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Tax Withholding Calculator
How much federal tax should be held back from each paycheck? Put in your salary, filing status, state and pay frequency and this tax withholding calculator shows the withholding on every paycheck for 2026.
Example filled in: $60,000 a year, single, in Texas, paid every two weeks. Change any number below to run your own pay.
How to use this tax withholding calculator
- Enter your annual salary.
- Choose your filing status, state, and pay frequency.
- Add pre-tax deductions (401(k) and health) if you have them.
- The calculator works out your yearly federal tax from the simplified 2026 tables, then splits it across your paychecks.
Formula
Taxable income = salary − 401(k) − health premiums − standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly / $24,150 head of household in 2026). Federal tax is figured from the simplified 2026 brackets on that amount, then divided by the number of pay periods (52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semimonthly, 12 monthly). FICA is 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500 plus 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% over $200,000). Health premiums are exempt from FICA; 401(k) contributions are not.
Worked example — $60,000 in Texas, paid biweekly
$60,000 a year, single, in Texas, paid every two weeks: gross pay is $2,307.69 a period. Taxable federal income is $43,900 ($60,000 − $16,100 standard deduction), so yearly federal tax is $5,020 — $1,240 at 10% plus $3,780 at 12%. That is $193.08 of federal withholding per paycheck. FICA is $176.54 a period (Social Security $143.08 + Medicare $33.46), state tax is $0, and take-home pay is $1,938.07. Paid weekly instead, the same salary gives $96.54 of withholding per paycheck.
Frequently asked questions
How much federal tax is withheld from my paycheck?
It depends on your pay, filing status and pay frequency. On $60,000 a year, single, paid every two weeks in Texas, federal withholding is $193.08 a paycheck. Put your own salary in the tax withholding calculator above to see your number.
How do I change my withholding?
Withholding follows your W-4. To have more held back, add an extra amount on step 4(c) of Form W-4 and give it to your employer. To have less held back, check your W-4 steps — but be careful: too little withholding can mean you owe tax at filing time.
Why is my withholding different from this calculator?
Your employer uses the full IRS Publication 15-T tables and your exact W-4, including extra withholding, multiple jobs, and dependents. This calculator uses simplified 2026 tables, so small differences are normal. A large gap usually means your W-4 is out of date.
Does 401(k) lower my withholding?
Yes, for federal income tax: 401(k) money comes out before tax, so taxable income falls. It does not lower Social Security or Medicare tax. Health premiums lower both.
What is the difference between withholding and tax?
Withholding is the part of your tax taken from each paycheck during the year. Tax is the total bill, figured when you file. If withholding was more than the bill, you get a refund; if it was less, you owe the rest. The tax refund estimator compares the two.
Sources and 2026 figures. IRS Publication 15-T; IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. Standard deduction 2026: $16,100 single / $32,200 married filing jointly / $24,150 head of household. Social Security wage base 2026: $184,500. Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% over $200,000). Results are estimates, not tax advice.
Estimate, not tax advice. This site uses simplified 2026 tables for illustration. Check your figures against IRS Publication 15-T and a tax professional.