GILKUT.net United States
🇺🇸 United States · 2026

2026 Paycheck Calculator

Estimate your take-home paycheck after federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare and selected pre-tax deductions.

2026 IRS methodology Updated October 2026 Runs in your browser No sign-up

Your paycheck details

Use annual amounts unless the field specifically says “per paycheck.”

Income

$
%
Modeled as reducing federal income-tax wages, but not Social Security or Medicare wages.

W-4 adjustments

$
Annual amount entered on W-4 Step 3.
$
Annual other income entered on your W-4.
$
Annual deductions entered on W-4 Step 4(b).
$
Extra federal tax withheld per paycheck.

Other pre-tax benefits

$
Annual amount. This simplified model treats the deduction as exempt from federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare. Actual plan tax treatment can differ.

Year-to-date wages

$
$

How the 2026 paycheck calculator works

This calculator estimates employee payroll deductions for a regular US paycheck. Federal income tax withholding is calculated using the IRS 2026 Percentage Method for automated payroll systems and information corresponding to a 2020-or-later Form W-4.

Your regular taxable pay is annualized according to the selected pay frequency. W-4 adjustments are then applied before the appropriate IRS withholding schedule is used. Annual Step 3 credits reduce tentative withholding and Step 4(c) additional withholding is then added to the paycheck.

Important distinction: federal withholding is an estimate of tax withheld from this paycheck. It is not the same thing as calculating your final federal income-tax liability for the year.

2026 Social Security and Medicare

For 2026, the employee Social Security withholding rate is 6.2% and the Social Security wage base is $184,500. Medicare withholding is generally 1.45% of covered wages and does not have the same annual wage cap.

Employers also withhold an additional 0.9% Medicare tax after wages paid to an employee exceed $200,000 during the calendar year. The year-to-date wage fields allow the calculator to estimate when these thresholds affect the current paycheck.

What's included — and what's not

Included

  • 2026 federal income tax withholding
  • W-4 filing status
  • W-4 Step 2(c)
  • W-4 Steps 3, 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c)
  • Social Security withholding
  • Medicare withholding
  • Additional Medicare withholding
  • Selected pre-tax deduction estimates

Not currently included

  • State income tax
  • City or other local payroll taxes
  • Tips and supplemental wage rules
  • Stock compensation
  • Nonresident-alien withholding adjustments
  • Every possible benefit-plan tax treatment
This tool provides an estimate for planning and comparison. It is not payroll, tax, legal or financial advice. Your employer's payroll result can differ based on your actual Form W-4, benefit plans, taxable compensation and payroll system.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn't the calculator include state tax?

State withholding systems vary substantially. GILKUT will add state calculations only after the applicable rules are implemented and verified rather than applying a generic percentage that may be misleading.

Why do you ask for year-to-date wages?

Social Security has an annual wage base, and Additional Medicare withholding begins after the employer has paid more than a specified amount of Medicare wages during the year. Year-to-date wages therefore affect some paychecks.

Does a 401(k) contribution reduce Social Security and Medicare?

Traditional 401(k) elective deferrals generally reduce wages subject to federal income-tax withholding but are generally still included in Social Security and Medicare wages. This calculator models the contribution that way.

Is this my final federal income tax?

No. This is an estimate of payroll withholding. Your eventual income-tax return can produce a different tax liability because it considers your full-year tax situation.