How we calculate take-home pay
Every number on this site is computed from the published 2026 tax tables below. No black box. Here are the exact rates, the formula, our sources, and the limits of what these estimates cover.
Tax data last reviewed: 2026-06-30 · Tax year 2026
The calculation, step by step
- Start from your gross annual salary and subtract any pre-tax deductions you enter (401(k), HSA).
- Subtract the federal standard deduction to get federal taxable income.
- Apply the 2026 federal brackets progressively: each slice of income is taxed at its own rate.
- Add Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base) and Medicare (1.45%, plus a 0.9% surtax on high earners).
- Apply your state’s 2026 income tax (its own brackets, rate, and deduction).
- Subtract all three from gross to get your take-home pay.
Worked example, $90,000, single, Texas (no state tax):
Taxable income = $90,000 − $16,100 = $73,900. Federal tax stacks 10% on the first bracket, 12% on the next, and 22% on the rest of that taxable income; FICA is 6.2% + 1.45% of the $90,000. Texas adds $0. Every result page shows this same arithmetic for your exact salary under “Show your work.”
2026 federal income tax brackets
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Standard deduction: $16,100 (single) / $32,200 (married filing jointly).
Single
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $12,400 | 10% |
| $12,400 – $50,400 | 12% |
| $50,400 – $105,700 | 22% |
| $105,700 – $201,775 | 24% |
| $201,775 – $256,225 | 32% |
| $256,225 – $640,600 | 35% |
| $640,600 – and up | 37% |
Married filing jointly
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $24,800 | 10% |
| $24,800 – $100,800 | 12% |
| $100,800 – $211,400 | 22% |
| $211,400 – $403,550 | 24% |
| $403,550 – $512,450 | 32% |
| $512,450 – $768,700 | 35% |
| $768,700 – and up | 37% |
2026 FICA (Social Security & Medicare)
- Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 (the 2026 wage base).
- Medicare: 1.45% on all wages.
- Additional Medicare: 0.9% on wages over $200,000 (single) / $250,000 (married).
Why do calculators give different numbers?
If you search “$100k after taxes in California” you’ll see half a dozen different answers. The differences come from a handful of assumptions, not from anyone being “wrong”:
- Tax year: 2025 vs 2026 brackets and standard deduction differ. We use 2026.
- Withholding vs annual tax: a paycheck calculator estimates what your employer withholds; we estimate your actual annual tax liability. They’re close but not identical.
- State add-ons: some tools fold in things like California SDI, local/city income tax, or disability insurance; we model state income tax and call out local taxes separately.
- Deductions assumed: we assume the standard deduction and no pre-tax contributions unless you add them.
Scope & limitations
These are estimates of annual effective tax for general guidance, not a tax-filing tool or a precise paycheck. We model federal income tax, FICA, and state income tax for single and married-filing-jointly filers taking the standard deduction. We do not model:
- Head-of-household filing, dependents, or the Child Tax Credit;
- Local and city income taxes (NYC, Yonkers, many Ohio/PA municipalities, Maryland counties): these are flagged in each state’s notes;
- Itemized deductions, credits, capital gains, self-employment tax, or other income;
- State-specific add-ons like California SDI or high-income recapture provisions.
For decisions that matter, confirm with the official IRS Tax Withholding Estimator and a licensed tax professional.
Primary sources
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 federal tax brackets & standard deduction (post-OBBBA)
- IRS: 2026 inflation adjustments (newsroom summary)
- SSA: 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500)
- IRS Topic No. 751: Social Security & Medicare withholding rates
- IRS Topic No. 560: Additional Medicare Tax (0.9%)
- Tax Foundation: State Individual Income Tax Rates & Brackets, 2026
State rates and brackets come from the Tax Foundation’s 2026 tables and each state’s Department of Revenue, including 2026 changes (e.g. Georgia’s flat rate cut to 4.99% under H.B. 463). Spot a number that looks off? Start from the calculator and check the “Show your work” breakdown.