Quick answer: take-home pay equals gross salary minus federal income tax minus FICA (Social Security + Medicare). Our free Take-Home Pay Calculator uses official 2026 IRS brackets to estimate this instantly.
What Gets Subtracted
Two things come out of every paycheck before you see the money: federal income tax (calculated using the 2026 marginal brackets after the standard deduction) and FICA (6.2% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base, plus 1.45% Medicare with no cap).
2026 Standard Deduction
Before any tax bracket applies, the IRS lets you subtract a standard deduction: $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married filing jointly (2026 figures).
What This Doesn't Include
State income tax varies enormously — some states (Texas, Florida) have none, others (California) can add 10%+ more. Pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions or health insurance also aren't factored in here, since they're personal choices that further reduce taxable income.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't this match my actual paycheck?
Actual withholding depends on your W-4 elections, state tax, benefits deductions, and any additional income — this gives a federal-only baseline estimate.
What tax year is this based on?
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, per official IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32.
Does this include state tax?
No — add your state's estimate separately since rates vary widely by state.
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