Bonus Tax Calculator 2026: What You Keep After 22% Federal Withholding

Bonus tax calculator 2026: how much of your bonus you keep

Bonuses are "supplemental wages": employers withhold a flat 22% federal tax (37% on the part above $1 million), plus Social Security and Medicare, plus state withholding. A $5,000 bonus on a $75,000 salary in California nets about $3,006 after $1,100 federal, $512 state and $382 FICA. Enter your salary, state and bonus below.

Your pay

Gross pay

State

Filing status

401(k) / 403(b) %

Bonus (one-off)

Pre-tax deductions & HSA

Health premiums / yr

HSA / yr

Other pre-tax / yr

Custom local rate %

Age 50+ (401k catch-up) Family HSA limit

401(k) lowers income tax but not Social Security/Medicare. Health premiums and HSA through a cafeteria plan lower both.

W-4 details (2020 or later form)

Step 2: two jobs / spouse works

Step 3: dependents credit $

Step 4a: other income / yr

Step 4b: extra deductions / yr

Step 4c: extra withholding / check

Paychecks per year (for 4c)

Tax tables

Leave blank for standard withholding. Dependents: $2,000 per qualifying child, $500 per other dependent.

Take-home pay

$2,225

take-home pay every two weeks

from a gross of $2,885

Effective tax rate 22.9%Marginal rate 38.9%Total taxes $17,157

Federal tax 10.2%FICA 7.6%State 5.0%Take-home 77.1%

Line	Bi-weekly	Yearly
Gross pay	$2,885	$75,000
Federal income tax	−$295	−$7,670
Taxable income $58,900 = wages $75,000 − standard deduction $16,100, through the 2026 brackets (10%/12%/22%/24%/32%/35%/37%).
Social Security (6.2%)	−$179	−$4,650
6.2% of $75,000.
Medicare (1.45%)	−$42	−$1,088
1.45% of $75,000.
California state income tax	−$107	−$2,775
Taxable $69,294 = wages $75,000 − deduction $5,706. Brackets 1%/2%/4%/6%/8%/9.3%/10.3%/11.3%/12.3%/13.3%. Minus $153 credit. California's withholding tables run at 110% of these rates; the extra comes back as a refund.
CA SDI	−$38	−$975
1.3% of wages.
Take-home pay	$2,225	$57,843

Why a bonus feels over-taxed

The 22% flat rate is only withholding. Your bonus is taxed at your ordinary rates when you file — so if your marginal rate is 12% you get the difference back as a refund; if it is 32% you will owe the difference. California withholds bonuses at 10.23% and New York at 11.7%; most other states use their normal marginal rate.