Federal Paycheck Calculator 2026

Federal income tax uses progressive brackets — you pay a lower rate on the first dollars of income and higher rates only on income above each threshold. For 2026, the brackets range from 10% to 37%. The calculator first subtracts your standard deduction ($15,000 for single filers in 2026), then applies the bracket math to your taxable income, so your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate.

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It consists of two payroll taxes: Social Security at 6.2% on wages up to $176,100 (the 2026 wage cap), and Medicare at 1.45% on all wages with no cap. High earners also pay an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married). Unlike income tax, FICA applies from the very first dollar of earnings.

Yes — traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your federal taxable income dollar-for-dollar. If you earn $80,000 and contribute $10,000 to a traditional 401(k), your federal tax is calculated on $70,000 (minus the standard deduction), which can drop you into a lower marginal bracket. Roth 401(k) contributions are made with after-tax dollars, so they do not reduce your federal or state taxable income.

Paycheck amounts can vary due to changes in hours worked, overtime, bonuses, or one-time withholding adjustments. Employers use IRS Publication 15-T withholding tables, which estimate your annual tax and divide it across pay periods — but irregular income like a mid-year raise or a bonus can cause one paycheck to be withheld at a higher rate. You can update your W-4 at any time to adjust withholding.

Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions — the number your employer agrees to pay you. Net pay (take-home pay) is what hits your bank account after federal income tax, FICA, state income tax, and any pre-tax benefit deductions like health insurance or 401(k) contributions are removed. The gap between the two is your total tax burden, which this calculator breaks down line by line.