Paycheck Calculator — 2026 Estimate
Estimate take-home pay from annual gross compensation and pay frequency using a simplified annualized 2026 federal tax model plus payroll taxes.
2026 federal estimate using the standard deduction and federal income-tax brackets, 6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 of wages, Medicare, and the state/local effective rate you enter. This simplified model treats the entered deduction as reducing income-tax wages but not FICA wages, which matches a common 401(k)-style case but not every benefit. It is not an IRS W-4 withholding calculation and does not model credits, itemized deductions, bonuses, employer benefits or every payroll rule. Source checks: IRS 2026 inflation adjustments and SSA 2026 wage base.
How this tool works
Federal taxable income is approximated as wages after pretax deductions minus the 2026 standard deduction. Federal brackets are applied progressively; Social Security and Medicare are then added, along with the state/local effective rate you enter.
Example
Enter $90,000 annual pay, single filing status and 26 pay periods to estimate the modeled federal tax, FICA and net amount per paycheck.
Common questions
Is this the same as employer W-4 withholding?
No. It is an annualized planning estimate and does not implement every W-4 withholding-table adjustment, credit, bonus rule or payroll detail.
Which tax year is built in?
The federal brackets, standard deductions and Social Security wage base used by this page are for tax year 2026.