Take Home Pay Calculator

For W-2 income, the calculator subtracts your pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction for your filing status before applying the federal tax brackets. It adds estimated state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, then subtracts taxes and your deductions from gross pay. The annual result is divided by the number of paychecks: 26 for biweekly or 24 for twice a month.

For self-employment, business expenses first reduce revenue to net earnings. The tool estimates self-employment tax, applies the deduction for half of that tax to the income-tax calculation, and divides total estimated taxes into four equal quarterly set-asides. It does not model qualified business income deductions or quarterly safe-harbor rules.

Example: a $75,000 salary in Texas

Choose W-2, $75,000 annual pay, Single, Texas, Bi-Weekly, and $0 in pre-tax deductions. The 2026 standard deduction of $16,100 leaves $58,900 of federal taxable income. Federal tax is $1,240 + $4,560 + $1,870 = $7,670; Social Security and Medicare total $5,737.50; state income tax is $0.

That leaves $61,592.50 a year, or $2,368.94 per biweekly paycheck, before any deductions the example leaves out. The effective tax rate is about 17.9% of gross pay; being in the 22% federal bracket does not mean every dollar is taxed at 22%.

Why your paystub may differ

This is an annual tax estimate spread evenly across paychecks. Your W-4 choices, multiple jobs, tax credits, itemized deductions, local taxes, state payroll programs, and after-tax deductions can change actual take-home pay. The tool treats entered pre-tax deductions as reducing income tax, while W-2 payroll taxes still use gross wages; some benefit deductions receive different treatment on a real paystub. Use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator when reviewing your federal withholding.

Put the estimate in context with our guides to building a budget, how 401(k) contributions work, and budgeting with irregular income.