Taxes
Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your federal income tax, FICA, effective tax rate, and take-home pay from your gross salary.
Your estimated take-home pay
Press estimate to see the breakdown.
How the income tax estimate works
Federal income tax in the US is progressive: it applies increasing rates to successive slices of your income, not one flat rate on everything. This calculator starts from your gross pay, subtracts pre-tax deductions like 401(k) contributions, then subtracts the standard deduction to get taxable income. It runs that figure through the 2025 IRS federal brackets for your filing status, adds Social Security tax of 6.2% on wages up to the $176,100 wage base and Medicare tax of 1.45% on all wages, and shows what is left as your estimated take-home pay. The figures use 2025 brackets and the 2025 standard deduction ($15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly); the IRS adjusts these for inflation each year, so treat the result as a close estimate rather than a filing.
Two numbers on the result deserve attention because people mix them up. Your marginal bracket is the rate on your last dollar earned; your effective rate is total tax divided by total income and is always lower. Moving into a higher bracket never taxes the income you already had at the new rate, only the slice above the threshold. That is also why a raise always increases take-home pay even when it pushes part of your income into the next bracket. Pre-tax deductions are powerful precisely because they shrink the slices taxed at your highest marginal rate first.
Practical tips for lowering your tax bill
First, max out pre-tax accounts you are eligible for: 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, and traditional IRA deductions all reduce taxable income dollar for dollar at your marginal rate. Second, if you are married, compare joint versus separate filing, since the brackets and standard deduction differ meaningfully. Third, remember this estimate covers federal tax and FICA only; most states add their own income tax, which is why two people with the same salary can take home very different amounts. Finally, use the marginal bracket shown here when deciding about extra income or deductions, and the effective rate when budgeting your year.
Frequently asked questions
Does this include state income tax?
No. State taxes range from zero to over 10% depending on where you live, so add your state's rate separately for a complete picture.
Why is the estimate based on 2025 brackets?
The IRS publishes inflation-adjusted brackets each fall. This calculator uses the 2025 figures with the 2025 standard deduction; the numbers will be refreshed when the IRS releases the new tables.
What is the difference between marginal and effective tax rate?
The marginal rate is what you pay on your next dollar of income. The effective rate is your total tax divided by your total income. The effective rate is always lower under a progressive system.
Are bonuses taxed differently?
Bonuses are taxed as ordinary income, but employers often withhold a flat 22% for federal tax, which can differ from your actual marginal rate. The difference settles when you file your return.