Washington State Payroll Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate your net pay per pay period in Washington State, taking into account federal taxes and Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) contributions. Washington does not have a state income tax.
Payroll Summary
Gross Pay:
Total Pre-tax Deductions:
Taxable Gross (for FICA/PFML):
Taxable Gross (for FIT):
Federal Income Tax (FIT):
Social Security Tax:
Medicare Tax:
WA Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML):
Total Deductions:
Net Pay:
Understanding Your Washington State Paycheck
Navigating your paycheck can sometimes feel complex, especially with various deductions. This guide will help you understand the components of your pay in Washington State.
No State Income Tax in Washington
One of the most significant advantages of working in Washington State is the absence of a state income tax. This means a larger portion of your gross earnings goes directly into your pocket compared to states with income tax.
Federal Taxes
Regardless of the state you live in, federal taxes are mandatory. These include:
- Federal Income Tax (FIT): This is a progressive tax, meaning higher earners pay a larger percentage of their income. The amount withheld depends on your gross pay, filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, etc.), and the number of allowances you claim on your W-4 form. While the W-4 form has evolved, the concept of allowances helps determine how much tax is withheld from each paycheck. More allowances generally mean less tax withheld, but could lead to a larger tax bill or smaller refund at year-end.
- Social Security Tax (FICA – SS): This funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Employees contribute 6.2% of their gross wages, up to an annual wage base limit (e.g., $168,600 for 2024). Once you earn above this limit in a calendar year, you no longer pay Social Security tax on additional earnings for that year.
- Medicare Tax (FICA – Med): This funds hospital insurance for the elderly and disabled. Employees contribute 1.45% of all gross wages, with no wage base limit. There's an additional Medicare tax of 0.9% for high earners, but this calculator focuses on the standard 1.45%.
Washington State-Specific Deductions
While there's no state income tax, Washington does have a mandatory state-level deduction:
- Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML): Washington's PFML program provides paid time off for employees to care for themselves or a family member during serious illness or to bond with a new child. Employees contribute a percentage of their gross wages (0.8% for 2024), up to the Social Security wage base limit. This contribution is split between family leave and medical leave.
- WA Cares Fund (Long-Term Care): The Washington Cares Fund, which would provide long-term care benefits, has seen legislative changes and implementation delays. As of now, employee contributions for this program are paused or under review, and thus not included in this calculator.
Pre-tax Deductions
Pre-tax deductions are amounts taken from your gross pay before taxes are calculated. Common examples include contributions to a 401(k) retirement plan, health insurance premiums, or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). These deductions reduce your taxable income, which can lower your federal income tax liability.
How to Use the Calculator
- Gross Pay per Pay Period: Enter your total earnings before any deductions for a single pay period.
- Pay Frequency: Select how often you get paid (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly).
- Federal Filing Status: Choose your federal tax filing status (Single or Married Filing Jointly).
- Federal Allowances: Input the number of allowances you claim on your W-4 form. This helps determine your federal income tax withholding.
- Pre-tax Deductions: Enter any amounts deducted from your pay before taxes are calculated (e.g., 401k contributions, health insurance premiums).
- Click "Calculate Net Pay" to see a detailed breakdown of your estimated take-home pay.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides an estimate based on current federal and Washington state tax laws and rates for 2024. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or tax advice. Actual payroll deductions may vary due to additional deductions, local taxes, specific employer benefits, or changes in tax laws. Consult with a qualified financial advisor or tax professional for personalized advice.
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function calculatePayroll() {
// Input values
var grossPay = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grossPay").value);
var payFrequency = document.getElementById("payFrequency").value;
var federalFilingStatus = document.getElementById("federalFilingStatus").value;
var federalAllowances = parseInt(document.getElementById("federalAllowances").value);
var preTaxDeductions = parseFloat(document.getElementById("preTaxDeductions").value);
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(grossPay) || grossPay < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Gross Pay.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(federalAllowances) || federalAllowances < 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid number for Federal Allowances.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(preTaxDeductions) || preTaxDeductions grossPay) {
alert("Pre-tax deductions cannot exceed gross pay.");
return;
}
// Constants for 2024
var socialSecurityRate = 0.062;
var socialSecurityWageBase = 168600; // Annual
var medicareRate = 0.0145;
var waPfmlRate = 0.008; // 0.8%
var federalAllowanceValueAnnual = 4700; // For old W-4 allowance concept
var payPeriodsPerYear;
var annualStandardDeduction;
if (payFrequency === "weekly") {
payPeriodsPerYear = 52;
} else if (payFrequency === "bi-weekly") {
payPeriodsPerYear = 26;
} else if (payFrequency === "semi-monthly") {
payPeriodsPerYear = 24;
} else if (payFrequency === "monthly") {
payPeriodsPerYear = 12;
}
if (federalFilingStatus === "single") {
annualStandardDeduction = 14600; // 2024 Single Standard Deduction
} else { // married
annualStandardDeduction = 29200; // 2024 Married Filing Jointly Standard Deduction
}
// 1. Calculate Taxable Gross for FICA/PFML
// FICA and PFML are generally calculated on gross pay before most pre-tax deductions.
// For simplicity, we'll calculate FICA/PFML on gross pay.
var taxableGrossFICA_PFML = grossPay;
// 2. Calculate Taxable Gross for Federal Income Tax (FIT)
// FIT is calculated on gross pay minus pre-tax deductions.
var taxableGrossFIT = grossPay – preTaxDeductions;
if (taxableGrossFIT < 0) taxableGrossFIT = 0;
// Annualized values for calculations
var annualGross = grossPay * payPeriodsPerYear;
var annualPreTaxDeductions = preTaxDeductions * payPeriodsPerYear;
var annualTaxableGrossFIT = annualGross – annualPreTaxDeductions;
// — Federal Income Tax (FIT) Calculation (Approximation using annualized income and brackets) —
// This approach annualizes income, subtracts a standard deduction, then subtracts allowances,
// and applies progressive tax brackets. This is an approximation for withholding.
var annualIncomeForFITBrackets = annualTaxableGrossFIT – annualStandardDeduction;
annualIncomeForFITBrackets = Math.max(0, annualIncomeForFITBrackets);
// Apply federal allowances as a further reduction to taxable income for withholding approximation
var annualAllowanceReduction = federalAllowances * federalAllowanceValueAnnual;
annualIncomeForFITBrackets = annualIncomeForFITBrackets – annualAllowanceReduction;
annualIncomeForFITBrackets = Math.max(0, annualIncomeForFITBrackets);
var annualFIT = 0;
var prevLimit = 0;
var brackets;
if (federalFilingStatus === "single") {
brackets = [
{ limit: 11600, rate: 0.10 },
{ limit: 47150, rate: 0.12 },
{ limit: 100525, rate: 0.22 },
{ limit: 191950, rate: 0.24 },
{ limit: 243725, rate: 0.32 },
{ limit: 609350, rate: 0.35 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
];
} else { // married
brackets = [
{ limit: 23200, rate: 0.10 },
{ limit: 94300, rate: 0.12 },
{ limit: 201050, rate: 0.22 },
{ limit: 383900, rate: 0.24 },
{ limit: 487450, rate: 0.32 },
{ limit: 731200, rate: 0.35 },
{ limit: Infinity, rate: 0.37 }
];
}
for (var i = 0; i prevLimit) {
var taxableInBracket = Math.min(annualIncomeForFITBrackets, bracket.limit) – prevLimit;
annualFIT += taxableInBracket * bracket.rate;
}
prevLimit = bracket.limit;
if (annualIncomeForFITBrackets <= bracket.limit) {
break;
}
}
var fitPerPeriod = annualFIT / payPeriodsPerYear;
fitPerPeriod = Math.max(0, fitPerPeriod); // FIT cannot be negative
// — Social Security Tax Calculation —
var annualSocialSecurityTaxable = Math.min(annualGross, socialSecurityWageBase);
var socialSecurityTax = (annualSocialSecurityTaxable * socialSecurityRate) / payPeriodsPerYear;
// — Medicare Tax Calculation —
var medicareTax = taxableGrossFICA_PFML * medicareRate; // No wage cap
// — WA Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) Calculation —
var annualWAPFMLTaxable = Math.min(annualGross, socialSecurityWageBase); // PFML uses same wage base as SS
var waPfmlTax = (annualWAPFMLTaxable * waPfmlRate) / payPeriodsPerYear;
// — Total Deductions —
var totalDeductions = preTaxDeductions + fitPerPeriod + socialSecurityTax + medicareTax + waPfmlTax;
// — Net Pay —
var netPay = grossPay – totalDeductions;
// Display Results
document.getElementById("resultGrossPay").innerText = "$" + grossPay.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultPreTaxDeductions").innerText = "$" + preTaxDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultTaxableGrossFICA").innerText = "$" + taxableGrossFICA_PFML.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultTaxableGrossFIT").innerText = "$" + taxableGrossFIT.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultFIT").innerText = "$" + fitPerPeriod.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultSocialSecurity").innerText = "$" + socialSecurityTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultMedicare").innerText = "$" + medicareTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultWAPFML").innerText = "$" + waPfmlTax.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultTotalDeductions").innerText = "$" + totalDeductions.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultNetPay").innerText = "$" + netPay.toFixed(2);
}
// Run calculation on page load with default values
window.onload = function() {
calculatePayroll();
};