Salary Tax Calculator

Understanding USA Federal, FICA, and State Paycheck Withholding

In the United States, an employee’s gross paycheck is subject to multiple layers of mandatory withholdings before arriving as net take-home pay in their bank account. These primary components comprise Federal Income Tax, FICA Payroll Taxes (Social Security and Medicare), and applicable State and Local Income Taxes.

1. 2026 Federal Income Tax Brackets & Standard Deductions

The IRS taxes taxable income progressively across seven statutory tax brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Before your income is taxed, the IRS grants a standard deduction based on your filing status:

• Single Filers: $15,000 Standard Deduction
• Married Filing Jointly: $30,000 Standard Deduction
• Head of Household: $22,500 Standard Deduction

2. FICA Payroll Taxes (Social Security & Medicare)

Under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA):

• Social Security Tax: 6.2% withheld on all wages up to the statutory wage base limit of $176,100. Any earnings above this ceiling are exempt from Social Security tax.
• Medicare Tax: 1.45% withheld on all wages with no upper wage cap. An Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% applies to individual wages exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples).

3. State Income Tax Havens vs. High-Tax States

Where you live in the United States dramatically influences your final take-home salary. Eight states levy zero state earned income tax:

Understanding Pakistan FBR Income Tax for Global Users

Under Pakistan’s Income Tax Ordinance 2001 administered by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), salaried individuals are taxed under progressive slab rates ranging from 0% (up to PKR 600,000) to 35% on higher brackets. Use the "Pakistan FBR Salary Tax" tab at the top of the calculator to access detailed FBR slabs, Section 63 pension rebates, and Super Tax surcharge analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions