my actual payslip?
It will be close, but employers use W-4 allowances and payroll tables that can differ slightly. Treat it as an estimate.
Does it include local or city tax?
No — only federal, FICA and an estimated state rate. Some cities add their own income tax.