What does this paycheck calculator estimate?
It estimates net pay by combining your gross pay, selected deductions, an annualized 2026 federal income-tax estimate, employee Social Security and Medicare taxes, and the state/local effective rate you enter.
How is federal income tax estimated?
The calculator annualizes the current paycheck using the selected pay frequency, subtracts entered pre-tax deductions and the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status, applies the 2026 ordinary-income tax brackets, then divides the estimated annual tax across pay periods.
How are Social Security and Medicare calculated?
Employee Social Security is estimated at 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base, Medicare at 1.45% with no wage cap, and employer payroll withholding of Additional Medicare Tax begins once wages paid by that employer exceed $200,000 for the year.
Why can an actual paycheck differ?
Actual payroll can differ because Form W-4 entries, multiple jobs, special credits and deductions, employer benefit tax treatment, state/local rules, taxable fringe benefits, payroll rounding and other compensation are not fully represented by a short planning calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Sources and methodology
The calculator uses the current federal figures or official agency guidance described below where those rules apply. State-specific results should always be checked with the relevant state tax authority.