Paycheck calculator › What my W-2 will show
What will my W-2 show? Box-by-box calculator (2026)
Your W-2 does not show your salary. Box 1 is wages after 401(k), pre-tax health and HSA; Box 3 and Box 5 add the 401(k) back (Social Security and Medicare are taxed on it) but not the health premium; Box 12 codes list what was taken out. Enter your pay and deductions to see every box before January, or to check the one you received.
Your numbers
Result
2026 tablesSource: IRS · SSA · state revenue departmentsChecked every Monday · change log · how it's calculated
Reading the boxes
| Box | What it is | Why it differs from salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal taxable wages | salary + bonus − 401(k) − pre-tax health − HSA − FSA |
| 2 | Federal income tax withheld | what your employer sent the IRS; the calculator estimates it as the tax on Box 1 — your W-4 can make it higher or lower |
| 3 / 4 | Social Security wages / tax | 401(k) is added back; capped at $184,500; tax is 6.2% |
| 5 / 6 | Medicare wages / tax | 401(k) added back, no cap; 1.45% (+0.9% over $200,000) |
| 12 | Codes | D = 401(k), W = HSA (employer + employee), DD = cost of employer health coverage (informational), AA = Roth 401(k) |
| 16 / 17 | State wages / tax | usually equals Box 1; a few states tax 401(k) contributions (PA) or exclude more |
Frequently asked
Why is Box 1 lower than my salary?
Pre-tax deductions — 401(k), health premiums, HSA, FSA — come off before federal taxable wages. Only the 401(k) goes back in for Social Security and Medicare.
Why doesn't Box 2 match this estimate?
Box 2 is what was actually withheld under your W-4 (extra withholding, dependents, a second job), while the estimate is the tax you owe on Box 1. The difference is roughly your refund or balance due — the refund estimator works it out.
When do W-2s arrive?
Employers must furnish them by January 31; most payroll providers post them online in the second half of January.