function calculateTexasPay() {
var grossAnnual = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossSalary').value);
var frequency = parseFloat(document.getElementById('payPeriod').value);
var status = document.getElementById('filingStatus').value;
var preTaxMonthly = parseFloat(document.getElementById('preTaxDeductions').value) || 0;
if (isNaN(grossAnnual) || grossAnnual <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid salary amount.");
return;
}
var annualPreTax = preTaxMonthly * 12;
var taxableIncome = grossAnnual – annualPreTax;
// Standard Deduction 2024
var standardDeduction = (status === 'single') ? 14600 : 29200;
var fedTaxable = Math.max(0, taxableIncome – standardDeduction);
// Federal Income Tax Brackets (Simplified 2024 for Calculation)
var fedTax = 0;
if (status === 'single') {
if (fedTaxable <= 11600) fedTax = fedTaxable * 0.10;
else if (fedTaxable <= 47150) fedTax = 1160 + (fedTaxable – 11600) * 0.12;
else if (fedTaxable <= 100525) fedTax = 5426 + (fedTaxable – 47150) * 0.22;
else if (fedTaxable <= 191950) fedTax = 17168.50 + (fedTaxable – 100525) * 0.24;
else fedTax = 39110.50 + (fedTaxable – 191950) * 0.32;
} else {
if (fedTaxable <= 23200) fedTax = fedTaxable * 0.10;
else if (fedTaxable <= 94300) fedTax = 2320 + (fedTaxable – 23200) * 0.12;
else if (fedTaxable 200000) medicare += (grossAnnual – 200000) * 0.009;
var totalAnnualTax = fedTax + socSec + medicare;
var annualNetPay = grossAnnual – totalAnnualTax – annualPreTax;
// Period Breakdown
var periodGross = grossAnnual / frequency;
var periodFedTax = fedTax / frequency;
var periodSocSec = socSec / frequency;
var periodMedicare = medicare / frequency;
var periodPreTax = annualPreTax / frequency;
var periodNet = annualNetPay / frequency;
document.getElementById('resGross').innerText = '$' + periodGross.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('resFedTax').innerText = '-$' + periodFedTax.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('resSocSec').innerText = '-$' + periodSocSec.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('resMedicare').innerText = '-$' + periodMedicare.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('resNet').innerText = '$' + periodNet.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('resultsArea').style.display = 'block';
}
Understanding Your Texas Take Home Pay
Texas is famous for being one of the few "no-income-tax" states in the U.S. This means that compared to states like California or New York, a significantly larger portion of your gross salary ends up in your pocket. However, you still have federal obligations to meet.
The Components of a Texas Paycheck
Even without state income tax, your employer in the Lone Star State is required by law to withhold specific taxes. Here is what comes out of your check:
Federal Income Tax: This is a progressive tax determined by your filing status (Single, Married, etc.) and your income level. The more you earn, the higher the percentage you pay on additional dollars.
Social Security: Often listed as FICA, this is currently 6.2% of your gross pay up to an annual limit ($168,600 for 2024).
Medicare: This is 1.45% of your gross pay. Unlike Social Security, there is no income cap for Medicare tax, and high earners may pay an additional 0.9% surtax.
Pre-Tax Deductions: If you contribute to a 401(k), a Health Savings Account (HSA), or pay for health insurance premiums through your employer, these amounts are subtracted from your gross pay before taxes are calculated, which actually lowers your total tax bill.
Texas Take Home Pay Example
Let's look at a realistic scenario for a single filer living in Austin or Dallas earning $75,000 per year with no pre-tax deductions:
Category
Annual Amount
Gross Salary
$75,000.00
Federal Income Tax (Estimated)
-$8,630.00
Social Security (6.2%)
-$4,650.00
Medicare (1.45%)
-$1,087.50
Texas State Tax
$0.00
Total Annual Take Home
$60,632.50
In this example, your monthly take-home pay would be approximately $5,052.71.
Why Texas is Different
Because there is no state income tax, the Texas Constitution makes it very difficult for the legislature to ever implement one. Most of the state's revenue comes from sales taxes and property taxes. This is a vital consideration for people moving to Texas: while your paycheck is larger, you may find that your property tax bills are higher than the national average.
How to Maximize Your Texas Paycheck
If you want to keep even more of your money, consider increasing your contributions to pre-tax accounts. Contributions to a traditional 401(k) or 403(b) reduce your taxable income dollar-for-dollar. For a Texan in the 22% federal tax bracket, contributing $1,000 to a 401(k) only reduces your take-home pay by $780, while putting the full $1,000 into your retirement savings.