Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Single
Married Filing Jointly
Married Filing Separately
Head of Household
Your Estimated Net Pay:
$0.00
Estimated Total Deductions:
$0.00
Details:
Gross Pay: $0.00
Federal Income Tax: $0.00
Social Security Tax: $0.00
Medicare Tax: $0.00
State Income Tax: $0.00
Understanding Your Paycheck: A State-by-State Guide
Calculating your net pay (the amount you actually take home) involves subtracting various taxes and deductions from your gross pay. This calculator provides an estimate based on common federal and state tax regulations, but it's important to remember that actual paychecks can vary due to specific employer contributions, pre-tax deductions (like 401(k) or health insurance premiums), and localized tax rules.
Federal Taxes
These taxes are applied uniformly across all states:
Social Security Tax: This tax funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. For 2024, the rate is 6.2% on earnings up to $168,600.
Medicare Tax: This tax funds federal health insurance for seniors. For 2024, the rate is 1.45% on all earnings. There is an additional Medicare tax of 0.9% for high earners ($200,000 for single filers, $250,000 for married couples). This calculator simplifies by applying the 1.45% to all.
Federal Income Tax: This is a progressive tax, meaning higher earners pay a larger percentage. The amount withheld depends heavily on your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.), the number of allowances you claim on your W-4 form, and any additional tax you choose to have withheld. The IRS provides tax brackets and withholding tables that employers use, which are complex. This calculator uses a simplified estimation method.
State Taxes
These vary significantly by state:
State Income Tax: Some states have a flat income tax rate, some have progressive rates, and a few (like Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming) do not have a state income tax at all. The rates and rules differ widely.
Other State/Local Taxes: Some cities or counties may also impose local income taxes or other payroll taxes. This calculator focuses primarily on state income tax and does not include local taxes.
How This Calculator Works (Simplified)
This calculator performs the following steps:
Gross Pay: Takes your input for gross pay per pay period.
Federal Withholding: Estimates federal income tax based on your gross pay, filing status, and allowances. This is a simplified estimation and doesn't perfectly replicate IRS tables.
Social Security Tax: Calculates 6.2% of your gross pay (up to the annual limit, though this calculator assumes it's not reached within a single pay period for simplicity).
Medicare Tax: Calculates 1.45% of your gross pay.
State Income Tax: Calculates state income tax based on the selected state. It uses simplified logic for states with income tax and assumes 0% for states without. For states with income tax, it typically subtracts a portion of federal allowances and applies a flat or simplified progressive rate. This is a major simplification due to the complexity of state tax laws.
Total Deductions: Sums up all calculated taxes.
Net Pay: Subtracts total deductions from gross pay.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational and estimation purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional tax advice. Tax laws are complex and change frequently. Always consult your employer's HR department or a qualified tax professional for accurate figures.
function calculatePaycheck() {
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossPay").value);
var state = document.getElementById("state").value;
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById("federalFilingStatus").value;
var allowances = parseInt(document.getElementById("allowances").value);
var additionalFederalTax = parseFloat(document.getElementById("additionalFederalTax").value) || 0;
var payFrequency = document.getElementById("payFrequency").value;
// Basic validation
if (isNaN(grossPay) || grossPay < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Pay amount.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(allowances) || allowances < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid number of Federal Allowances.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(additionalFederalTax) || additionalFederalTax 0) {
if (federalFilingStatus === "single" || federalFilingStatus === "marriedFilingSeparately") {
if (effectiveTaxableIncome <= 11600) federalIncomeTax = effectiveTaxableIncome * 0.10;
else if (effectiveTaxableIncome <= 47150) federalIncomeTax = (11600 * 0.10) + (effectiveTaxableIncome – 11600) * 0.12;
else if (effectiveTaxableIncome <= 100525) federalIncomeTax = (11600 * 0.10) + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (effectiveTaxableIncome – 47150) * 0.22;
else federalIncomeTax = (11600 * 0.10) + (47150 – 11600) * 0.12 + (100525 – 47150) * 0.22 + (effectiveTaxableIncome – 100525) * 0.24;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === "marriedFilingJointly") {
if (effectiveTaxableIncome <= 23200) federalIncomeTax = effectiveTaxableIncome * 0.10;
else if (effectiveTaxableIncome <= 94300) federalIncomeTax = (23200 * 0.10) + (effectiveTaxableIncome – 23200) * 0.12;
else if (effectiveTaxableIncome <= 201050) federalIncomeTax = (23200 * 0.10) + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (effectiveTaxableIncome – 94300) * 0.22;
else federalIncomeTax = (23200 * 0.10) + (94300 – 23200) * 0.12 + (201050 – 94300) * 0.22 + (effectiveTaxableIncome – 201050) * 0.24;
} else if (federalFilingStatus === "headOfHousehold") {
if (effectiveTaxableIncome <= 16550) federalIncomeTax = effectiveTaxableIncome * 0.10;
else if (effectiveTaxableIncome <= 63100) federalIncomeTax = (16550 * 0.10) + (effectiveTaxableIncome – 16550) * 0.12;
else if (effectiveTaxableIncome <= 107775) federalIncomeTax = (16550 * 0.10) + (63100 – 16550) * 0.12 + (effectiveTaxableIncome – 63100) * 0.22;
else federalIncomeTax = (16550 * 0.10) + (63100 – 16550) * 0.12 + (107775 – 63100) * 0.22 + (effectiveTaxableIncome – 107775) * 0.24;
}
}
// Distribute annual federal tax over the pay periods
var periodicFederalIncomeTax = 0;
if (payFrequency === "weekly") periodicFederalIncomeTax = federalIncomeTax / 52;
else if (payFrequency === "biweekly") periodicFederalIncomeTax = federalIncomeTax / 26;
else if (payFrequency === "semimonthly") periodicFederalIncomeTax = federalIncomeTax / 24;
else if (payFrequency === "monthly") periodicFederalIncomeTax = federalIncomeTax / 12;
// Add any additional federal tax withheld
periodicFederalIncomeTax += additionalFederalTax;
// Ensure taxes don't exceed gross pay
socialSecurityTax = Math.min(socialSecurityTax, grossPay);
medicareTax = Math.min(medicareTax, grossPay);
periodicFederalIncomeTax = Math.min(periodicFederalIncomeTax, grossPay);
// — State Tax Calculation (Simplified) —
var stateIncomeTax = 0;
var stateTaxRate = 0;
// States with no income tax
var noIncomeTaxStates = ["AK", "FL", "NV", "NH", "SD", "TN", "TX", "WA", "WY"];
if (!noIncomeTaxStates.includes(state)) {
// Simplified state income tax – assumes a flat rate or simplified progressive calculation
// This section requires specific logic for each state or a generalized approach.
// For simplicity, using a sample flat rate for states with income tax.
// ACTUAL STATE TAX LAWS ARE FAR MORE COMPLEX.
switch (state) {
case "CA": stateTaxRate = 0.06; break; // Example rate
case "NY": stateTaxRate = 0.05; break; // Example rate
case "IL": stateTaxRate = 0.0495; break; // Example rate
case "PA": stateTaxRate = 0.0307; break; // Example rate
case "MA": stateTaxRate = 0.05; break; // Example rate
case "NJ": stateTaxRate = 0.055; break; // Example rate
case "CO": stateTaxRate = 0.0455; break; // Example rate
case "OR": stateTaxRate = 0.09; break; // Example rate
case "CT": stateTaxRate = 0.05; break; // Example rate
case "AR": stateTaxRate = 0.049; break; // Example rate
case "IA": stateTaxRate = 0.065; break; // Example rate
case "IN": stateTaxRate = 0.0323; break; // Example rate
case "KS": stateTaxRate = 0.0525; break; // Example rate
case "KY": stateTaxRate = 0.05; break; // Example rate
case "LA": stateTaxRate = 0.06; break; // Example rate
case "ME": stateTaxRate = 0.0795; break; // Example rate
case "MD": stateTaxRate = 0.0575; break; // Example rate
case "MI": stateTaxRate = 0.0425; break; // Example rate
case "MN": stateTaxRate = 0.0985; break; // Example rate
case "MO": stateTaxRate = 0.0495; break; // Example rate
case "MT": stateTaxRate = 0.069; break; // Example rate
case "NE": stateTaxRate = 0.0664; break; // Example rate
case "NM": stateTaxRate = 0.0595; break; // Example rate
case "NC": stateTaxRate = 0.0499; break; // Example rate
case "ND": stateTaxRate = 0.0297; break; // Example rate
case "OH": stateTaxRate = 0.04; break; // Example rate
case "OK": stateTaxRate = 0.05; break; // Example rate
case "RI": stateTaxRate = 0.0599; break; // Example rate
case "SC": stateTaxRate = 0.065; break; // Example rate
case "UT": stateTaxRate = 0.0495; break; // Example rate
case "VT": stateTaxRate = 0.0675; break; // Example rate
case "VA": stateTaxRate = 0.0575; break; // Example rate
case "WV": stateTaxRate = 0.065; break; // Example rate
case "WI": stateTaxRate = 0.0765; break; // Example rate
case "AL": stateTaxRate = 0.05; break; // Example rate
case "AZ": stateTaxRate = 0.045; break; // Example rate
case "HI": stateTaxRate = 0.11; break; // Example rate
case "ID": stateTaxRate = 0.065; break; // Example rate
case "MS": stateTaxRate = 0.04; break; // Example rate
case "GA": stateTaxRate = 0.0575; break; // Example rate
case "DE": stateTaxRate = 0.066; break; // Example rate
case "NM": stateTaxRate = 0.0595; break; // Example rate
case "NV": stateTaxRate = 0; break; // No state income tax
case "AK": stateTaxRate = 0; break; // No state income tax
case "FL": stateTaxRate = 0; break; // No state income tax
case "NH": stateTaxRate = 0; break; // No state income tax (taxes retirement income)
case "SD": stateTaxRate = 0; break; // No state income tax
case "TN": stateTaxRate = 0; break; // No state income tax (taxes interest/dividends)
case "TX": stateTaxRate = 0; break; // No state income tax
case "WA": stateTaxRate = 0; break; // No state income tax
case "WY": stateTaxRate = 0; break; // No state income tax
default: stateTaxRate = 0; // Default to 0 if state not found or has no income tax
}
// This is a VERY basic flat tax calculation.
stateIncomeTax = grossPay * stateTaxRate;
// Further simplifications: Do not include deductions/allowances for state tax here.
// Real calculations are more complex, involving state-specific W-4 equivalents and brackets.
}
// Ensure state tax doesn't exceed gross pay
stateIncomeTax = Math.min(stateIncomeTax, grossPay);
// — Totals —
var totalDeductions = socialSecurityTax + medicareTax + periodicFederalIncomeTax + stateIncomeTax;
var netPay = grossPay – totalDeductions;
// Ensure net pay isn't negative
netPay = Math.max(netPay, 0);
totalDeductions = grossPay – netPay; // Recalculate total deductions based on guaranteed non-negative net pay
// — Display Results —
document.getElementById("netPayResult").innerText = "$" + netPay.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("totalDeductionsResult").innerText = "$" + totalDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("detailGrossPay").innerText = "$" + grossPay.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("detailFederalTax").innerText = "$" + periodicFederalIncomeTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("detailSocialSecurity").innerText = "$" + socialSecurityTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("detailMedicare").innerText = "$" + medicareTax.toFixed(2);
if (!noIncomeTaxStates.includes(state)) {
document.getElementById("stateTaxLine").style.display = "list-item";
document.getElementById("detailStateTax").innerText = "$" + stateIncomeTax.toFixed(2);
} else {
document.getElementById("stateTaxLine").style.display = "none";
}
}