TakeHomePayLast updated: October 2026
Methodology: how we calculate your take-home pay
Every number on TakeHomePay USA comes from the same straightforward pipeline: published 2026 tax tables in, estimated take-home pay out. No black boxes. Here's exactly what happens when you hit "Calculate."
Step 1 — Federal income tax
We subtract the 2026 standard deduction for your filing status — $16,100 (single), $32,200 (married filing jointly), $24,150 (head of household) — then apply the official 2026 federal marginal brackets from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32. Only the dollars inside each bracket are taxed at that bracket's rate.
Step 2 — State income tax
We use each state's own published 2026 rate tables and standard deduction, matched to your filing status. Nine states (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming) have no wage income tax, so this step is $0 there. Where states have quirks, we model them — for example, South Carolina's 2026 deduction phases out as income rises, per S.C. Code §12-6-1140, and we apply that phaseout exactly as the statute describes.
Step 3 — FICA
Social Security at 6.2% up to the 2026 wage cap of $184,500, plus Medicare at 1.45% on all wages and the additional 0.9% Medicare tax on earnings over $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly).
What we don't include
Our results are estimates for a straightforward W-2 employee. They don't account for pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, health insurance premiums), local or city income taxes, tax credits (child tax credit, EITC), the alternative minimum tax, or self-employment tax. Your actual paycheck will differ — usually because of the first item on that list.
Sources
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 federal brackets, standard deduction)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026 federal withholding tables)
- State departments of revenue — 2026 individual income tax rate schedules and standard deductions, verified state by state
- Social Security Administration — 2026 taxable maximum ($184,500)
How often we update
We review the tables when the IRS publishes annual inflation adjustments each October, and we correct state-level changes as they're enacted — most recently South Carolina's 2026 deduction phaseout (October 2026). Every page carries a "last updated" date so you can see how fresh the numbers are.
Not tax advice
TakeHomePay USA provides estimates for educational purposes only. It is not tax, legal, or financial advice. For withholding decisions, moves, or filing questions, consult a qualified tax professional.