Bonus Tax Calculator 2026
How much of your bonus check will you keep? This bonus paycheck calculator takes your salary, bonus and state and shows the federal tax, state tax, Social Security and Medicare taken out, and your take-home bonus.
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Bonus tax rate 2026: how bonuses are taxed
Most employers withhold a flat 22% federal income tax from a bonus paid on its own. Bonus money above $1,000,000 in a year is withheld at 37%. On top of that come Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), and state income tax in most states.
So on a $10,000 bonus in a state with no income tax, about $2,965 (30%) is withheld and you take home $7,035.
Bonus after tax: what you take home (2026)
Flat 22% method, $75,000 salary, single filer, no state income tax. Pick your state in the calculator for your number.
| Bonus | Federal (22%) | Social Security + Medicare | Take-home bonus | Withheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $220 | $77 | $704 | 30% |
| $2,500 | $550 | $191 | $1,759 | 30% |
| $5,000 | $1,100 | $383 | $3,518 | 30% |
| $10,000 | $2,200 | $765 | $7,035 | 30% |
| $20,000 | $4,400 | $1,530 | $14,070 | 30% |
| $50,000 | $11,000 | $3,825 | $35,175 | 30% |
Why is my bonus taxed so high?
- Everything is withheld at once. Federal, Social Security, Medicare and state tax all come out of one check, so 30% or more can disappear.
- The aggregate method. If the bonus is paid in the same check as your regular pay, payroll can withhold as if that big check were your normal pay every period. That can push federal withholding well above 22% for that check.
- It is withholding, not your final tax. Your real tax is worked out on your total income when you file. If too much was withheld, you get it back as a refund.
Check your whole-year picture with the federal income tax calculator or estimate your refund with the tax refund calculator.
State bonus tax rates 2026
Nine states have no income tax on wages, so only federal tax and FICA come out of a bonus there. Elsewhere, state tax is withheld too. The states below publish a flat supplemental rate that employers can (or must) use on a separately paid bonus; this calculator uses those official rates. In every other state, withholding follows the regular wage tables, so the calculator estimates state tax from your state's normal brackets. Either way, withholding is a prepayment: any difference from your final tax is settled when you file.
| State | Bonus withholding rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| California | 10.23% | California EDD, DE 231PS (supplemental wage payments) |
| New York | 11.7% | NYS-50-T-NYS (1/26), supplemental wage payment withholding rates |
| Oregon | 8% | Oregon Withholding Tax Formulas 150-206-436 (2026) |
| Minnesota | 6.25% | Minnesota DOR, Supplemental Payments |
| Virginia | 5.75% | Virginia Employer Withholding Instructions (wages paid after July 1, 2025) |
| Massachusetts | 5% | Massachusetts Circular M (January 1, 2026), section G |
| North Carolina | 4.09% | NC 2026 Income Tax Withholding Tables and Instructions, section 12 |
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% | Pennsylvania REV-415 Employer Withholding Guide |
| Michigan | 4.25% | Michigan Income Tax Withholding Guide (Form 446, 2026) |
| Georgia | 4.99% | Georgia Employer's Tax Guide 2026 (O.C.G.A. § 48-7-101(f)(5)) |
| Ohio | 2.75% | Ohio DOR employer withholding page / OAC 5703-7-10 (effective January 1, 2026) |
| Indiana | 2.95% | Indiana Departmental Notice #1 (2026) |
| Illinois | 4.95% | Illinois IL-700-T Withholding Tax Tables (2026) |
| Arkansas | 3.9% | Arkansas Withholding Tax Instructions for Employers (2026) |
| Nebraska | 3.5% | Nebraska Circular EN (2026) |
| Alabama | 5% | Alabama Withholding Tax Tables and Instructions (2026) |
| Vermont | 30% of federal withholding | Vermont GB-1210 Income Tax Withholding Instructions (2026) |
| Wisconsin | 3.54%–7.65% by salary | Wisconsin Publication W-166 Withholding Tax Guide (January 2026) |
| Maryland | 6.5% | Maryland Employer Withholding Guide (2026) |
| Iowa | 3.8% | Iowa DOR, Iowa Withholding Tax Information (701-307.2(1)"c") |
| Idaho | 5.3% | Idaho State Tax Commission, Computing Withholding |
| North Dakota | 1.5% | North Dakota Income Tax Withholding Rates and Instructions (2026), section 3 |
| Kansas | 5% | Kansas KW-100 Withholding Tax Guide |
| Connecticut | Regular wage rates | Connecticut IP 2026(1), supplemental compensation |
| Kentucky | Regular wage rates | 103 KAR 18:070 |
| New Jersey | Regular wage rates | New Jersey NJ-WT guide, supplemental wage payments |
| Colorado | Regular wage rates | Colorado Wage Withholding Tax Guide (January 2026) |
| Missouri | Regular wage rates | Missouri Form 4282 Employer's Tax Guide (2026) |
California also withholds 1.3% SDI from bonuses, shown separately in the calculator. City taxes (New York City, Yonkers, Ohio and Maryland localities, Indiana counties) can add more and are noted where they apply. See your regular paycheck in any state with the paycheck calculator.
Bonus Tax Formula (2026)
How withholding on a bonus is worked out with the flat (percentage) method.
Federal = Bonus × 22%Example:
$10,000 bonus
Variables:
FICA = Bonus × 6.2% + Bonus × 1.45%Example:
$10,000 bonus
Variables:
Net Bonus = Bonus − Federal − State − FICAExample:
$10,000 bonus, no state income tax
These formulas provide the mathematical foundation for the calculations. Actual results may vary based on rounding, compounding frequency, and specific lender policies.
Bonus tax FAQs
Quick answers about bonus tax rates and what you take home.
What is the federal bonus tax rate in 2026?
How much of a $10,000 bonus will I take home?
Are bonuses taxed more than regular pay?
What is the aggregate method?
Can I lower the tax on my bonus?
Sources and how we calculate
Published by Financial Calculator. Editorial policy. Publisher attribution, not a claim of professional review.
Federal supplemental rates (22% and 37% above $1 million) are from IRS Publication 15 for 2026. Social Security and Medicare rates are from the SSA. State supplemental rates are from each state's official 2026 employer withholding guide, listed in the table above and in our methodology log.
- IRS Publication 15 (2026): supplemental wages, section 7
- SSA: 2026 Social Security and Medicare tax rates
- California EDD (DE 231PS): supplemental wage rates
- New York NYS-50-T-NYS (1/26): supplemental rate 11.70%
Figures last checked on November 10, 2026. Read our calculation methodology for data sources and update schedule.