Estimate your federal take-home pay per paycheck after income tax and FICA deductions.
Paycheck Calculator is a free financial planning tool that helps you estimate your federal take-home pay per paycheck after income tax and fica deductions with clear, visual results. Making informed financial decisions requires accurate numbers — this calculator provides them instantly without requiring any sign-up or personal information. Your financial data never leaves your browser.
Federal withholding uses a progressive tax bracket system. For 2024, single filers: 10% on income up to $11,600; 12% on $11,601–$47,150; 22% on $47,151–$100,525; 24% on $100,526–$191,950; 32% on $191,951–$243,725; 35% on $243,726–$609,350; 37% above $609,350. The standard deduction ($14,600 for single, $29,200 for married in 2024) reduces your taxable income before brackets apply. Paycheck withholding spreads this annual tax estimate across your pay periods.
FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) covers Social Security and Medicare taxes. Social Security is 6.2% of wages up to $168,600 in 2024. Medicare is 1.45% on all wages, plus an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married). Your employer matches these amounts. Self-employed people pay both halves (15.3% total) as self-employment tax, though half is deductible.
The old W-4 used allowances to adjust withholding, but the IRS redesigned the W-4 in 2020. The current form uses dollar amounts for adjustments instead of allowances. You can increase withholding (line 4c) for additional withholding per period, or decrease it by claiming deductions. The "Additional Withholding" field in this calculator corresponds to the extra amount you specify on line 4c of your W-4.