Virginia Paycheck Calculator
Free take-home pay estimator for Virginia employees · 2026 tax rates · Updated July 2026
How Virginia paycheck taxes work
Virginia's top income tax rate of 5.75% applies to income over just $17,000 — most workers hit the top bracket quickly.
- Virginia's top bracket kicks in at $17,000 of taxable income — extremely low compared to most states.
- Virginia increased its standard deduction significantly in recent years, now $8,500 for single filers.
- Virginia does not tax Social Security income.
Take-home pay in Virginia: 2026 salary examples
The table below shows estimated 2026 take-home pay in Virginia for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions, using the federal standard deduction ($16,100) and Virginia's progressive bracket schedule.
| Salary | Federal tax | FICA | Virginia tax | Take-home (year) | Take-home (month) | Eff. rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35,000 | $2,020 | $2,678 | $1,266 | $29,036 | $2,420 | 17.0% |
| $45,000 | $3,220 | $3,443 | $1,841 | $36,496 | $3,041 | 18.9% |
| $55,000 | $4,420 | $4,208 | $2,416 | $43,956 | $3,663 | 20.1% |
| $65,000 | $5,620 | $4,973 | $2,991 | $51,416 | $4,285 | 20.9% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $3,566 | $58,026 | $4,836 | 22.6% |
| $85,000 | $9,870 | $6,503 | $4,141 | $64,486 | $5,374 | 24.1% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $5,004 | $74,176 | $6,181 | 25.8% |
| $125,000 | $18,734 | $9,563 | $6,441 | $90,262 | $7,522 | 27.8% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $7,879 | $105,912 | $8,826 | 29.4% |
| $200,000 | $36,734 | $14,339 | $10,754 | $138,173 | $11,514 | 30.9% |
Estimates for a single filer, 2026 rates, no 401(k)/health deductions. Married filers generally take home more at the same salary — for example, at $75,000 a married filer in Virginia keeps about $3,519 more per year than a single filer.
Example: a $65,000 salary in Virginia, paycheck by paycheck
Here's how a $65,000 annual salary breaks down for a single filer in Virginia paid biweekly (26 paychecks per year) in 2026:
- Gross per paycheck: $2,500.00
- Federal income tax: −$216.15 ($5,620/year)
- Social Security (6.2%): −$155.00
- Medicare (1.45%): −$36.25
- Virginia state income tax: −$115.05 ($2,991/year)
- Take-home per paycheck: $1,977.55 — an overall effective tax rate of 20.9%
Virginia state income tax details (2026)
Virginia uses a progressive income tax — higher income is taxed at higher rates. These are the 2026 Virginia brackets for single filers, applied after the state's deductions and exemptions:
| Virginia taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $3,000 | 2% |
| $3,000 – $5,000 | 3% |
| $5,000 – $17,000 | 5% |
| Over $17,000 | 5.75% |
Because the brackets are marginal, only the income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate. The calculator above applies this exact table to your annualized income and divides the result by your pay periods.
Virginia vs. North Carolina: state tax on a $75,000 salary
A single filer earning $75,000 pays about $3,566 in state income tax in Virginia, versus about $2,484 in North Carolina. That's $1,082 per year (about $90/month) less state tax in North Carolina. See the North Carolina paycheck calculator for that state's full breakdown.
Federal income tax withholding (2026)
Federal income tax withholding is calculated using the annualization method from IRS Publication 15-T. Your per-period gross pay is annualized, reduced by the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married / $24,150 head of household in 2026), and then taxed at the applicable bracket rates. The resulting annual tax is divided by your number of pay periods.
2026 federal tax brackets
| Taxable Income (Single) | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $12,400 | 10% |
| $12,400 – $50,400 | 12% |
| $50,400 – $105,700 | 22% |
| $105,700 – $201,775 | 24% |
| $201,775 – $256,225 | 32% |
| $256,225 – $640,600 | 35% |
| Over $640,600 | 37% |
FICA: Social Security & Medicare
FICA taxes are the same in every state. Social Security is withheld at 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 (2026 wage base). Once your wages reach that cap in a calendar year, Social Security withholding stops. Medicare is withheld at 1.45% with no wage cap. An additional 0.9% applies to wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married).
Pre-tax deductions and your paycheck
Traditional 401(k) contributions and employer-sponsored health insurance premiums (Section 125/cafeteria plan) reduce your federal and state taxable income, lowering your income tax withholding. However, 401(k) contributions do not reduce FICA (Social Security and Medicare) wages. Health insurance premiums under a Section 125 plan do reduce FICA wages. Use the "Show deductions" section above to model your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
- A single filer earning $65,000 in Virginia takes home approximately $51,416 per year in 2026 — about $4,285 per month, or $1,977.55 per biweekly paycheck. That reflects $5,620 in federal income tax, $4,973 in FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and $2,991 in Virginia state income tax. Pre-tax deductions like a 401(k) or health insurance would change these numbers.
- Virginia has a progressive state income tax — the rate rises with income. A single filer pays roughly $2,129 in Virginia tax on a $50,000 salary, $3,566 on $75,000, and $5,004 on $100,000. Use the calculator above for your exact withholding based on salary and filing status.
- Virginia does not have a statewide local income tax layer. Your paycheck deductions consist of federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Virginia state income tax — no additional local income taxes are withheld at the state level.
- Start with your gross pay per paycheck. Subtract: (1) federal income tax based on your filing status and 2026 brackets; (2) Social Security at 6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base; (3) Medicare at 1.45%; (4) Virginia state income tax. Any pre-tax deductions like 401(k) or health insurance reduce your taxable income further. The calculator above does this math instantly.
- Virginia's treatment of Social Security retirement benefits varies by income level. Check the Virginia Department of Revenue for the current exemption thresholds. This calculator estimates withholding on wages — Social Security benefit taxation is a separate determination made on your annual return.
- Virginia does not require additional state payroll contributions beyond state income tax withholding. Some states (notably California, New Jersey, and New York) require workers to contribute to state disability insurance (SDI) or paid family leave (PFL) programs — Virginia is not one of them.
Last updated: July 2026 · Data source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 & Publication 15-T (2026), Social Security Administration, Virginia Department of Revenue · This tool is for estimation only.
Related guides
- How does paycheck withholding work? — Step-by-step explanation of federal withholding, FICA, and state tax calculation.
- W-4 withholding guide — How to fill out the redesigned W-4 and avoid under- or over-withholding.
- State income tax rates 2026 — All 50 states compared: flat vs. progressive vs. no-tax.
- How bonuses are taxed — The flat 22% supplemental withholding rate and how it applies in Virginia.