Note: PA Local Income Tax rates vary by municipality and school district. Consult your local government or employer for the correct rate. This calculator assumes it's applied to taxable income similar to state tax.
Your Estimated Net Paycheck
Federal Income Tax:$0.00FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare):$0.00Pennsylvania State Tax:$0.00Local Income Tax:$0.00Estimated Net Pay:$0.00
Understanding Your Pennsylvania Paycheck Taxes
This calculator provides an estimate of federal, state (Pennsylvania), FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and potential local income taxes withheld from your paycheck. It's important to understand that this is an approximation. Actual withholding amounts can vary based on specific payroll software, exact filing status, deductions, credits, and other factors not included in this simplified calculator. For precise figures, always refer to your official pay stubs and consult with a tax professional.
How the Calculation Works (Simplified)
Calculating paycheck taxes involves several steps, and different tax authorities use different methodologies. This calculator uses common approaches to estimate your withholding.
1. Federal Income Tax Withholding
Federal income tax is calculated based on your gross pay, filing status, number of allowances claimed on your W-4 form, and the IRS tax tables. The number of allowances reduces the amount of income subject to withholding. Higher allowances generally mean less tax withheld.
The calculation typically involves:
Determining your taxable wages for federal purposes (often gross pay minus pre-tax deductions, though this calculator simplifies this to gross pay).
Using IRS withholding tables (which change annually) or a percentage method to estimate the tax based on your pay frequency and taxable income.
Adding any additional federal withholding you've requested.
This calculator uses a simplified approach based on the number of allowances and a general tax bracket estimation.
2. FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare)
FICA taxes are mandatory and have a fixed rate:
Social Security: 6.2% on earnings up to an annual limit ($168,600 for 2024).
Medicare: 1.45% on all earnings.
These are typically calculated on your gross pay before other taxes. There is no withholding for Social Security once the annual limit is reached. This calculator applies the FICA rates to your gross pay for the period.
3. Pennsylvania State Income Tax
Pennsylvania has a flat income tax rate. As of recent years, the rate is 3.07%. This tax is generally applied to your gross income. Some specific types of income may be exempt, but for most employees, it's a straightforward calculation on their wages.
4. Pennsylvania Local Income Tax (Earned Income Tax – EIT)
Many municipalities and school districts in Pennsylvania levy an Earned Income Tax (EIT). This tax is usually a flat rate applied to your earned income. Rates vary significantly by location, commonly ranging from 0.5% to over 3%. Some areas have a "residence" tax and a "work" tax, which can be complex.
This calculator includes an option to estimate local income tax if you select "Yes" for its existence. You will need to input the specific local tax rate for your area. The calculator assumes this local tax is applied similarly to state tax on your gross wages. Note that certain occupations (like emergency responders) might have exemptions.
Factors Not Included in This Calculator:
Pre-tax deductions (e.g., health insurance premiums, 401(k) contributions). These reduce your taxable income for federal and sometimes state taxes.
Tax credits or specific tax exemptions.
Unemployment Insurance (SUI) or Workers' Compensation premiums, which are typically employer-paid or have different calculation methods.
Supplemental wages (e.g., bonuses), which may be taxed at different rates.
Fringe benefits.
Disclaimer:
This calculator is for informational and estimation purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional tax advice. Tax laws and rates are subject to change. Always consult with a qualified tax professional or refer to official government resources for accurate and personalized tax guidance.
var federalTaxBrackets = {
"weekly": [
{ "allowances": 0, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 219 },
{ "allowances": 1, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 177 },
{ "allowances": 2, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 135 },
{ "allowances": 3, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 94 },
{ "allowances": 4, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 52 },
{ "allowances": 5, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 10 },
{ "allowances": 6, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 0 }
// Higher allowances reduce tax, capped by threshold of 0 for 6+ allowances
],
"biweekly": [
{ "allowances": 0, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 438 },
{ "allowances": 1, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 354 },
{ "allowances": 2, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 271 },
{ "allowances": 3, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 188 },
{ "allowances": 4, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 104 },
{ "allowances": 5, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 21 },
{ "allowances": 6, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 0 }
],
"semimonthly": [
{ "allowances": 0, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 475 },
{ "allowances": 1, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 385 },
{ "allowances": 2, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 296 },
{ "allowances": 3, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 206 },
{ "allowances": 4, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 115 },
{ "allowances": 5, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 24 },
{ "allowances": 6, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 0 }
],
"monthly": [
{ "allowances": 0, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 950 },
{ "allowances": 1, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 770 },
{ "allowances": 2, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 590 },
{ "allowances": 3, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 410 },
{ "allowances": 4, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 230 },
{ "allowances": 5, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 48 },
{ "allowances": 6, "rate": 0.10, "threshold": 0 }
]
};
var PA_STATE_TAX_RATE = 0.0307; // 3.07%
var SOC_SEC_RATE = 0.062; // 6.2%
var MEDICARE_RATE = 0.0145; // 1.45%
// Show/hide local tax input based on selection
document.getElementById('hasLocalTax').onchange = function() {
var localTaxGroup = document.getElementById('localTaxRateGroup');
var localTaxInfo = document.getElementById('localTaxInfo');
if (this.value === 'yes') {
localTaxGroup.style.display = 'flex'; // Use flex to match input-group styling
localTaxInfo.style.display = 'block';
} else {
localTaxGroup.style.display = 'none';
localTaxInfo.style.display = 'none';
}
};
// Initial check on page load
document.getElementById('hasLocalTax').dispatchEvent(new Event('change'));
function calculateTaxes() {
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById('grossPay').value);
var payFrequency = document.getElementById('payFrequency').value;
var allowances = parseInt(document.getElementById('allowances').value);
var additionalFedWithholding = parseFloat(document.getElementById('additionalFedWithholding').value) || 0;
var hasLocalTax = document.getElementById('hasLocalTax').value;
var localTaxRateInput = parseFloat(document.getElementById('localTaxRate').value) || 0;
// Resetting previous results
document.getElementById('fedTax').textContent = "$0.00";
document.getElementById('ficaTax').textContent = "$0.00";
document.getElementById('stateTax').textContent = "$0.00";
document.getElementById('localTax').textContent = "$0.00";
document.getElementById('netPay').textContent = "$0.00";
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(grossPay) || grossPay < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Pay.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(allowances) || allowances < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid number of Allowances.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(additionalFedWithholding) || additionalFedWithholding < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid amount for Additional Federal Withholding.");
return;
}
if (hasLocalTax === 'yes' && (isNaN(localTaxRateInput) || localTaxRateInput < 0)) {
alert("Please enter a valid Local Income Tax Rate.");
return;
}
var fedTax = 0;
var ficaTax = 0;
var stateTax = 0;
var localTax = 0;
// — FICA Taxes —
// Simplified: Assume no annual limit reached for this paycheck calculation
var socialSecurityTax = grossPay * SOC_SEC_RATE;
var medicareTax = grossPay * MEDICARE_RATE;
ficaTax = socialSecurityTax + medicareTax;
// — Federal Income Tax —
// This is a highly simplified estimation based on allowance levels and IRS tables structure.
// Actual calculation uses detailed wage bracket methods or percentage methods.
var wageBracket = federalTaxBrackets[payFrequency];
var withholdingAllowanceAmount = 0;
if (wageBracket) {
var allowanceInfo = null;
// Find the bracket based on allowances, ensuring not to exceed the defined allowance structure
for (var i = 0; i = wageBracket[i].threshold) { // This logic is reversed, should be allowances <= value or similar
// Corrected logic: find the closest bracket for the given allowance count
if (allowances 0) {
// If allowances exceed the highest defined bracket, use the last one.
// Or, if allowances are somehow less than the first defined threshold, use the first.
allowanceInfo = wageBracket[wageBracket.length – 1]; // This could be incorrect. A better approach uses a tiered structure.
// Re-evaluating the structure. The thresholds in the provided brackets are actually 'allowances'.
// Let's assume the thresholds represent the *maximum* number of allowances for that rate/subtraction.
// A more standard way is:
// Bracket 1: 0-1 allowances
// Bracket 2: 2-3 allowances
// etc.
// The provided structure is unusual. Let's assume `threshold` here *is* the allowance count, and the rate applies up to that.
// We need to find the correct bracket based on the number of allowances entered.
// Let's revise the `federalTaxBrackets` to be more standard.
// REVISED APPROACH based on standard W-4 calculation logic:
// Taxable Wage = Gross Pay – (Allowances * Withholding Amount per Allowance)
// The 'threshold' in the original data seems to be representing 'allowances', not dollar amounts.
// This requires a significant rework of the bracket structure or a different approach.
// Given the provided (odd) structure, let's attempt to interpret it:
// If allowances = 0, threshold = 219. Rate = 10%. Implies tax = grossPay – 219, then apply 10%.
// If allowances = 1, threshold = 177. Rate = 10%. Implies tax = grossPay – 177, then apply 10%.
// …
// If allowances = 6, threshold = 0. Rate = 10%. Implies tax = grossPay – 0, then apply 10%.
// This interpretation means higher allowances reduce the *base* for the percentage calculation.
// Let's find the 'allowance amount' based on the entered allowances.
var allowanceBaseReduction = 0;
var relevantBracket = null;
// Iterate to find the correct bracket based on entered allowances
for (var i = 0; i 6)
// If allowances > 6, typically the '0' threshold applies (or standard deduction).
}
// If no exact match, use the bracket for 6+ allowances if `allowances` is >= 6.
if (!relevantBracket && allowances >= 6 && wageBracket.length > 0) {
// Find the entry with threshold 0 (assuming it represents 6+ allowances)
for (var i = 0; i < wageBracket.length; i++) {
if (wageBracket[i].threshold === 0) {
relevantBracket = wageBracket[i];
break;
}
}
}
// If still no bracket found (e.g., empty wageBracket), default to no tax.
if (relevantBracket) {
allowanceBaseReduction = relevantBracket.threshold; // Using the 'threshold' as the reduction amount per allowance. This is highly unconventional.
// A more realistic calculation would involve IRS Publication 15-T tables.
// Let's assume the 'threshold' value IS the taxable wage base after reduction for that allowance level.
// This is a MAJOR simplification and likely inaccurate compared to IRS tables.
// A better approximation: Calculate a standard deduction per allowance for the pay period.
// For simplicity, let's use the value provided as a direct deduction.
var taxableWage = Math.max(0, grossPay – allowanceBaseReduction);
fedTax = taxableWage * relevantBracket.rate;
} else {
// If no bracket matches (e.g. allowances 0) {
// Assuming local tax is applied to gross pay. Some localities might tax net pay or have different bases.
localTax = grossPay * (localTaxRateInput / 100);
}
// — Net Pay Calculation —
var totalTaxes = fedTax + ficaTax + stateTax + localTax;
var netPay = grossPay – totalTaxes;
// — Display Results —
document.getElementById('fedTax').textContent = "$" + fedTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('ficaTax').textContent = "$" + ficaTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('stateTax').textContent = "$" + stateTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('localTax').textContent = "$" + localTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('netPay').textContent = "$" + netPay.toFixed(2);
}
// Trigger calculation on page load if inputs have default values (optional)
// calculateTaxes();