Paycheck Calculator

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Estimate paycheck withholding and take-home pay from gross pay, FICA, and deductions.

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Enter gross pay for one paycheck, optional federal and state tax percentages, and other flat deductions to estimate total deductions and take-home pay. This is a clearly labeled simplified estimate, not a full payroll system.

How to use this tool

Enter gross pay and pay frequency. Optionally add year-to-date gross for Social Security wage-base awareness. Set federal and state flat percentages plus any other deductions, then calculate take-home pay.

Worked example

Example: $2,000 biweekly gross with 12% federal, 5% state, and $100 other deductions withholds about $240 federal, $100 state, $153 FICA, and $100 other — roughly $1,407 take-home.

How it works

Enter gross pay for one paycheck, pay frequency, optional year-to-date gross, and flat federal/state tax rates. FICA is applied automatically: Social Security at 6.2% (capped by the annual wage base using YTD wages) and Medicare at 1.45%. Other flat deductions are subtracted to estimate take-home pay.

Limitations

This is a simplified educational payroll-withholding estimate that includes employee FICA (Social Security and Medicare). It is not a full payroll system and does not model every filing-status rule, credit, benefit, or employer-specific setting. Confirm amounts with your payroll provider or a tax professional.

Privacy and file handling

Your data stays on your device and is not uploaded.

Accuracy & methodology

This section documents how the calculator works, what it leaves out, and when results were last reviewed. Figures are educational estimates—not professional advice—and are not labeled "current" unless tied to automatically updated reference data.

Formula source or methodology: Take-home = gross pay − (federal % + state % + other deductions). Percent deductions apply to gross; flat deductions subtract after percents.
Jurisdiction: United States (highly simplified)
Unit system: Currency per paycheck
Rounding method: Currency amounts round to two decimal places (half up via Math.round × 100 / 100).
Assumptions: Single paycheck period; user supplies deduction percentages or flat amounts
Percent fields are simple fractions of gross, not bracket tables
Known omissions: Not tax, legal, investment, or lending advice. Confirm material decisions with qualified professionals.
Federal income tax brackets, standard deduction, and credits for any tax year
State and local income taxes
Filing status (single, married, head of household, etc.)
Payroll taxes (FICA, Medicare surtax) and self-employment tax
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and net investment income tax
Capital gains preferential rates
Pre-tax vs post-tax benefit deductions (401k, HSA, health premiums)
W-4 withholding tables and IRS Publication 15-T
Bonus supplemental wage rates
Test cases (automated): Gross with 0% deductions equals take-home
Negative gross is rejected
Version & last verified: Logic version 1.0. Content and formulas last verified 2026-07-06.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is this a full payroll calculator?

No. It is a simplified estimate using flat federal and state tax percentages plus other deductions you enter.

What should I put in other deductions?

Use flat amounts for benefits, retirement contributions, garnishments, or similar paycheck deductions.

Does it include FICA or tax brackets?

Yes. The estimate includes employee Social Security and Medicare (FICA), including the Social Security wage-base limit. It uses simplified withholding assumptions rather than a complete payroll system or official tax calculation.

Part of these workflows

This tool is one step in a longer job. Jump straight to your step or open the full workflow guide.

Page last reviewed: July 6, 2026