Tools · 2026

Paycheck calculator

Gross to take-home using 2026 IRS brackets, the $16,100 / $32,200 standard deduction, Social Security wage base $184,500, and a W-4 extra-withholding number that aims near a $0 refund. Numbers update as you type. The URL is shareable.

Quick answer: This paycheck calculator turns gross pay into a take-home estimate using the 2026 federal figures already printed on the page, plus the 401(k), HSA, and state percent you type. It also suggests extra W-4 withholding aimed near a $0 balance. It is not your employer's Publication 15-T worksheet.

Read how to read a stub and how to fill out a W-4 first. This is not the IRS Publication 15-T table — it is an educational annualize-then-split estimate.

Gross annual salary Pay frequency Filing status Qualifying children (W-4 Step 3) State income tax %

Traditional 401(k) % of gross Roth 401(k) % of gross HSA $ per paycheck Other pretax $ per paycheck (health premium) Other household income not withheld on this job ($ / yr) Extra federal withholding $ per paycheck (W-4 Step 4c)

Traditional 401(k) and HSA cut federal withholding. Traditional 401(k) does not cut FICA. HSA payroll contributions usually do. Roth 401(k) cuts nothing until you withdraw.

Take-home this paycheck

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2026 figures used: standard deduction $16,100 single / $32,200 joint / $24,150 HOH; Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500; Medicare 1.45% + 0.9% Additional Medicare over $200k ($250k joint); Child Tax Credit modeled at $2,200 per qualifying child. Confirm Publication 15-T and your state. Not tax advice.

1099 / Schedule C is a different stack — SE tax plus four estimated payments, not a W-4. Use the self-employed calculator. Want the W-4 sequence for two jobs, a side hustle, or a bonus? Premium playbook, PayPal.

What this means for you

What this means for you: the headline is one paycheck after the taxes and savings this model knows about. A $20 to $40 gap versus your stub is normal because payroll uses Publication 15-T. Pretax 401(k) and HSA shrink the check and the taxable wage.

How to use this calculator

Open the Paycheck calculator and keep the sample numbers or replace them with your own. The result updates as you type.
Read the headline figure first, then the breakdown or chart under it.
Use Copy share link if you want those inputs in the URL. The page is an educational estimate, not a filing, approval, or recommendation.

FAQ

Does this paycheck calculator file my taxes?

No. It is an educational estimate of one paycheck. Your employer withholds from Publication 15-T.

Which 2026 figures does it use?

The page lists the standard deduction, Social Security wage base, Medicare rates, and Child Tax Credit it is using. This review did not change those figures.

What is the W-4 extra withholding number?

An estimate of extra dollars per paycheck so the year lands near zero owed and zero refund under the assumptions you typed.

Educational, not financial advice. Page updated October 24, 2026 — no tax, limit, or rate figure was changed in this review.

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Tip / Support

This paycheck calculator is free. A voluntary tip supports this classroom — not a paywall, not tax software, not ads.

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Processed by PayPal as a WhatIfInLearning tip. Optional — never required to use the calculator.