About TakeHomeTool

What TakeHomeTool does

TakeHomeTool provides free paycheck calculators for all 50 U.S. states. Every calculation runs entirely in your browser using 2026 IRS Publication 15-T methodology and current state tax rates. Enter your gross pay, pay frequency, and filing status — and see a complete breakdown of federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and state income tax in seconds, with no account required and no data collected.

The goal is straightforward: give workers a reliable estimate of their take-home pay, help people understand what their employer is withholding and why, and make it easy to compare take-home pay across states before making a job or relocation decision.

How the calculations work

All federal income tax calculations use the IRS Percentage Method from Publication 15-T (the same annualization approach employers use for withholding). Here's the exact methodology:

  1. Annualize gross pay: Multiply your per-period gross pay by your number of pay periods per year (52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semi-monthly, 12 monthly).
  2. Subtract pre-tax deductions: Traditional 401(k) contributions and Section 125 health insurance premiums reduce both federal and state taxable wages. (401(k) does not reduce FICA wages; Section 125 deductions do.)
  3. Subtract the federal standard deduction: $15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married filing jointly, $22,500 for head of household in 2026.
  4. Apply 2026 federal tax brackets: Calculate the annual federal income tax from the 2026 IRS bracket table, then divide by pay periods.
  5. Calculate FICA: Social Security at 6.2% on wages up to $176,100; Medicare at 1.45% on all wages (plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax above $200,000 single / $250,000 married).
  6. Apply state income tax: Use the state's standard deduction (or exemptions), then apply the state's rate or progressive brackets to get state tax per period.
  7. Sum all deductions: Subtract federal tax, FICA, and state tax from gross pay to arrive at net take-home pay.

Data sources

  • Federal income tax brackets: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-28 (2026 inflation adjustments)
  • Federal standard deduction: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-28
  • Social Security wage base: Social Security Administration 2026 announcement ($176,100)
  • Medicare rates: IRS Publication 15 (2026)
  • State income tax rates and brackets: Each state's Department of Revenue, verified for 2025–2026 tax years
  • State standard deductions: State-specific revenue agency publications

We compile and verify state tax data each January after states publish their annual rate announcements. Some states adjust rates mid-year due to legislation — if you believe a rate has changed, please contact us with a link to the official announcement.

What the calculator does not include

The calculator provides a reliable estimate for most salaried and hourly employees, but it does not capture every situation:

  • Local income taxes — Cities and counties in states like Maryland, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania levy their own income taxes on top of state tax. These are not included in the state calculator but are noted on each relevant state page.
  • SDI / PFL contributions — California (1.1% SDI), New Jersey (SDI + FLI), and New York (SDI + PFL) require employee payroll contributions. These are noted on the relevant state pages.
  • Year-to-date adjustments — The calculator assumes a full-year calculation. Mid-year hires or employees who have already hit the Social Security wage cap may see different actual withholding.
  • Supplemental wage withholding — Bonuses, commissions, and other supplemental wages may be withheld at a flat 22% federal rate rather than the marginal rate used here.
  • Tax credits and other elections — Child tax credits claimed on W-4 Step 3, itemized deductions elected in W-4 Step 4(b), and similar adjustments affect your actual withholding but are not modeled in the standard calculator view.

Accuracy and updates

We take accuracy seriously. The calculations match real payroll system outputs for the most common employee situations. We test against IRS Publication 15-T tables and cross-reference with state revenue agency publications before each annual update.

That said, payroll is complex and tax law changes frequently. If you find a discrepancy between our calculator and your actual pay stub, first check your W-4 elections (extra withholding, dependent credits), pre-tax deductions, and local tax withholding — these are the most common sources of differences. If the core calculation still seems wrong, please let us know.

Privacy

All calculations run entirely in your browser. No salary, income, or personal information is transmitted to any server or stored anywhere. We collect only standard anonymous analytics (page views, general location) to understand which calculators are most useful. See our privacy policy for details.

Contact

Questions, corrections, or feedback — we welcome all of it. See the contact page for the best way to reach us. We read every message.

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