Personal income tax
The IRS withholding estimator was updated in March 2026 for current-law deductions and credits. It estimates federal withholding and helps prepare W-4 or W-4P; it is not an all-in net-pay calculator.
Filing & deadlines
The tool requires a W-2 job or pension/annuity with federal withholding and does not support nonresident aliens. Use current paystubs and keep federal withholding separate from state tax, Social Security and Medicare.
Business and scope
Self-employment income may require estimated payments. Publication 505 explains withholding and estimated-tax obligations; a payroll estimate does not replace a business return.
Salary and take-home pay calculator
2026 monthly W-2 payroll withholding · US resident employees living and working only in Texas or Florida, one employer all year, 2020-or-later Form W-4 with Step 2 unchecked.
Annual estimate · 2026
- Annual gross earnings
- $72,000.00
- Social Security + Medicare withholding
- $5,508.00
- Employee traditional 401(k)
- $0.00
- Federal income tax withheld
- $7,010.04
- Annual income after tax and payroll deductions
- $59,481.96
- Average per calendar month (annual net ÷ 12)
- $4,956.83
Calculation details
| Month | Annual gross earnings | Social Security + Medicare withholding | Employee traditional 401(k) | Federal income tax withheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-02 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-03 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-04 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-05 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-06 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-07 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-08 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-09 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-10 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-11 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
| 2026-12 | $6,000.00 | $459.00 | $0.00 | $584.17 |
Uses IRS Worksheet 1A. Bonuses are combined with that month's regular wages (aggregate withholding method), so annual withholding can differ from final income tax. Traditional 401(k) contributions automatically stop at the $24,500 regular limit; catch-up, Roth, other pretax benefits and other states are outside this model. Enter the amounts from your submitted W-4, including any eligible dependent credits in Step 3. Refundable credits, AMT and the filing-status Medicare reconciliation belong to the tax return and are not payroll deductions. No state or local wage income tax applies in the supported states.
Official basis and tool instructions
Official IRS Tax Withholding Estimator
This link opens the authority’s service or instructions. Check its supported year and eligibility; a calculation or draft does not submit a tax return.
Open official resource ↗Official basis and tool instructions
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Reference 1https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Reference 2https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator-faqs
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Reference 3https://www.irs.gov/publications/p505
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Reference 4https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-withholding-estimator-now-reflects-changes-under-working-families-tax-cuts
Official sources
Sources checked 28 Oct 2026 · 2026
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Reference 1https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator-faqs
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Reference 2https://www.irs.gov/publications/p505
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Reference 3https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-withholding-estimator-now-reflects-changes-under-working-families-tax-cuts