Paycheck Calculator
Calculate your exact net paycheck — federal withholding, Social Security, and Medicare using 2026 IRS tables.
How Paycheck Withholding Works
Your employer withholds federal income tax by annualizing gross pay, reducing it by allowances (worth $4,300 each in 2026), applying the tax brackets, then dividing by pay periods. FICA taxes — Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) — are withheld from every paycheck flat, regardless of filing status.
The $176,100 Social Security Cap
Once your cumulative wages reach $176,100 in 2026, Social Security withholding stops for the remainder of the year. High earners effectively get a raise mid-year when they cross this threshold. Medicare has no cap and continues at 1.45% (plus an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000).
Adjusting Your Withholding
Receiving a large refund each year means you are over-withheld — lending the IRS money interest-free. Consistently owing at filing time means you are under-withheld and may owe penalties. Submit an updated W-4 to your employer to adjust. Changes take effect within one to two pay periods.