Weekly
Bi-weekly (Every 2 weeks)
Semi-monthly (Twice a month)
Monthly
Enter your W-4 filing status and number of allowances, or the exact federal tax amount if known.
Enter your state and W-4 info for that state, or the exact state tax amount if known. (Leave blank if none).
This is a standard rate (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare). Special rules may apply for high earners.
Enter the total of any other pre-tax or post-tax deductions.
Estimated Net Pay (Take-Home Pay):
—
Understanding Your Paycheck: The SurePayroll Calculator Explained
A paycheck calculator, like this SurePayroll-focused one, is an essential tool for employees and small business owners to estimate an employee's net pay (take-home pay) after all deductions and taxes. Understanding these deductions is crucial for budgeting and financial planning.
How the Calculation Works:
The core of a paycheck calculation involves starting with your Gross Pay and subtracting various taxes and deductions.
1. Gross Pay:
This is the total amount of money you've earned before any taxes or other deductions are taken out. It's usually based on your hourly wage multiplied by the number of hours worked, or your salary divided by the number of pay periods in a year.
2. FICA Taxes:
These are federal payroll taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare. The standard rate is 7.65% of gross pay, consisting of:
Social Security Tax: 6.2% on earnings up to a certain annual limit ($168,600 in 2024).
Medicare Tax: 1.45% on all earnings, with no income limit. An additional Medicare tax may apply to higher earners.
Our calculator uses the standard 7.65% rate.
3. Federal Income Tax Withholding:
This is the amount withheld from your paycheck to go towards your annual federal income tax liability. The amount is determined by the information you provide on your Form W-4, including your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.) and the number of allowances you claim. More allowances generally mean less tax withheld. For simplicity, if you know the exact dollar amount your employer withholds, you can enter that directly.
4. State Income Tax Withholding:
Similar to federal income tax, this is the amount withheld for state taxes. Not all states have an income tax. If your state does, the withholding is based on your state's specific tax rates and your W-4 information for that state. Like federal taxes, you can enter the exact amount if known.
5. Other Deductions:
This category covers a wide range of voluntary and mandatory deductions beyond taxes. Common examples include:
Health Insurance Premiums
Retirement Plan Contributions (e.g., 401(k), IRA)
Union Dues
Garnishment Orders
Life Insurance Premiums
These can be either pre-tax (deducted before income taxes are calculated, lowering your taxable income) or post-tax (deducted after income taxes).
Calculating Net Pay:
The formula is straightforward:
Net Pay = Gross Pay - FICA Taxes - Federal Income Tax - State Income Tax - Other Deductions
Important Note: This calculator provides an *estimate*. Actual net pay can vary due to specific tax laws, local taxes, unique W-4 situations, and employer-specific deduction calculations. For precise figures, always refer to your official pay stub or consult with your payroll provider like SurePayroll.
function calculatePaycheck() {
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossPay").value);
var payFrequency = document.getElementById("payFrequency").value;
var federalWithholdingInput = document.getElementById("federalWithholding").value.trim();
var stateWithholdingInput = document.getElementById("stateWithholding").value.trim();
var ficaRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fica").value) / 100; // Convert percentage to decimal
var otherDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("otherDeductions").value);
// Validate Gross Pay and Other Deductions
if (isNaN(grossPay) || grossPay < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Pay amount.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(otherDeductions) || otherDeductions = 0) {
federalTaxAmount = parsedFederal;
} else {
alert("Please enter valid Federal Withholding info (e.g., 'Single, 2' or an exact dollar amount).");
return;
}
}
// Ensure federal tax doesn't exceed gross pay
federalTaxAmount = Math.min(federalTaxAmount, grossPay);
// — State Income Tax Calculation —
// Similar simplified estimation. State tax laws vary greatly.
var stateTaxAmount = 0;
if (stateWithholdingInput) { // Only calculate if state info is provided
if (stateWithholdingInput.toLowerCase().includes("ca")) { // Example for California
if (stateWithholdingInput.includes("0")) stateTaxAmount = grossPay * 0.02;
else if (stateWithholdingInput.includes("1")) stateTaxAmount = grossPay * 0.015;
else stateTaxAmount = grossPay * 0.018; // Default estimate for CA
} else if (stateWithholdingInput.toLowerCase().includes("ny")) { // Example for New York
if (stateWithholdingInput.includes("0")) stateTaxAmount = grossPay * 0.03;
else if (stateWithholdingInput.includes("1")) stateTaxAmount = grossPay * 0.025;
else stateTaxAmount = grossPay * 0.028; // Default estimate for NY
} else {
// Assume the user entered a direct dollar amount if it's a number
var parsedState = parseFloat(stateWithholdingInput);
if (!isNaN(parsedState) && parsedState >= 0) {
stateTaxAmount = parsedState;
} else {
// If no specific state logic matched and it wasn't a number, prompt user
alert("Please enter valid State Withholding info (e.g., 'CA, 1' or an exact dollar amount).");
return;
}
}
// Ensure state tax doesn't exceed gross pay
stateTaxAmount = Math.min(stateTaxAmount, grossPay);
}
// — Net Pay Calculation —
var netPay = grossPay – ficaTaxes – federalTaxAmount – stateTaxAmount – otherDeductions;
// Ensure net pay is not negative
netPay = Math.max(0, netPay);
// Display the result
document.getElementById("result-value").textContent = "$" + netPay.toFixed(2);
}