Take-home pay calculator with 2026 payroll taxes
Enter gross pay, pay frequency, deductions and effective withholding rates. HitEquals estimates each paycheck and annual net pay, showing every subtraction separately.
Inputs used by this calculator
Take-Home Pay Calculator uses the fields below. The starting values reproduce the page example; replace them with values from the same units and time period before using the result.
| Input | Starting example | Accepted value | How it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay each period (USD) | 5,000 | 0 to 1000000000 | Supplies the gross pay each period (usd) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Pay period | Monthly — 12/year | Weekly — 52/year · Biweekly — 26/year · Semimonthly — 24/year · 2 more choices | Supplies the pay period quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Pre-tax deductions each period (USD) | 250 | 0 to 1000000000 | Supplies the pre-tax deductions each period (usd) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Effective federal withholding (%) | 10 | 0 to 100 | Supplies the effective federal withholding (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Effective state and local withholding (%) | 5 | 0 to 100 | Supplies the effective state and local withholding (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Post-tax deductions each period (USD) | 100 | 0 to 1000000000 | Supplies the post-tax deductions each period (usd) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| 2026 employee FICA | Include Social Security and Medicare | Include Social Security and Medicare · Do not include FICA | Supplies the 2026 employee fica quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
Gross pay to net pay
Annual equivalents make weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly pay comparable. Each deduction is annualized before net pay is divided back into pay periods.
2026 employee FICA
IRS Publication 15 sets employee Social Security at 6.2% up to $184,500 of wages and Medicare at 1.45% without a wage base. Employers withhold an additional 0.9% Medicare tax above $200,000 paid to an employee.
Income tax withholding
Federal withholding depends on wages and Form W-4 information. This calculator uses effective rates you enter so the assumption remains visible rather than pretending to complete a tax return.
Pre-tax and post-tax deductions
Pre-tax deductions reduce the income-tax base in this model. FICA treatment varies by benefit; this simplified calculation applies FICA to gross wages.
Verify the paycheck
Compare the result with a paystub and use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator for filing status, other income, deductions and credits. Net pay can differ because payroll systems round each line.
What the Take-Home Pay Calculator answers
Estimate net pay from gross wages, deductions, withholding rates and 2026 FICA taxes.
Use Take-Home Pay Calculator when you know Gross pay each period (USD), Pay period, Pre-tax deductions each period (USD), Effective federal withholding (%), Effective state and local withholding (%), Post-tax deductions each period (USD) and 2026 employee FICA and need the relationship expressed by the published equation.
2026 employee payroll tax reference
| Tax | Employee rate | 2026 wage rule |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% | Up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | No wage base |
| Additional Medicare | 0.9% | Over $200,000 withheld |
Frequently asked questions
Does this calculate my final federal tax?
No. It estimates paycheck withholding from the effective rate you enter.
Why is FICA based on gross wages?
Many common retirement deferrals remain subject to FICA, though benefit treatment varies.
What is biweekly pay?
It means 26 modeled pay periods per year.
Does it include employer payroll tax?
No. Only the modeled employee share reduces take-home pay.
How can I improve accuracy?
Use rates and deductions from a recent paystub and check the official IRS estimator.
What question does this Take-Home Pay Calculator answer?
Estimate net pay from gross wages, deductions, withholding rates and 2026 FICA taxes.
What to keep in mind
This transparent estimator uses entered effective income-tax rates. It does not reproduce Form W-4 tables or determine final tax liability.
Results are rounded for display in US format, with money in dollars and cents; CSV exports keep full calculation precision. This is a calculation summary, not an official certificate.