Estimate your net pay in Montana after federal, state, and FICA taxes, plus common deductions.
Gross Pay & Pay Frequency
Weekly
Bi-Weekly
Semi-Monthly
Monthly
Pre-Tax Deductions (per pay period)
Federal Withholding (W4)
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
Montana State Withholding
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Head of Household
Your Estimated Paycheck
Gross Pay per Period: $0.00
Total Pre-Tax Deductions: $0.00
Taxable Gross (for FICA/Federal/State): $0.00
Social Security Tax: $0.00
Medicare Tax: $0.00
Federal Income Tax: $0.00
Montana State Income Tax: $0.00
Net Pay per Period: $0.00
function calculatePaycheck() {
// Input values
var grossPayPerPeriod = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossPayPerPeriod').value) || 0;
var payFrequencyMultiplier = parseFloat(document.getElementById('payFrequency').value) || 1;
var preTax401k = parseFloat(document.getElementById('preTax401k').value) || 0;
var preTaxHealth = parseFloat(document.getElementById('preTaxHealth').value) || 0;
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById('federalFilingStatus').value;
var federalDependents = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalDependents').value) || 0;
var federalOtherIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalOtherIncome').value) || 0;
var federalDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalDeductions').value) || 0;
var federalExtraWithholding = parseFloat(document.getElementById('federalExtraWithholding').value) || 0;
var mtFilingStatus = document.getElementById('mtFilingStatus').value;
var mtDependents = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mtDependents').value) || 0;
var mtExtraWithholding = parseFloat(document.getElementById('mtExtraWithholding').value) || 0;
// Constants (2024 values where applicable, 2023 for MT as 2024 not fully released for withholding)
var SS_RATE = 0.062;
var SS_WAGE_BASE = 168600; // 2024
var MED_RATE = 0.0145;
// Federal Standard Deductions (2024)
var FED_STD_DEDUCTION_SINGLE = 14600;
var FED_STD_DEDUCTION_MFJ = 29200;
var FED_STD_DEDUCTION_HOH = 21900;
var FED_DEPENDENT_CREDIT_CHILD = 2000; // For qualifying child, simplified for withholding
// Montana Standard Deductions (2023)
var MT_STD_DEDUCTION_SINGLE_HOH = 5000;
var MT_STD_DEDUCTION_MFJ = 10000;
var MT_EXEMPTION_AMOUNT = 2900; // Per exemption
// — Calculations —
// 1. Total Pre-Tax Deductions
var totalPreTaxDeductions = preTax401k + preTaxHealth;
// 2. Taxable Gross for FICA/Federal/State
var taxableGross = grossPayPerPeriod – totalPreTaxDeductions;
if (taxableGross < 0) taxableGross = 0;
// 3. FICA Taxes
var annualGrossPay = grossPayPerPeriod * payFrequencyMultiplier;
var socialSecurityTax = 0;
// For a single pay period calculation, we apply the rate up to the per-period equivalent of the cap.
// This is a simplification and does not track year-to-date earnings.
var ssCapPerPeriod = SS_WAGE_BASE / payFrequencyMultiplier;
socialSecurityTax = Math.min(grossPayPerPeriod, ssCapPerPeriod) * SS_RATE;
var medicareTax = grossPayPerPeriod * MED_RATE; // No wage limit
// 4. Federal Income Tax
var annualAdjustedGrossPay = taxableGross * payFrequencyMultiplier;
var annualFederalTaxableIncome = annualAdjustedGrossPay + federalOtherIncome;
var federalStandardDeduction = 0;
if (federalFilingStatus === 'Single') {
federalStandardDeduction = FED_STD_DEDUCTION_SINGLE;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === 'Married Filing Jointly') {
federalStandardDeduction = FED_STD_DEDUCTION_MFJ;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === 'Head of Household') {
federalStandardDeduction = FED_STD_DEDUCTION_HOH;
}
var actualFederalDeduction = Math.max(federalDeductions, federalStandardDeduction);
annualFederalTaxableIncome -= actualFederalDeduction;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome 609350) annualFederalTax += (annualFederalTaxableIncome – 609350) * 0.37;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 243725) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 609350) – 243725) * 0.35;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 191950) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 243725) – 191950) * 0.32;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 100525) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 191950) – 100525) * 0.24;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 47150) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 100525) – 47150) * 0.22;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 11600) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 47150) – 11600) * 0.12;
annualFederalTax += Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 11600) * 0.10;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === 'Married Filing Jointly') {
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 731200) annualFederalTax += (annualFederalTaxableIncome – 731200) * 0.37;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 487450) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 731200) – 487450) * 0.35;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 383900) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 487450) – 383900) * 0.32;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 201050) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 383900) – 201050) * 0.24;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 94300) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 201050) – 94300) * 0.22;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 23200) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 94300) – 23200) * 0.12;
annualFederalTax += Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 23200) * 0.10;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === 'Head of Household') {
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 609350) annualFederalTax += (annualFederalTaxableIncome – 609350) * 0.37;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 243700) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 609350) – 243700) * 0.35;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 191950) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 243700) – 191950) * 0.32;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 100500) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 191950) – 100500) * 0.24;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 63550) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 100500) – 63550) * 0.22;
if (annualFederalTaxableIncome > 16550) annualFederalTax += (Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 63550) – 16550) * 0.12;
annualFederalTax += Math.min(annualFederalTaxableIncome, 16550) * 0.10;
}
// Apply dependent credits (simplified for withholding)
annualFederalTax -= (federalDependents * FED_DEPENDENT_CREDIT_CHILD);
if (annualFederalTax < 0) annualFederalTax = 0;
var federalTaxPerPeriod = (annualFederalTax / payFrequencyMultiplier) + federalExtraWithholding;
if (federalTaxPerPeriod < 0) federalTaxPerPeriod = 0;
// 5. Montana State Income Tax
var annualMTTaxableIncome = annualAdjustedGrossPay;
var mtStandardDeduction = 0;
if (mtFilingStatus === 'Single' || mtFilingStatus === 'Head of Household') {
mtStandardDeduction = MT_STD_DEDUCTION_SINGLE_HOH;
} else if (mtFilingStatus === 'Married Filing Jointly') {
mtStandardDeduction = MT_STD_DEDUCTION_MFJ;
}
annualMTTaxableIncome -= mtStandardDeduction;
var mtExemptionsCount = mtDependents;
if (mtFilingStatus === 'Single' || mtFilingStatus === 'Head of Household') {
mtExemptionsCount += 1; // For taxpayer
} else if (mtFilingStatus === 'Married Filing Jointly') {
mtExemptionsCount += 2; // For taxpayer and spouse
}
annualMTTaxableIncome -= (mtExemptionsCount * MT_EXEMPTION_AMOUNT);
if (annualMTTaxableIncome 17000) annualMontanaTax += (annualMTTaxableIncome – 17000) * 0.069;
if (annualMTTaxableIncome > 13200) annualMontanaTax += (Math.min(annualMTTaxableIncome, 17000) – 13200) * 0.06;
if (annualMTTaxableIncome > 10400) annualMontanaTax += (Math.min(annualMTTaxableIncome, 13200) – 10400) * 0.05;
if (annualMTTaxableIncome > 8000) annualMontanaTax += (Math.min(annualMTTaxableIncome, 10400) – 8000) * 0.04;
if (annualMTTaxableIncome > 5600) annualMontanaTax += (Math.min(annualMTTaxableIncome, 8000) – 5600) * 0.03;
if (annualMTTaxableIncome > 3200) annualMontanaTax += (Math.min(annualMTTaxableIncome, 5600) – 3200) * 0.02;
annualMontanaTax += Math.min(annualMTTaxableIncome, 3200) * 0.01;
var montanaTaxPerPeriod = (annualMontanaTax / payFrequencyMultiplier) + mtExtraWithholding;
if (montanaTaxPerPeriod < 0) montanaTaxPerPeriod = 0;
// 6. Net Pay
var totalDeductions = totalPreTaxDeductions + socialSecurityTax + medicareTax + federalTaxPerPeriod + montanaTaxPerPeriod;
var netPay = grossPayPerPeriod – totalDeductions;
// — Display Results —
document.getElementById('resultGrossPay').innerText = grossPayPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultPreTaxDeductions').innerText = totalPreTaxDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultTaxableGross').innerText = taxableGross.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultSocialSecurity').innerText = socialSecurityTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultMedicare').innerText = medicareTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultFederalTax').innerText = federalTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultMontanaTax').innerText = montanaTaxPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultNetPay').innerText = netPay.toFixed(2);
}
// Run calculation on page load with default values
window.onload = calculatePaycheck;
Understanding Your Montana Paycheck
Navigating your paycheck can sometimes feel like deciphering a complex code. This Montana Paycheck Calculator is designed to help you understand how your gross earnings are reduced to your net take-home pay, considering federal and state taxes, as well as common deductions specific to Montana residents.
What Makes Up Your Gross Pay?
Your gross pay is the total amount of money you earn before any deductions are taken out. This can be based on an hourly wage multiplied by the hours you work, or a fixed salary divided by your pay periods (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly).
Pre-Tax Deductions
These are amounts subtracted from your gross pay before taxes are calculated. Common pre-tax deductions include:
401(k) or Traditional IRA Contributions: Money you contribute to retirement accounts can reduce your taxable income, meaning you pay less in federal and state income taxes.
Health Insurance Premiums: Many employer-sponsored health insurance plans allow premiums to be paid with pre-tax dollars, lowering your taxable income.
These deductions are beneficial because they reduce the amount of income subject to federal and state income taxes, though they do not reduce income subject to FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare).
FICA Taxes: Social Security and Medicare
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, and it funds Social Security and Medicare programs. These are mandatory deductions for most employees:
Social Security: As of 2024, employees contribute 6.2% of their gross wages up to an annual wage base limit of $168,600. This tax helps fund retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
Medicare: Employees contribute 1.45% of all gross wages, with no wage limit. This tax helps fund hospital insurance for the elderly and disabled.
Your employer also pays a matching amount for both Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Federal Income Tax
Federal income tax is withheld from your paycheck based on the information you provide on your W-4 form. Factors influencing this deduction include:
Filing Status: Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Head of Household.
Dependents: The number of qualifying children and other dependents you claim.
Other Income and Deductions: Any additional income not from your primary job or itemized deductions you expect to claim can influence your withholding.
Extra Withholding: You can elect to have an additional amount withheld each pay period to avoid owing taxes at the end of the year.
The federal tax system is progressive, meaning higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes.
Montana State Income Tax
Montana has a progressive state income tax, meaning the tax rate increases as your income rises. The amount withheld from your paycheck depends on several factors:
Filing Status: Similar to federal, your Montana filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household) affects your standard deduction and tax bracket application.
Exemptions: You can claim exemptions for yourself, your spouse, and any dependents, which reduce your taxable income.
Standard Deduction: Montana offers a standard deduction that reduces your taxable income. If your itemized deductions are higher, you can claim those instead.
Extra Withholding: You can choose to have additional Montana state tax withheld to prevent underpayment.
Montana's tax brackets and deduction amounts are updated periodically, so it's important to use current figures for accurate calculations.
Calculating Your Net Pay
After all these deductions are applied, what's left is your net pay, or take-home pay. It's the amount that actually gets deposited into your bank account or given to you as a check.
Net Pay = Gross Pay - (Pre-Tax Deductions + FICA Taxes + Federal Income Tax + Montana State Income Tax)
Understanding each component of your paycheck empowers you to make informed financial decisions, from adjusting your W-4 to optimizing your pre-tax contributions.