Tax year 2026 · last updated August 23, 2026
Know what you actually take home.
A free US paycheck calculator for W-2 wages. Change state, filing status, or 401(k) and see federal, FICA, and state tax update instantly. Defaults to California — pick any state.
Your pay
Estimated take-home
per paycheck
| Item | Paycheck | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross | $80,000.00 | $80,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | $8,770.00 | $8,770.00 |
| Social Security | $4,960.00 | $4,960.00 |
| Medicare | $1,160.00 | $1,160.00 |
| State income tax | $3,210.42 | $3,210.42 |
| Total tax | $18,100.42 | $18,100.42 |
| Net / take-home | $61,899.58 | $61,899.58 |
Estimate only — not tax advice or full tax software. 2026 federal brackets and a simplified state model. Omits local taxes, most credits, and year-to-date wage-base tracking. Confirm with your pay stub or a tax professional.
How this 2026 paycheck calculator works
Takehome Cash annualizes your gross pay from hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, or annual input. Traditional 401(k) deferrals reduce federal (and typically state) taxable wages but not Social Security or Medicare. Section 125 health premiums reduce both. Federal tax uses IRS 2026 brackets and the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 joint / $24,150 head of household). We do not model the Child Tax Credit or itemized deductions.
Social Security is 6.2% of FICA wages up to the SSA 2026 wage base of $184,500. Medicare is 1.45% on all FICA wages, plus 0.9% additional Medicare above $200,000 (single / HOH), $250,000 (married filing jointly), or $125,000 (married filing separately).
State tax uses a published 2026 model for every state and DC: no tax, a flat rate, or progressive brackets, plus a standard deduction and personal exemption where Tax Foundation lists them. See methodology and sources.
Popular comparisons
- California vs Texas paycheck — same $80,000 single sample, engine estimates
- No state income tax paycheck — AK, FL, NV, NH, SD, TN, TX, WA, WY
Paycheck guides
- Hourly paycheck calculator
- Biweekly paycheck calculator
- Weekly paycheck calculator
- 401(k) vs take-home pay
- $80,000 salary take-home
- $100,000 salary take-home
- $25 an hour after taxes
- Married vs single paycheck
Popular state calculators
California · Colorado · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Massachusetts · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas · Virginia · Washington
FAQ
How is take-home pay calculated?
We annualize your gross pay, subtract pretax 401(k) and health premiums, apply 2026 IRS brackets and the standard deduction, withhold 6.2% Social Security up to $184,500, 1.45% Medicare (plus 0.9% additional Medicare over the threshold), and apply a simplified 2026 state income-tax model.
Is this official IRS withholding?
No. Employers use Publication 15-T methods and Form W-4. This is an annualized estimate so you can compare states and benefits instantly.
Which tax year is this?
Tax year 2026. Federal figures follow IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and the IRS newsroom release. FICA uses the SSA 2026 wage base of $184,500.
Do you include city taxes?
Not in v1, except a note on the New York page that NYC local tax is extra. Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Indiana locals are also omitted.