Measure Formula

2026 withholding methods

Paycheck Calculator

Estimate take-home pay from hourly wages, salary or pay-period gross using verified 2026 federal and state withholding methods.

Tax year 2026Model version us-paycheck-2026.1
Pay and location
Verified 2026 modules: Texas, Florida, Michigan and Colorado.
Federal Form W-4 (2020 or later)
Additional W-4 adjustments
Deductions
Reduces federal taxable wages; remains subject to Social Security and Medicare in this model.
Modeled as reducing federal, Social Security and Medicare wage bases.
Modeled as a qualified cafeteria-plan payroll contribution reducing federal and FICA wages.
Reduces take-home pay but does not reduce federal, Social Security or Medicare wages.
Year-to-date wages (important near annual thresholds)

If you don't know these amounts, leave the fields blank. The result will use $0 and clearly mark threshold-sensitive withholding as conditional.

Estimated paycheck

Enter your pay and W-4 information, then calculate to see a gross-to-net estimate.

Choose a state paycheck calculator

Additional states are published only after their current withholding tables, employee payroll deductions and local-tax limitations have been independently verified.

What this calculator includes

  • IRS Publication 15-T's 2026 automated-payroll percentage method for a 2020-or-later Form W-4.
  • Employee Social Security and Medicare withholding with optional year-to-date wage thresholds.
  • Different federal and FICA treatment for traditional 401(k)-style and Section 125-style deductions.
  • A visible calculation trace and versioned model.

It estimates withholding for one paycheck. Withholding is not the same as final annual tax liability, refund or amount due.

Official sources and methodology

Model us-paycheck-2026.1. Last reviewed August 10, 2026. Tax rules can change; an affected module must be disabled rather than silently use expired data.

Source registry details
  • irs-p15t-2026-w1a: Section 1, Worksheet 1A and annual percentage-method tables; effective 2026-01-01 through 2026-12-31; retrieved 2026-08-10; reviewer status: Internal source-and-fixture verification complete.
  • irs-p15-2026-fica: What's New and Social Security and Medicare tax sections; effective 2026-01-01 through 2026-12-31; retrieved 2026-08-10; reviewer status: Internal source-and-fixture verification complete.
  • tx-no-individual-income-tax-2026: Texas Comptroller STAR document; effective 2026-01-01 through 2026-12-31; retrieved 2026-08-10; reviewer status: Internal source-and-fixture verification complete.
  • fl-no-individual-income-tax-2026: Florida Department of Revenue FAQ 1466; effective 2026-01-01 through 2026-12-31; retrieved 2026-08-10; reviewer status: Internal source-and-fixture verification complete.
  • mi-withholding-2026: Withholding rate and personal exemption amount; effective 2026-01-01 through 2026-12-31; retrieved 2026-08-10; reviewer status: Internal source-and-fixture verification complete.
  • co-dr1098-2026: Steps 1 and 2; effective 2026-01-01 through 2026-12-31; retrieved 2026-08-10; reviewer status: Internal source-and-fixture verification complete.
  • co-famli-2026: 2026 premium-rate announcement; effective 2026-01-01 through 2026-12-31; retrieved 2026-08-10; reviewer status: Internal source-and-fixture verification complete.

Found a reproducible error? Start a public correction report. Do not include wages, tax details or other personal financial information.

Limitations

This is a private planning estimate, not payroll software or tax advice. It does not support pre-2020 W-4 allowances, nonresident-alien adjustments, tipped wages, stock compensation, clergy rules, reciprocal-state treatment, local income taxes or every benefit plan.